Quality of life and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in patients with osteoarthritis pain
Item
Title
Quality of life and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture treatment in patients with osteoarthritis pain
Date
2007
Research Type
RCT
Keywords
Abstract
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: <euro>469.50 [95%CI <euro>135.80-<euro>803.19]). This increase in costs was primarily due to the costs of acupuncture. The overall ICER was <euro>17,845 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
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has health condition studied
Arthritis
has study population number
489
has duration
N/A