Economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in the management of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy
Molassiotis, A; Dawkins, B; Longo, R; et al.Suen, LKP; Cheng, HL; Mok, T; Hulme, CT; Yeo, W
Date: 13 March 2020
Article
Journal
Acupuncture in Medicine
Publisher
SAGE Publications
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Objective: to assess the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in the management of
chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in Hong Kong.
Methods: A within trial cost-utility analysis with the primary endpoint for the economic
evaluation being the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) and associated Incremental
Cost Effectiveness Ratio ...
Objective: to assess the cost-effectiveness of acupuncture in the management of
chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in Hong Kong.
Methods: A within trial cost-utility analysis with the primary endpoint for the economic
evaluation being the Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) and associated Incremental
Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) over 14 weeks of treatment. A secondary costeffectiveness analysis was undertaken with the endpoint being change in pain as
measured on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI).
Results: Eighty-seven patients were randomised to acupuncture or usual care.
Acupuncture resulted in significant improvements in pain intensity (8 & 14 week mean
changes compared to usual care of -1.8 & -1.8, respectively), pain interference (8 &
14 week mean changes compared to usual care of -1.5 & -0.9, respectively) and
indicators of quality of life and neurotoxicity-related symptoms. However, in the
economic evaluation there was little difference in QALYs between the two arms (mean
change 0.209 and 0.200 in the acupuncture and usual care arm respectively). Also,
costs yielded deterministic ICERs of HK$616,965.62, HK$824,083.44 and
HK$540,727.56 per QALY gained from the health care provider perspective, the
societal perspective and the patient perspective, respectively. These costs are
significantly higher than the cost-effectiveness threshold of HK$180,450 that was used
for the base case analysis.
Conclusion: While acupuncture can improve symptoms and quality of life indicators
related to CIPN, it is unlikely to be a cost-effective treatment for CIPN-related pain in
health care systems with limited resources.
Institute of Health Research
Collections of Former Colleges
Item views 0
Full item downloads 0