title: Cost-effectiveness of individualized nutrition and exercise therapy for rehabilitation following hip fracture.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To undertake a cost-utility analysis of the Individual Nutrition Therapy and Exercise Regime: A Controlled Trial of Injured, Vulnerable Elderly (INTERACTIVE) trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cost-utility analysis of a randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 175 patients following a hip fracture were allocated to receive either alternate weekly visits from a physical therapist and dietitian (intervention group), or social visits for 6 months (control group).
  
  
  METHODS
  Costs for utilization of hospitals, health and community services were compared with quality-adjusted life years gained, calculated from responses to the Assessment of Quality of Life instrument.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were minimal differences in mean costs between the intervention ($AUD 45,331 standard deviation (SD): $AUD 23,012) and the control group ($AUD 44,764 SD: $AUD 20,712, p = 0.868), but a slightly higher mean gain in quality-adjusted life years in the intervention group (0.155, SD: 0.132) compared with the control group (0.139, SD: 0.149, p = 0.470). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $AUD 28,350 per quality-adjusted life year gained, which is below the implied cost-effectiveness threshold utilized by regulatory authorities in Australia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A comprehensive 6-month programme of therapy from dietitians and physical therapists could be provided at a relatively low additional cost in this group of frail older adults, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio indicates likely cost-effectiveness, although there was a very high level of uncertainty in the findings.
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation, Aged and Extended Care, Flinders University, 5001 Adelaide, Australia. rachel.milte@flinders.edu.au.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Milte
authors.forename: Michelle D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crotty
authors.forename: Shylie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mackintosh
authors.forename: Susie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Ian D
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Whitehead
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurrle
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ratcliffe
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006620:Hip Fractures / Q000191:economics* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011788:Quality of Life