title: Prospective randomized study comparing the medicoeconomic benefits of Hylan GF-20 vs. conventional treatment in knee osteoarthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a previous study, we determined the costs over 6 months to the French public health insurance system of Hylan GF-20 (Synvisc) in 66 patients with knee osteoarthritis. Here, we compared the medicoeconomic benefits over 9 months in 506 patients given Hylan GF-20 or conventional treatment for knee osteoarthritis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective randomized study was conducted from October 1998 to February 2000. Clinical status was evaluated using the Lequesne index, the WOMAC index, and the SF12 quality-of-life questionnaire. Medical and sick leave costs to the public health insurance system were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Effectiveness criteria were evaluable in all 506 patients. Significant clinical improvements were noted from the first month to the end of the 9-month study period in the Synvisc group. A mean 2-point difference in the Lequesne index area-under-the-curve was found in favor of Synvisc (P < 0.0001). Mean medical and sick leave costs per patient over 9 months were 829.10 in the Synvisc group and 829.40 in the conventional treatment group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study carried out over 9 months in a large population confirms that Synvisc viscosupplementation is more effective than conventional treatment, at no additional cost. It takes a step toward answering the request of international experts for medicoeconomic data on viscosupplementation for osteoarthritis.
authors.affiliation: Rheumatology Department A, Paris V University, Cochin Teaching Hospital, AP-HP, 27, rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques, 75014, Paris, France. andre.kahan@cch.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kahan
authors.forename: Pierre-Louis
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Lleu
authors.forename: Laurence
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Salin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular / Q000191:economics; D008875:Middle Aged; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C049816:hylan; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid