title: Cost-effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in patients with headache.
abstract: The aim was to assess costs and cost-effectiveness of additional acupuncture treatment in patients with headache compared with patients receiving routine care alone. A randomized, controlled trial was conducted, including patients (> or =18 years old) with primary headache (more than 12 months, at least two headaches/month). Outcome parameters were quality of life (Short Form 36), direct and indirect costs differences during the 3-month study period and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of acupuncture treatment. A total of 3182 patients (1613 acupuncture; 1569 controls) with headache were included (77.4% women, mean age and standard deviation 42.6 +/- 12.3; 22.6% men, 47.2 +/- 13.4). Over 3 months costs were higher in the acupuncture group compared with the control [euro857.47; 95% confidence interval 790.86, 924.07, vs. euro527.34 (459.81, 594.88), P < 0.001, mean difference: euro330.12 (235.27, 424.98)]. This cost increase was primarily due to costs of acupuncture [euro365.64 (362.19, 369.10)]. The ICER was euro11 657 per QALY gained. According to international cost-effectiveness threshold values, acupuncture is a cost-effective treatment in patients with primary headache.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social Medicine, Epidemiology, and Health Economics, Charité, University Medical Centre, Berlin, Germany. claudia.witt@charite.de
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Witt
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reinhold
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jena
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Brinkhaus
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Willich
mesh_terms: D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia / Q000191:economics*; D000328:Adult; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D017059:Models, Econometric; D011788:Quality of Life; D018781:Tension-Type Headache / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome