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Ann Rheum Dis 2008;67:1399-1405 doi:10.1136/ard.2007.077792
  • Clinical and epidemiological research

Cost effectiveness of the determination of autoantibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptide in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis

  1. A Konnopka1,
  2. K Conrad2,
  3. C Baerwald3,
  4. H-H König1
  1. 1
    Health Economics Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
  2. 2
    Institute of Immunology, Medical Faculty of the Technical University Dresden, Dresden, Germany
  3. 3
    Medical Clinic IV - Rheumatology, University Hospital, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
  1. A Konnopka, University of Leipzig, Health Economics Research Unit, Department of Psychiatry, Johannisallee 20, D-04317 Leipzig, Germany; alexander.konnopka{at}medizin.uni-leipzig.de
  • Accepted 20 December 2007
  • Published Online First 11 January 2008

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of antibodies against cyclic citrullinated peptides (aCCP) in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A Markov model was used to model 10-year progression of RA in patients first diagnosed with undifferentiated arthritis (UA) and to estimate the incremental costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of using aCCP additionally to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria. The impact of later diagnosis and treatment due to non-use of aCCP was modelled as increased Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) progression. Utilities were assigned to HAQ states for calculating QALYs. Uncertainty was analysed using univariate and probabilistic sensitivity analyses (Monte Carlo simulation).

Results: Baseline ICER was €930/QALY. Univariate sensitivity analyses identified the impact of later diagnosis on HAQ progression as a major source of uncertainty, resulting in an ICER range from “dominance” to €153 092/QALY, compared with a maximum ICER of €4870/QALY for other variables. Monte Carlo simulation resulted in a 95% uncertainty interval from –€3537/QALY (dominance) to €5429/QALY; when indirect costs were considered, Monte Carlo simulation resulted in a 95% uncertainty interval from –€78 115/QALY (dominance) to –€23 444/QALY (dominance).

Conclusions: Using aCCP in the diagnosis of RA in patients with UA is likely to be cost effective compared with using ACR criteria alone. When indirect costs are incorporated, aCCP seems to save costs. Clearly, more research is needed relating the effects of diagnosis and treatment on the long-term course and the resulting functional impairment of RA as measured by the HAQ.

Footnotes

  • Funding: This study was financially supported by the Gesellschaft zur Förderung der Immundiagnostik e.V”, Dresden (http://www.gfid-ev.de (accessed 28 May 2008)).

  • Competing interests: AK has received an honorarium from Abbott and Phadia for oral presentations within symposiums organised by these companies. Abbott and Phadia are manufacturers of laboratory products.

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