Discrimination and Cumulative Disease Damage Among African American Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

OBJECTIVES: We examined associations between unfair treatment, attributions of unfair treatment to racial discrimination, and cumulative disease damage among African American women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: We used multivariable regression models to examine SLE damage among 578 African American women in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, recruited to the Georgians Organized Against Lupus cohort. RESULTS: When we controlled for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related covariates, reporting any unfair treatment was associated with greater SLE damage compared with reporting no unfair treatment (b = 0.55; 95% confidence interval = 0.14, 0.97). In general, unfair treatment attributed to nonracial factors was more strongly associated with SLE damage than was unfair treatment attributed to racial discrimination, although the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Unfair treatment may contribute to worse disease outcomes among African American women with SLE. Unfair treatment attributed to nonracial causes may have a more pronounced negative effect on SLE damage. Future research may further examine possible differences in the effect of unfair treatment by attribution.

[Semester direct cost by rheumatoid arthritis in patients in a university hospital]. / Costo directo semestral por artritis reumatoidea en pacientes que concurren a un hospital universitario.

INTRODUCTION: There are no medical publications with economic analysis of rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) from Argentina are lacking. The objective of the present study is to determine the direct cost and its breakdown in patients with RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients who met the American College of Rheumatology RA criteria were included. Direct cost was calculated over a follow-up period of 6 months during year 2001. Variables were analyzed with Student's T test, Mann-Whitney U Test, c' or ANOVA as corresponded. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean monthly home income was $426.6 SD 272. The mean half-yearly direct costs was $677.5 SD 376.2. The components of the direct cost were identified and the mean for medication cost was $606.7 (89%), for lab tests was $45.5 (7%), for medical attention $12.5 (2%) and other costs $2.4. No differences in total cost or in medication cost were found when compared considering age, evolution time of RA or HAQ scores. CONCLUSION: Half-yearly direct cost in RA is excessively high considering the monthly mean income of the patients being analyzed. The cost of medication was the principal component of the direct cost.

Costo directo semestral por artritis reumatoidea en pacientes que concurren a un hospital universitario / Semester direct cost by rheumatoid arthritis in patients in a university hospital

INTRODUCTION: There are no medical publications with economic analysis of rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) from Argentina are lacking. The objective of the present study is to determine the direct cost and its breakdown in patients with RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients who met the American College of Rheumatology RA criteria were included. Direct cost was calculated over a follow-up period of 6 months during year 2001. Variables were analyzed with Student's T test, Mann-Whitney U Test, c' or ANOVA as corresponded. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean monthly home income was $426.6 SD 272. The mean half-yearly direct costs was $677.5 SD 376.2. The components of the direct cost were identified and the mean for medication cost was $606.7 (89 per cent), for lab tests was $45.5 (7 per cent), for medical attention $12.5 (2 per cent) and other costs $2.4. No differences in total cost or in medication cost were found when compared considering age, evolution time of RA or HAQ scores. CONCLUSION: Half-yearly direct cost in RA is excessively high considering the monthly mean income of the patients being analyzed. The cost of medication was the principal component of the direct cost.

Costo directo semestral por artritis reumatoidea en pacientes que concurren a un hospital universitario. / [Semester direct cost by rheumatoid arthritis in patients in a university hospital]

INTRODUCTION: There are no medical publications with economic analysis of rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) from Argentina are lacking. The objective of the present study is to determine the direct cost and its breakdown in patients with RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients who met the American College of Rheumatology RA criteria were included. Direct cost was calculated over a follow-up period of 6 months during year 2001. Variables were analyzed with Students T test, Mann-Whitney U Test, c or ANOVA as corresponded. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean monthly home income was $426.6 SD 272. The mean half-yearly direct costs was $677.5 SD 376.2. The components of the direct cost were identified and the mean for medication cost was $606.7 (89

), for lab tests was $45.5 (7

), for medical attention $12.5 (2

) and other costs $2.4. No differences in total cost or in medication cost were found when compared considering age, evolution time of RA or HAQ scores. CONCLUSION: Half-yearly direct cost in RA is excessively high considering the monthly mean income of the patients being analyzed. The cost of medication was the principal component of the direct cost.

Costo directo semestral por artritis reumatoidea en pacientes que concurren a un hospital universitario / Semester direct cost by rheumatoid arthritis in patients in a university hospital

INTRODUCTION: There are no medical publications with economic analysis of rheumatoid arthritis patients (RA) from Argentina are lacking. The objective of the present study is to determine the direct cost and its breakdown in patients with RA. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fifty-two patients who met the American College of Rheumatology RA criteria were included. Direct cost was calculated over a follow-up period of 6 months during year 2001. Variables were analyzed with Students T test, Mann-Whitney U Test, c or ANOVA as corresponded. P values < 0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS: The mean monthly home income was $426.6 SD 272. The mean half-yearly direct costs was $677.5 SD 376.2. The components of the direct cost were identified and the mean for medication cost was $606.7 (89 per cent), for lab tests was $45.5 (7 per cent), for medical attention $12.5 (2 per cent) and other costs $2.4. No differences in total cost or in medication cost were found when compared considering age, evolution time of RA or HAQ scores. CONCLUSION: Half-yearly direct cost in RA is excessively high considering the monthly mean income of the patients being analyzed. The cost of medication was the principal component of the direct cost. (AU)