Knee osteoarthritis patients treated with intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IHA) to relieve their pain incurred lower total medical care costs than those treated with intra-articular corticosteroids (ICS) or total knee arthroplasty (TKA), according to a retrospective study, published in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.
In addition, patients in the IHA cohort had fewer adverse outcomes than patients in the ICS and TKA cohorts and had lower use/costs of opioids and prescription analgesics versus patients in the ICS and TKA cohorts, according to a media release from Bioventus.
In the study, researchers analyzed an insurance claims database whose eligible members were diagnosed with knee OA, followed for a 4-year observation period of patients allocated to three cohorts: those who received IHA only, those who received ICS only, and those who received TKA only.
“The treatment options available to [knee osteoarthritis] patients are limited, and many are associated with complications. We have long known that introducing HA treatments earlier in the continuum of care of knee OA patients provides pain relief and safely allows them to enjoy a more active lifestyle.
“Now we know that with the efficacy and safety of HA treatments also come reduced total medical costs, fewer adverse events and a minimization of opioids and analgesics use. These findings should be very relevant to clinicians and payers working with these patients to improve treatment algorithms and minimize healthcare costs.”
— Alessandra Pavesio, Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer, Bioventus
For more information, visit Bioventus.
[Source(s): Bioventus, Business Wire]
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