Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Healthcare costs of systemic lupus erythematosus in New Zealand
Authors' conclusion
The annual national costs of SLE were stable over time. The increase in pharmaceutical costs were offset by decrease in hospitalisation costs. Costs for patients with ESKD were nine times higher than costs for patients without ESKD.
Study context
- Population
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients in New Zealand (NZ) linked to national registries and health datasets, 2006–2021
- Exposure
- SLE patients with vs without end-stage kidney disease (ESKD); by ethnicity
- Outcome
- Annual direct medical costs of SLE (national and per patient)
Methodological detailslinked national datasets, generalized linear model
- Linked national datasets
- Generalized linear model
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Annual medical costs
Annual national costs of SLE, stable over time
around NZ$12 million
Average costs per patient per year
NZ$8,324
US$5,277, €5,011
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| Costs per patient by ESKD status | ESKD 47,143 NZ$ · Without ESKD 5,091 NZ$ |
| Costs per patient by ethnicity | Māori 13,124 NZ$ · Pacific 11,842 NZ$ · European/Others 6,153 NZ$ |
Costs per patient by ESKD status
- Costs with ESKD nine times higher than without ESKD
Costs per patient by ethnicity
- Māori and Pacific costs around twice European/Others; difference attenuated after adjustment for ESKD and other factors
Factors associated with higher costs (adjusted)
- Without ESKD: Asian, males and most deprived areas associated with higher costs
- With ESKD: Māori and most deprived areas had higher costs
Original publication
Healthcare costs of systemic lupus erythematosus in New Zealand. Lupus. Published 9 January 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →