Medical Care and Costs of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can cause multi-organ damage, leading to high medical expenditures, reduced life expectancy, lower quality of life, and loss of productivity. As the prevalence and disease severity is higher in Asian-Pacific groups than Caucasian group, utilization and costs of health services of patients with SLE and factors associated with the patterns become an important issue. As the relevant research is sparse in Taiwan, this study aims to examine treatment patterns, quality of care, outcomes, and utilization and costs of medical care of SLE patients, and identify factors associated with the patterns. The National Health Insurance Research Database will be adopted to select SLE patients, and examine their treatment patterns、quality of care、outcomes, utilization and costs of medical care in 2005 and 2010, and in patients with severe and non-severe SLE. Additionally, long-term treatment patterns、quality of care、utilization and costs of medical care of newly diagnosed and existing SLE patients will be examined. The findings of this study will provide comprehensive information on treatments, quality of care, outcomes, and utilization and costs of health services of SLE patients. The information will be of help to improve disease management, and can be adopted for future policy intervention.

Project ID:PF10408-0717
External Project ID:MOST104-2410-H182-029