Cost-effectiveness of duloxetine for knee OA subjects: the role of pain severity.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Establish the impact of pain severity on the cost-effectiveness of generic duloxetine for knee osteoarthritis (OA) in the United States.

Design

We used a validated computer simulation of knee OA to compare usual care (UC) - intra-articular injections, opioids, and total knee replacement (TKR) - to UC preceded by duloxetine in those no longer achieving pain relief from non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Outcomes included quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), lifetime medical costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). We considered cohorts with mean ages 57-75 years and Western Ontario and McMaster Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain 25-55 (0-100, 100-worst). We derived inputs from published data. We discounted costs and benefits 3% annually.

SUBMITTER: Sullivan JK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7814698 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature