Cost-effectiveness analyses of osteoarthritis oral therapies: a systematic review.
BACKGROUND
Cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) have been performed for oral non-disease-altering osteoarthritis (OA) treatments for well over a decade. During that period the methods for performing these analyses have evolved as pharmacoeconomic methods have advanced, new treatments have been introduced, and the knowledge of associated adverse events (AEs) has improved.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this systematic review was to trace the development of CEAs for oral non-disease-altering treatments in OA.


METHODS
A systematic search for CEAs of OA oral treatments was performed of the English-language medical literature using the following databases: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE In-Process, EconLit, and Cochrane. Key requirements for inclusion were that the population described patients with OA or arthritis and that the analysis reported at least one incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. Each identified publication was assessed for inclusion. Thirteen characteristics and all AEs appearing in each included CEA were extracted and organized. Reference lists from these CEAs were also searched. A chronology of key CEAs in the field was compiled, noting the characteristics that advanced the state of the art in modeling oral OA treatments.


RESULTS
Thirty publications of 28 CEAs were identified and evaluated. Developments in CEAs included an expanded set of comparators that broadened from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) only to NSAIDs plus gastroprotective agents, cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, and opioids. In turn, AEs expanded from gastrointestinal (GI) events to also include cardiovascular (CV) and neurological events. Efficacy, which initially was presumed to be equivalent for all treatments, evolved to treatment-specific efficacies. Decision-tree analyses were generally replaced by Markov models or, occasionally, stochastic or discrete event simulation. Finally, outcomes have progressed from GI-centric measures to also include quality-adjusted life-years.


CONCLUSIONS
Methods used by CEAs of oral non-disease-altering OA treatments have evolved in response to changing treatments with different safety profiles and efficacies as well as technical advances in the application of decision science to health care.
Medical Decision Modeling Inc., 8909 Purdue Road, Suite #550, Indianapolis, IN, 46268, USA, rwielage@mdm-inc.com.
Ronald C
RC
Wielage
Julie A
JA
Myers
Robert W
RW
Klein
Michael
M
Happich
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics*; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics*
D000700:Analgesics; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents