Imputing productivity gains from clinical trials.
OBJECTIVE
To respond to employer and payer interest in the extent to which productivity gains offset therapy costs by identifying clinical trials that did not include such measures and using their clinical data to impute productivity impact.


METHODS
A PubMed search identified the sample of 25 clinical trials of musculoskeletal pain medications and antidepressants. Next, we applied regression coefficients, quantifying the empirical relationship between clinical measures to each trial's clinical outcomes data. This validated methodology provides estimates of Work Limitations Questionnaire Productivity Loss scores.


RESULTS
Based on imputation, musculoskeletal medications and antidepressants achieved median productivity gains of approximately 0.5% and 1.0%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Accounting for productivity gains based on the Work Limitations Questionnaire could substantially influence cost-effectiveness results reported in the health economics literature.
Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
Michael J
MJ
Cangelosi
Sarah
S
Bliss
Hong
H
Chang
Robert W
RW
Dubois
Debra
D
Lerner
Peter J
PJ
Neumann
Kimberly
K
Westrich
Joshua T
JT
Cohen
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000191:economics*; D004526:Efficiency; D006801:Humans; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents