Quality of life and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in patients with osteoarthritis pain.
To assess quality of life (QoL), costs, and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture treatment plus routine care versus routine care alone in osteoarthritis patients, a randomised, controlled trial was conducted in 255 general practices in Germany. Four hundred and eighty-nine patients with chronic pain due to osteoarthritis of the knee or hip were included to evaluated QoL and costs at baseline and after 3 months using health insurance funds data and standardized questionnaires. Patients receiving acupuncture had an improved QoL associated with significantly higher costs over the 3 months treatment period compared to routine care alone (mean cost-difference: 469.50 euros [95%CI 135.80-803.19 euros]). This increase in costs was primarily due to the costs of acupuncture. The overall ICER was 17,845 euros per QALY gained. The degree of cost-effectiveness was influenced by gender, with female patients achieving a better cost-effectiveness ratio than men. In conclusion, acupuncture was a cost-effective treatment strategy in patients with chronic osteoarthritis pain.
Reinhold
Thomas
T
Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics, Charité University Medical Center, Berlin, Germany. thomas.reinhold@charite.de
Witt
Claudia M
CM
Jena
Susanne
S
Brinkhaus
Benno
B
Willich
Stefan N
SN
D026881:Acupuncture / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000191:economics / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D059408:Pain Management; D011788:Quality of Life