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P.413 Impact of pharmacological maintenance treatment on healthcare costs in hispanic outpatients with systemic sclerosis

jsrd · 2026-06-05 · canonical JSON source

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Introduction Systemic Sclerosis (SSc) is associated with polypharmacy and consumes a significant amount of healthcare resources, with economic impact on patients and their families. In this study, we aim to determine the effect of the monthly medication costs on the income of patients with SSc in a third-level hospital in Mexico, as well as its impact on obtaining the treatment.Material and Methods We conducted an observational retrospective study between 2024 and 2025 in the outpatient Rheumatology consult at the Dr. José Eleuterio González University Hospital in Monterrey, Mexico. We included all patients aged 18 and older with a diagnosis of SSc according to the EULAR/ACR 2013 classification criteria. A social worker assessed the patients’ monthly income through a telephonic economic evaluation. Medications prescribed to patients were evaluated and categorized into therapeutic groups, including Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs), immunosuppressive agents, vasodilators/antihypertensives, proton pump inhibitors, and other drugs used for the management of comorbidities. We obtained the average medication costs by comparing prices at three local pharmacies. The prices and income were reported in United States Dollars (USD), considering one dollar equals 18,58 Mexican pesos. We made a descriptive analysis with measures of central tendency and dispersion for quantitative variables.Results We analyzed the most recent medical prescriptions from 60 outpatients with SSc diagnosis between 2024 and 2025, averaging 6.41 drugs per patient. 62% (37) use at least one synthetic DMARD: 55% (33) use only one, and 7% (4) use two. 70% (42) have polypharmacy, considering it as the usage of > 4 medications simultaneously. 65% (39) use an immunosuppressor. 27 out of the 60 patients answered the economic evaluation, concluding families earn a mean of USD 404,03 per month, in a range that goes from USD 0,0 to USD 1.345,53. The average monthly cost per prescription was USD 119,11 (USD 40,41-283,47). Approximately 29% of the family’s monthly income is spent on medications only. 44% (12) of patients had to stop getting at least one medication due to prices.Conclusions Almost a third of the total family’s monthly income is spent on medication for SSc and its comorbidities and symptoms, not including consultations, therapy, hospitalizations, and other medical services. Nearly half of the patients exclude at least one medication from their treatment due to price.