Table 7.

RA economic impact characteristics

Characteristic	Sample n = 206	Group Aa n = 129	Group Bb n = 70	p value Group A versus B
Sick leave /6 months c	20%	23,7%	14,3%	NS
Days of sick leave / 6 months c	2,42 ± 7,06	3,58 ± 8,66	0,43 ± 1,08	0,03*
hospitalizations / 6 months	52,4%	47,2%	67,1%	0,007*
Days of hospitalization / 6 months	5,42 ± 7,67	4,79 ± 7,21	6,82 ± 8,52	0,08
Loss of labor productivity: RA pensioners d	38,5%	33,7%	46,9%	NS
RA retirement after diagnosis time – years	5,65 ± 5,99	5,76 ± 6,81	5,52 ± 5,33	NS
RA retirement in FIRST YEAR after diagnosis e	22,9%	28,6%	13%	0,1
Rheumatologist visits /6 months				0,000*
6 visits	32,3%	39,2%	21,4%
3 visits	19,4%	11,2%	35,7%
2 visits	15,4%	18,4%	8,6%
0 visits	3%	4,8%	–
Primary care visits (GP) / 6 months				NS
6 visits	41,7%	46%	34,8%
3 visits	7,5%	6,5%	8,7%
2 visits	8,5%	6,5%	11,6%
0 visits	15,6%	16,1%	14,5%
Medical system appeal (global) / 3 months				NS
3 appeals	26,9%	27,1%	27,5%
2 appeals	10,4%	7,6%	15,9%
1 appeal	15,5%	13,6%	17,4%
0 appeals	13,5%	17,8%	7,2%
Specialty (regardless of rheumatology and GP)				NS
Cardiology	4,4%	4,7%	2,9%
Gynecology	3,9%	3,1%	4,3%
Endocrinology	2,9%	3,9%	1,4%
Diabetology	2,4%	1,6%	4,3%
Dermatology	2,4%	3,1%	1,4%
Lab tests sets				0,004*
3 sets	26,2%	21,4%	35,7%
2 sets	39,6%	42,9%	34,3%
1 set	16,8%	19,8%	10%
0 sets	1%	0,8%	–
Xrays number				0,008*
>3 Xays	9,4%	12,6%	2,9%
1 – 3 Xrays	50,7%	55,1%	45,7%
0 Xray	39,9%	32,3%	51,4%
CT	0,5%	0,8%	–	NS
MRI	0,5%	0,8%	–
Own pocket expenses/ monthly				NS
<50 lei	34,7%	38,5%	26,5%
50 – 100 lei	39,8%	36,1%	45,6%
< 100 lei	25,5%	25,4%	27,9%
Rehabilitation	10,8%	10,2%	11,4%	NS