[Socioeconomic aspects of rheumatoid arthritis]

This study investigated the financial parameters of the hospital treatment and of the rehabilitation in the Centers for Rehabilitation for the patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The control group consisted of patients who were ill or had been ill from some other diseases which were controlled at the physician of the primary health service. The average duration of the treatment of the patients with RA in hospital was 28 days (ranging from 21 to 35 days), while the average duration of the treatment of the patients from the control group was 18 days (ranging 7 to 45 days). 45 patients with RA were hospitalized and 22 from 65 patients from the control group (P greater than 0.05). The duration of the hospital treatment of 45 patients with RA was 2548 days and it was 1818 days for the patients from the control group (P = 0.039). The cost of one stay of 28 days in the hospital amounted 56.000 din per one patient with RA and it was 36.000 din per one patient from the control group (according to the price-list from 31. 7. 1991.). 49 patients with RA went for several times to the rehabilitation into the Centers for Rehabilitation and 11 from 65 patients from the control group (P less than 0.0001). The average duration of rehabilitation for the patients with RA was 23 days while it was 26 days for the patients from the control group (P greater than 0.06). The rehabilitation for the patients with RA lasted 4278 days and 832 days for the patients from the control group (P less than 0.0001).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)