Cost-effectiveness of a supplementary class-based exercise program in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of a class-based exercise program supplementing a home-based program when compared with a home-based program alone. In addition, we estimated the probability that the supplementary class program is cost-effective over a range of values of a decision maker's willingness to pay for an additional quality-adjusted life-year (QALY).


METHODS
The resource use and effectiveness data were collected as part of the clinical trial detailed elsewhere. Unit costs were estimated from published sources. The net benefit approach to cost-effectiveness analysis is used to estimate the probability of the intervention being cost-effective.


RESULTS
The addition of a supplementary class-based group results in an increase in QALYs and lower costs. For all plausible values of a decision maker's willingness to pay for a QALY, the supplementary class group is likely to be cost-effective.


CONCLUSIONS
The addition of a class-based exercise program is likely to be cost-effective and, on current evidence, should be implemented.
Richardson
Gerry
G
Centre for Health Economics, University of York, UK. gar2@york.ac.uk
Hawkins
Neil
N
McCarthy
Christopher James
CJ
Mills
Pauline Mary
PM
Pullen
Rachel
R
Roberts
Christopher
C
Silman
Alan
A
Oldham
Jacqueline Ann
JA