Pain Exposure Physical Therapy versus conventional treatment in complex regional pain syndrome type 1-a cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a randomized controlled trial.

ABSTRACT: OBJECTIVE:To analyze cost-effectiveness of Pain Exposure Physical Therapy compared to conventional treatment alongside a randomized controlled trial (NCT00817128) in patients with complex regional pain syndrome type 1, where no clinical difference was shown between the two groups in an intention-to-treat analysis. DESIGN:Randomized controlled trial with 9?months follow-up. SETTING:Patients were recruited from hospitals and general practitioners in the region around a university hospital. SUBJECTS:A total of 56 patients, 45 (80.4%) female, were randomized. About 4 patients in the intervention and 11 patients in the conventional group switched groups. The mean (SD) age was 44.3 (16.6) years, and in 37 (66.1%) patients, the upper extremity was affected. INTERVENTIONS:Patients received either Pain Exposure Physical Therapy (maximum of five sessions), or conventional treatment conforming with the Dutch multidisciplinary guideline. MAIN MEASURES:For the economic evaluation difference between the groups in health-related quality of life (quality-adjusted life years (QALYs)), and the clinical outcomes Impairment level Sum Score-Restricted Version and Pain Disability was determined based on the intention-to-treat analysis as well as differences in both healthcare-related costs and travel expenses. Cost-effectiveness planes were constructed using bootstrapping to compare effects and costs. RESULTS:No significant effects were found for QALYs (mean difference?=?-0.02; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.10 to 0.04) and clinical outcomes. A cost minimization analysis showed a significant difference in costs between groups. The conventional treatment was 64% more expensive than the Pain Exposure Physical Therapy. CONCLUSION:This economic analysis shows that Pain Exposure Physical Therapy compared to conventional treatment is cost-effective.

SUBMITTER: Barnhoorn K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5971370 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature