No. Visits/Use | Resource Use | Cost Can$/4 Weeks | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
ALN, n = 53 | ILN, n = 26 | ALN | ILN | Mean (95% CI) | |
Health professional (MD1 + non-MD2) | 3.3 (3.0) | 2.5 (2.6) | 152 (122) | 114 (109) | 37 (−17, 92) |
Rheumatologist | 0.9 (0.8) | 0.5 (0.6) | 57 (46)* | 34 (36) | 23* (4, 42) |
Nephrologist | 0.5 (0.9) | 0.0 (0.0) | 29 (49)* | 0 (0) | 29* (10, 48) |
Family physician | 1.0 (1.5) | 0.7 (0.8) | 31 (46) | 20 (26) | 11 (−6, 27) |
Internist | 0.02 (0.1) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1 (9) | 0 (0) | 1 (−1, 4) |
Dermatologist | 0.06 (0.2) | 0.04 (0.2) | 2 (9) | 1 (8) | 1 (−3, 5) |
Ophthalmologist | 0.1 (0.4) | 0.2 (0.4) | 5 (15) | 7 (16) | −1 (−9, 6) |
Other MD specialties | 0.2 (0.5) | 0.04 (0.2) | 6 (19) | 2 (13) | 4 (−4, 11) |
Total MD visits | 2.8 (2.5) | 1.5 (1.3) | 132 (101) | 71 (71) | 61* (17, 105) |
Total non-MD visits | 0.4 (1.4) | 1.0 (2.1) | 20 (59) | 43 (80) | −23 (−59, 13) |
Diagnostic tests | 4.3 (3.8) | 1.8 (2.0) | 193 (325)* | 53 (83) | 140* (46, 235) |
Blood | 2.0 (1.8) | 1.0 (1.2) | 37 (34)* | 19 (22) | 18* (6, 31) |
Urine | 1.5 (1.7) | 0.5 (0.8) | 17 (19) | 6 (9) | 11 (5, 18) |
Radiographs | 0.3 (0.7) | 0.1 (0.4) | 11 (28) | 3 (13) | 8 (−1, 17) |
CT scan | 0.1 (0.4) | 0.04 (0.2) | 45 (167) | 15 (77) | 29 (−25, 84) |
MRI | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0 (0, 0) |
Other tests3 | 0.4 (0.7) | 0.2 (0.4) | 84 (240)* | 10 (27) | 74* (7, 140) |
Alternative treatments | 0.8 (1.3) | 0.9 (1.5) | 90 (205) | 68 (164) | 21 (−66, 109) |
Assistive devices | 0.2 (0.6 | 0.4 (1.1) | 29 (104) | 43 (151) | −14 (−81, 52) |
Hospital emergency, % | 17.3 | 7.7 | 30 (66) | 13 (47) | 17 (−9, 43) |
Surgical procedures, % | 9.6 | 0.0 | 77 (239)* | 0.0 | 77* (11, 144) |
Hospitalization, % | 7.8 | 3.8 | |||
Length of hospital stay, days | 2.5 (1.7) | 4.0 (0.0) | 82 (334) | 64 (327) | 18 (−142, 177) |
Medications, % | 100 | 96 | 433 (386) | 327 (375) | 106 (76, 287) |
Total cost, $ | 1094 (790)* | 703 (648) | 391* (45, 736) | ||
Annual cost, $ | 14,224 (10,265)* | 9142 (8419) | 5082* (591, 9573) |
↵* Statistically significant from ILN at p < 0.05.
↵1 Rheumatologist, nephrologist, internist, family physician, gynecologist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, immunologist, respirologist, cardiologist, gastroenterologist, orthopedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, bariatric surgeon, endocrinologist, dentist, neurologist, psychiatrist, and ear-nose-throat specialist.
↵2 Naturopath, dietician, pharmacist, acupuncturist, psychotherapist, nurse, massage therapist, physiotherapist, and chiro practor.
↵3 Endoscopy, ultrasound imaging, biopsy procedure, breathing test, Pap smear, visual fields test, Doppler test, Holter monitor, cytoscopy, bone mineral density, mammogram, and electrocardiogram. ALN: active lupus nephritis; ILN: inactive lupus nephritis; CT: computed tomography; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging.