Economic evaluation of acupuncture in treating patients with pain and mental health concerns: the results of the Alberta Complementary Health Integration Project.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its economic impact have heightened the risk of mental health and pain-related issues. The integration of acupuncture with conventional medicine shows promise in improving treatment outcomes for these conditions. The Alberta Complementary Health Integration Project (ABCHIP) aimed to provide acupuncture to youth (aged 24 and under) and seniors (aged 55 and above) experiencing chronic pain, pain management issues, mental health issues, and/or related conditions. The program aimed to promote integrative care, assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of these therapies, and deliver patient-centered care. Design: ABCHIP provided acupuncture to address pain, mental health, and addiction issues at no cost to two vulnerable populations in Alberta: youth and the older adult. A total of 606 patients aged 14-65 received 5,424 acupuncture treatments. Outcome measures included pain interference, pain severity, sleep quality, depression, anxiety, fatigue, anger, and quality of life. Short-term outcomes were assessed through questionnaires completed at the beginning and completion of the treatments, while long-term benefits were estimated using these outcome indicators and existing literature on the economic cost of illnesses. Result: The cost-effectiveness analysis revealed the following ratios per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY): CND12,171 for the overall sample, CND10,766 for patients with pain, CND9,331 for individuals with depression, and CND9,030 for those with anxiety. The cost-benefit analysis demonstrated annual cost savings ranging from CND1,487 to CND5,255, with an average of CND3,371. Conclusion: The study findings indicate that ABCHIP's treatment for pain, depression, anxiety, and sleep issues is cost-effective, leading to substantial cost savings and improved quality of life for patients. The program's cost per Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) is significantly lower than benchmarks used in other countries, demonstrating high cost-effectiveness and value. Patients receiving 12 treatments experienced significant improvements across all measures, with estimated economic benefits surpassing treatment costs. In summary, ABCHIP offers a cost-effective and economically efficient therapy choice for individuals dealing with pain and mental health issues.

Effectiveness of acupuncture in treating patients with pain and mental health concerns: the results of the Alberta Complementary Health Integration Project.

Background: This study presents real-world evidence on the clinical outcomes of the Alberta Complementary Health Integration Project (ABCHIP), which utilized acupuncture to address pain and mental health issues in two vulnerable populations in Alberta: youth (aged 24 and below) and elderly (aged 55 and above). Methods: Over 282 days, a total of 606 patients received 5,424 acupuncture treatments. Tailored to each patients' specific pain and mental health concerns, an individualized treatment plan was selected, following a standard treatment protocol lasting 1 to 3 months. Patients were evaluated at least twice: initially and upon completing therapy. Primary treatment outcomes were assessed using various measures, including the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Patient Health Questionnaire 9 (PHQ9), PROMIS Anxiety 8a and its pediatric form PROMIS Anxiety-Pediatric, PROMIS Short Form v1.0 Fatigue 8a and its pediatric counterpart PROMIS Pediatric Short Form v2.0 Fatigue 10a, PROMIS Short Form v1.1 Anger 5a and its version PROMIS SF v2.0 5a, and EQ-5D-5L. These measures gauged pain reduction, improved sleep quality, reduced depression, anxiety, fatigue, anger, and quality of life, respectively. Results: Analysis of data from 500 patients who received at least 6 acupuncture sessions through ABCHIP showed statistically significant improvements in clinical outcomes. Among this group, the subgroup of 235 patients who received at least 12 sessions demonstrated the most favorable treatment outcomes, including an 75.5% reduction in pain severity, a 53.1% improvement in sleep quality, a 78.4% drop in depression, a 41.1% decline in anxiety, a 43.7% decrease in fatigue, a 38.2% decrease in anger, and a 42.6% improvement in overall quality of life. Conclusion: Integrating acupuncture with usual care demonstrates promise in enhancing mental health, alleviating chronic and general pain, and improving overall quality of life. The findings suggest that integrative programs, such as ABCHIP, present an effective approach to addressing pain and mental health concerns in vulnerable populations, providing valuable insights for future healthcare interventions.