Burden of chronic osteoarticular disorders compared to others commonly reported chronic conditions. Results from a large health interview survey of Belgian individuals aged over 45 years

in Osteoporosis International (2002, November), 13(Suppl.3), 49-50

Patient health profiles in osteoarthritis: is there a difference according to follow-up pattern? Results from the Belgian National Health Interview Survey

in Osteoporosis International (2002, November), 13(Suppl.3), 49

Musculoskeletal disorders in a time demographic changes: a real challenge for the future in Europe and Northern America

in Osteoporosis International (2002, November), 13(Suppl.3), 48-49

Do willingness to pay and time trade-off approaches suitably reflect health outcomes in hip and knee osteoarthritis?

in Arthritis and Rheumatism (2002, September), 46(number 9 (suppl.)), 73

Meta-analysis of the effects of inhaled corticosteroids on bone in asthmatic and COPD patients

in Arthritis and Rheumatism (2002, September), 46(number 9 (suppl.)), 464

Correlation between biochemical markers of bone and cartilage metabolism and structural progression of hand osteoarthritis. A three year prospective study

in Arthritis and Rheumatism (2002, September), 46(number 9 (suppl.)), 152-3

The effect of health related quality of life on reported use of health care resources in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis: a longitudinal analysis.

in Journal of Rheumatology (2002), 29(6), 1147-55

OBJECTIVE: In today's cost conscious environment, health services researchers are consistently trying to find ways to predict future health care resource utilization (HCRU) and its associated costs. We ... [more ▼]

OBJECTIVE: In today's cost conscious environment, health services researchers are consistently trying to find ways to predict future health care resource utilization (HCRU) and its associated costs. We evaluated the impact of health related quality of life (HRQL) on future HCRU in patients with arthritis. METHODS: A total of 642 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 395 patients with osteoarthritis (OA) completed at least 2 and as many as 6 consecutive surveys at 6 mo intervals. Information collected included demographics, HRQL questionnaires [Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36 (SF-36), Western Ontario McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ)], and HCRU over the previous 6 months. Longitudinal data analysis was perfomed to assess the effect of HRQL on future HCRU. RESULTS: Statistically significant associations between HCRU and HRQL variables were noted. Higher rates of HCRU were found in those in the worst quarter compared with those in the best quarter of HRQL. With the HAQ, OA and RA patients in the worst quarter reported a 199% (p < 0.05) and 48% (p < 0.05) increase in rheumatologist visits, respectively. With the WOMAC Function, increases were as high as 196% (p < 0.05) in rheumatologist visits for patients with OA. Patients with RA with a high level of HRQL as measured by the SF-36 (physical component score) reported a decrease of 31% (p < 0.01) in general practitioner visits and a decrease of 52% (p < 0.01) in hospitalization (mental component score). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that HRQL may be used to predict future health care consumption. Such an approach may lead to a more efficient allocation of resources by providing useful information to health care providers and health care decision makers. [less ▲]

Evaluation of the proposals of the Belgian social security institute for the reimbursement of bone densitometry, toward a cost effective strategy for osteoporosis screening

in Clinical Rheumatology (2001), 20

Importance of social companionship in the determination of health-related quality of life in hip and knee osteoarthrits

in Arthritis and Rheumatism (2001), 44(Suppl.1), 183

Radiographic severity of knee osteoarthrits is highly correlated with future progression of the disease

in Clinical Rheumatology (2001), 5(Suppl.1), 412