Article

PURPOSE: To describe cost-effectiveness of the Physical Activity in Rheumatoid
Arthritis (PARA) study intervention. METHOD: Costs were collected and estimated
retrospectively. Cost-effectiveness was calculated based on the intervention cost
per patient with respect to change in health status (EuroQol global visual analog
scale--EQ-VAS and EuroQol--EQ-5D) and activity limitation (Health assessment
questionnaire - HAQ) using cost-effectiveness- and cost-minimization analyses.
RESULTS: Total cost of the one-year intervention program was estimated to be
euro67 317 or euro716 per participant. Estimated difference in total societal
cost between the intervention (IG) and control (CG) was euro580 per participant.
Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for one point (1/100) of improvement
in EQ-VAS was estimated to be euro116. By offering the intervention to more
affected participants in the IG compared to less affected participants, 15.5
extra points of improvement in EQ-VAS and 0.13 points of improvement on HAQ were
gained at the same cost. "Ordinary physiotherapy" was most cost-effective with
regard to EQ-5D. CONCLUSIONS: The intervention resulted in improved effect in
health status for the IG with a cost of euro116 per extra point in VAS. The
intervention was cost-effective if targeted towards a subgroup of more affected
patients when evaluating the effect using VAS and HAQ. IMPLICATIONS FOR
REHABILITATION: The physical activity coaching intervention resulted in an
improved effect on VAS for the intervention group, to a higher cost. In order to
maximize cost-effectiveness, this type of physical activity coaching intervention
should be targeted towards patients largely affected by their RA. The
intervention is cost-effective from the patients' point of view, but not from
that of the general population.

Langue : ANGLAIS