Pharmacoepidemiology and Treatment Costs of Rheumatoid Arthritis Based on Real-World Data from the Argentine Province of Neuquen: Descriptive Study (2012-2023)

Abstract

Introduction: Rheumatoid arthritis affects life quality, causes loss of work productivity, and generates high social health costs, to the point of being considered as a catastrophic disease. To treat this condition, biological disease-modifying drugs have been available since 2000. Concerns about their use include variability in prescription, monitoring of adverse effects, and cost. Real World Evidence (RWE) is defined as evidence derived from the analysis of real-world data. The objective of this study was to investigate the pharmacoepidemiological burden and costs of biological drugs for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in a public health system. Methods: This descriptive study is based on real-world data from 1034 patients who get medicine for rheumatoid arthritis in the public health sector of the Province of Neuquen over an 11-year period. Results: The prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis was estimated at 0.43%, with 4.25% of patients receiving biological drugs. Over 11 years, the use of these drugs increased by 1000%; the main reason for their prescription is lack of response and/or adverse events with non-biological drugs. The most commonly used drug was Etanercept, with an annual cost 113 times higher than Methotrexate. Conclusions: This study allowed the identification of adverse effects not habitually reported through pharmacovigilance, the description of common prescription patterns, and the monitoring of intervention costs once incorporated into the health system.