Economic Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors' conclusion
RA poses a significant economic challenge in LMICs, where limited health care resources and high treatment costs make care unaffordable for many.
Study context
- Population
- Studies reporting rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-related costs in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), published in English, 2007–2024
- Participants
- 218,575 participants15 studies
- Outcome
- Economic impact of RA (costs) on households, health systems and society
Methodological detailsnarrative synthesis, Newcastle-Ottawa Scale quality appraisal
- Narrative synthesis
- Newcastle-Ottawa Scale quality appraisal
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Pooled average annual costs per patient
Pooled average annual outpatient costs (95% CI $3.35-$1,032.09)
US$517.72
Pooled average annual inpatient costs (95% CI US$499.51-US$588.24)
US$543.88
Pooled average annual medical costs (95% CI US$3,137.58-US$3,622.08)
US$3,379.83
Further pooled results
Average annual costs per patient (range across studies)
- Direct costs
- US$523 to US$2,837.90
- Indirect costs
- US$81.80 to US$2,463.40
- Nine studies societal perspective, six health care perspective
Original publication
Economic Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). Published 22 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →