OBJECTIVES:To estimate and compare cost-of-illness (COI) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in South Korea. METHODS: Patients with RA (nϭ196) and AS (nϭ191) were surveyed by face-to-face interviews at the Rheumatology Clinic of Seoul National University Hospital. Direct costs [medical costs (treatment, drug, private physiotherapy, traditional Chinese medicine, other alternative medicine), non-medical costs (travel, dietary supplements, auxiliary device, home assistance)], indirect costs (productivity loss due to job loss and sick leave) and deterioration in HRQOL of RA and AS patients were measured. HRQOL was assessed using KEQ-5D. Factors associated with COI and HRQOL were analyzed using multiple regression and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS

A221 burden was 48.2%, 45.3% and 39.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests the economic burden of osteoporosis fractures is substantial in terms of LOS and inpatient costs and elderly fracture patients consume significantly more resources. Patient co-pay rates decreased due to an increase in the reimbursement rates from health care. The rising trend in osteoporosis fractures may pose a huge burden to China.