Boonen A, Severens J L
Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2002 Sep;16(4):691-705. doi: 10.1053/berh.2002.0244.
Ankylosing spondylitis is a chronic rheumatic disease leading to functional limitations. This has an important impact on participation in the labour force, with high disease-related work disability. As for cost-of-illness studies, which estimate the costs related to a disease, the cost of lost productivity is the major contributor to the total costs of ankylosing spondylitis. Because of the low prevalence of the disease, the costs related to ankylosing spondylitis are a relatively small part of the costs of all diseases to society. However, given the early and the important long-term functional loss, the lifetime costs and socio-economic impact for the individual patient are likely to be high. Because poor physical function is the major determinant of high direct and productivity costs, new (biological) treatments with effects on long-term functional disability will potentially reduce the economic impact of the disease for society and patients.
强直性脊柱炎是一种导致功能受限的慢性风湿性疾病。这对劳动力参与有重要影响，与疾病相关的工作残疾率很高。至于疾病成本研究，即估计与某种疾病相关的成本，生产力损失成本是强直性脊柱炎总成本的主要贡献因素。由于该疾病的患病率较低，与强直性脊柱炎相关的成本在所有疾病对社会造成的成本中所占比例相对较小。然而，鉴于早期出现且长期功能丧失严重，对个体患者而言，终身成本和社会经济影响可能很高。由于身体功能差是高直接成本和生产力成本的主要决定因素，对长期功能残疾有影响的新型（生物）疗法可能会降低该疾病对社会和患者的经济影响。
