Lifetime cost of surgical treatment for canine hip osteoarthritis is less than conservative management in dogs under eight years of age.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the lifetime cost of 3 treatments for canine hip osteoarthritis: (1) conservative management, (2) femoral head and neck excision (FHNE), or (3) total hip replacement. We hypothesized that FHNE would be the least expensive treatment at all ages. SAMPLE: Cost estimates from 11 private and academic referral centers from 8 randomly chosen cities across the US. METHODS: Costs of surgeries were collected from practices in 8 US cities. The literature was used to determine expected postoperative costs. For conservative management, costs of pain medications and diet were obtained by use of online pharmacies. A 4.5% inflation adjustment was used for costs in subsequent years. RESULTS: For a dog aged 1 to 7 years, FHNE had the lowest lifetime cost. Total hip replacement had the second lowest cost until age 4, after which conservative management was lower. For dogs > 8 years, conservative management was the most cost-effective. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: For dogs presenting with clinical signs at or under 1 year of age, the perceived benefits of total hip replacement may not be financially prohibitive if lifetime cost of care is considered. Femoral head and neck excision was also less expensive than long-term conservative management. This can help veterinarians inform owners on costs of treatments over the lifetime of their pet. This type of analysis is limited to financial costs alone and does not account for differences in outcomes, as these are not well established. It should be expanded in the future as better data on outcomes and impacts of care become available.

Annual epidemiological and health insurance disease burden of hip osteoarthritis in Hungary based on nationwide data.

BACKGROUND: Health services utilization related to hip osteoarthritis imposes a significant burden on society and health care systems. Our aim was to analyse the epidemiological and health insurance disease burden of hip osteoarthritis in Hungary based on nationwide data. METHODS: Data were extracted from the nationwide financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) of Hungary for the year 2018. The analysed data included annual patient numbers, prevalence, and age-standardized prevalence per 100,000 population in outpatient care, health insurance costs calculated for age groups and sexes for all types of care. Patients with hip osteoarthritis were identified using code M16 of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD), 10th revision. Age-standardised prevalence rates were calculated using the European Standard Population 2013 (ESP2013). RESULTS: Based on patient numbers of outpatient care, the prevalence per 100,000 among males was 1,483.7 patients (1.5%), among females 2,905.5 (2.9%), in total 2,226.2 patients (2.2%). The age-standardised prevalence was 1,734.8 (1.7%) for males and 2,594.8 (2.6%) for females per 100,000 population, for a total of 2,237.6 (2.2%). The prevalence per 100,000 population was higher for women in all age groups. In age group 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60-69 and 70 + the overall prevalence was 0.2%, 0.8%, 2.7%, 5.0% and 7.7%, respectively, describing a continuously increasing trend. In 2018, the NHIFA spent 42.31 million EUR on the treatment of hip osteoarthritis. Hip osteoarthritis accounts for 1% of total nationwide health insurance expenditures. 36.8% of costs were attributed to the treatment of male patients, and 63.2% to female patients. Acute inpatient care, outpatient care and chronic and rehabilitation inpatient care were the main cost drivers, accounting for 62.7%, 14.6% and 8.2% of the total health care expenditure for men, and 51.0%, 20.0% and 11.2% for women, respectively. The average annual treatment cost per patient was 3,627 EUR for men and 4,194 EUR for women. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of hip osteoarthritis was 1.96 times higher (the age-standardised prevalence was 1.5 times higher) in women compared to men. Acute inpatient care was the major cost driver in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis. The average annual treatment cost per patient was 15.6% higher for women compared to men.

Evaluation of patient reported outcome measures and costs of managing osteoarthritis of the hip.

The number of hospital admissions for a hip prosthesis increased by more than 91% between 2002 and 2019 in Belgium (1), making it one of the most common interventions in hospitals. The objective of this study is to evaluate patient-report- ed outcomes and hospital costs of hip replacement six months after surgery. Both generic (EQ-5D) and specific (HOOS) PROMs of general hospital patients undergoing hip replacement surgery in 2021 were conducted. The results of these PROMs were then combined with financial and health management data. The mean difference (SD) in QALYs between the preoperative and postoperative phases is 0.20 QALYs (0.32 QALYs). The average cost (SD) of all stays is €4,792 (€1,640). Amongst the five dimensions evaluated in the EQ-5D health questionnaire, the 'pain' dimension seems to be associated with the greatest improvement in quality of life. As regards Belgium, the 26,066 arthroplasties performed in 2020 might constitute a gain of 123,000 years of life in good health. The relationship between QALYs and costs described in this study posits a ratio of €23,960 per year of life gained in good health. Given that in Belgium more than 3% of the hospital healthcare budget is devoted to hip prostheses, it would seem relevant to us to apply PROM tools to the entire patient population to assess treatment effectiveness more broadly, identify patient needs and, also, monitor the quality of care provided.

Correlation Between Patient-Reported Outcome Measures and Health Insurance Provider Types in Patients with Hip Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are frequently utilized to assess patient perceptions of health and function. Numerous factors influence self-reported physical and mental health outcome scores. The purpose of this study was to examine if an association exists between insurance payer type and baseline PROM scores in patients diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the baseline PROM scores of 5,974 patients diagnosed with hip osteoarthritis according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code within our institutional database from 2015 to 2020. We examined Hip disability and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score-Physical Function Short-form (HOOS-PS), Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function Short Form 10a (PF10a), PROMIS Global-Mental, and PROMIS Global-Physical scores. Descriptive analyses, analysis of variance (ANOVA), analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), and post hoc analyses were utilized to assess variations in PROM scores across insurance type. RESULTS: The mean age (and standard deviation) of the study population was 63.5 ± 12.2 years, and 55.7% of patients were female. The Medicaid cohort had a comparatively higher percentage of Black, Hispanic, and non-English-speaking patients and a lower median household income. The Charlson Comorbidity Index was highest in the Medicare and Medicaid insurance cohorts. Patients utilizing commercial insurance consistently demonstrated the highest baseline PROMs, and patients utilizing Medicaid consistently demonstrated the lowest baseline PROMs. Subsequent analyses found significantly poorer mean scores for the Medicaid cohort for all 4 PROMs when compared with the commercial insurance and Medicare cohorts. These score differences exceeded the minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs). For the PROMIS Global-Mental subscore, a significantly lower mean score was observed for the Workers' Compensation and motor vehicle insurance cohort when compared with the commercial insurance and Medicare cohort. This difference also exceeded the MCID. CONCLUSIONS: PROM scores in patients with hip osteoarthritis varied among those with different insurance types. Variations in certain demographic and health indices are potential drivers of these observed baseline PROM differences. For patients with hip osteoarthritis, the use of PROMs for research, clinical, or quality-linked payment metrics should acknowledge baseline variation between patients with different insurance types. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Total Shoulder Arthroplasty Is Cost-Effective Compared with Hemiarthroplasty: A Real-World Economic Evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Although outcome studies generally demonstrate the superiority of a total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) over a hemiarthroplasty (HA), comparative cost-effectiveness has not been well studied. From a publicly funded health-care system's perspective, this study compared the costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) in patients who underwent TSA with those in patients who underwent HA. METHODS: We conducted a cost-utility analysis using a Markov model to simulate the costs and QALYs for patients undergoing either TSA or HA over a lifetime horizon to account for costs and medically important events over the patient lifetime. Subgroup analyses by age groups (≤50 or >50 years) were performed. A series of sensitivity analyses were performed to assess robustness of study findings. The results were presented in 2019 U.S. dollars. RESULTS: TSA was dominant as it was less costly ($115,785 compared with $118,501) and more effective (10.21 compared with 8.47 QALYs) than HA over a lifetime horizon. Changes to health utility values after TSA and HA had the largest impact on the cost-effectiveness findings. At a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of $50,000 per QALY gained, HA was not found to be cost-effective. The probability that TSA was cost-effective was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Based on a WTP of $50,000 per QALY gained, from the perspective of Canada's publicly funded health-care system, TSA was found to be cost-effective in all patients, including those ≤50 years of age, compared with HA. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic and Decision Analysis Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Are education, exercise and diet interventions a cost-effective treatment to manage hip and knee osteoarthritis? A systematic review.

OBJECTIVE: To identify research gaps and inform implementation we systematically reviewed the literature evaluating cost-effectiveness of recommended treatments (education, exercise and diet) for the management of hip and/or knee OA. METHODS: We searched Medline, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, National Health Services Economic Evaluation Database, and EconLit from inception to November 2019 for trial-based economic evaluations investigating hip and/or knee OA core treatments. Two investigators screened relevant publications, extracted data and synthesized results. Risk of bias was assessed using the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria list. RESULTS: Two cost-minimization, five cost-effectiveness and 16 cost-utility analyses evaluated core treatments in six health systems. Exercise therapy with and without education or diet was cost-effective or cost-saving compared to education or physician-delivered usual care at conventional willingness to pay (WTP) thresholds in 15 out of 16 publications. Exercise interventions were cost-effective compared to physiotherapist-delivered usual care in three studies at conventional WTP thresholds. Education interventions were not cost-effective compared to usual care or placebo at conventional WTP thresholds in three out of four publications. CONCLUSIONS: Structured core treatment programs were clinically effective and cost-effective, compared to physician-delivered usual care, in five health care systems. Providing education about core treatments was not consistently cost-effective. Implementing structured core treatment programs into funded clinical pathways would likely be an efficient use of health system resources and enhance physician-delivered usual primary care.

Costing analysis of a digital first-line treatment platform for patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis in Sweden.

Osteoarthritis (OA) constitutes a major and increasing burden on patients, health care systems and the broader society. It is estimated that around a quarter of the adult population is affected by OA in the knee and hip and that the prevalence of OA will increase over the coming decades largely due to aging and adverse life-style factors. Prevention and effective care are critical to manage the challenges posed by OA. Digital technologies offer opportunities to deliver cost-effective care for chronic diseases, including for OA. We report the results of a costing analysis of a new digital platform for delivering first-line care including disease information and physiotherapy to patients with OA and compare this with an existing face-to-face model of treatment. Both models are in accordance with National Treatment Guidelines in Sweden. The results show that overall the digital model costs around 25% of the existing face-to-face model of care. Based on existing evidence on the effects of these models, our findings also suggest that the digital platform offers a cost-effective alternative to the existing model of OA care. Depending on the extent to which the digital model substitutes for the existing model of care, significant resources can be saved.

Patients', healthcare providers', and insurance company employees' preferences for knee and hip osteoarthritis care: a discrete choice experiment.

OBJECTIVE: To determine patients', healthcare providers', and insurance company employees' preferences for knee and hip osteoarthritis (KHOA) care. DESIGN: In a discrete choice experiment, patients with KHOA or a joint replacement, healthcare providers, and insurance company employees were repetitively asked to choose between KHOA care alternatives that differed in six attributes: waiting times, out of pocket costs, travel distance, involved healthcare providers, duration of consultation, and access to specialist equipment. A (panel latent class) conditional logit model was used to determine preference heterogeneity and relative importance of the attributes. RESULTS: Patients (n = 648) and healthcare providers (n = 76) valued low out of pocket costs most, while insurance company employees (n = 150) found a joint consultation by general practitioner (GP) and orthopaedist most important. Patients found the duration of consultation less important than healthcare providers and insurance company employees did. Patients without a joint replacement were likely to prefer healthcare with low out of pocket costs. Patients with a joint replacement and/or low disease-specific quality of life were likely to prefer healthcare from an orthopaedist. Patients who already received healthcare for knee/hip problems were likely to prefer a joint consultation by GP and orthopaedist, and direct access to specialist equipment. CONCLUSIONS: Patients, healthcare providers, and insurance company employees highly prefer a joint consultation by GP and orthopaedist with low out of pocket costs. Within patients, there is substantial preference heterogeneity. These results can be used by policy makers and healthcare providers to choose the most optimal combination of KHOA care aligned to patients' preferences.

Socioeconomic status of patients in a Swedish national self-management program for osteoarthritis compared with the general population-a descriptive observational study.

BACKGROUND: First-line treatment for hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) including education and supervised exercises, delivered as a self-management program, is considered one of the mainstays in OA treatment. However, the socioeconomic profile of the population that utilizes first-line treatment for hip and knee OA is unclear. The aim of this study was to describe the socioeconomic status (SES) of a population referred to a self-management program for OA, in comparison with that of the general Swedish population. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study including 72,069 patients with hip or knee OA enrolled in the National Quality Register for Better management of patients with Osteoarthritis (BOA) between 2008 and 2016, and registered before participation in a structured OA self-management program. A reference cohort (n = 216,207) was selected from the general Swedish population by one-to-three matching by year of birth, sex and residence. Residential municipality, country of birth, marital status, family type, educational level, employment, occupation, disposable income and sick leave were analyzed. RESULTS: The BOA population had higher educational level than the reference group, both regarding patients with hip OA (77.5% vs 70% with ≥10 years of education), and with knee OA (77% vs 72% with ≥10 years of education). Their average disposable income was higher (median [IQR] in Euro (€), for hip €17,442 [10,478] vs €15,998 [10,659], for knee €17,794 [10,574] vs €16,578 [11,221]). Of those who worked, 46% of patients with hip OA and 45% of the reference group had a blue-collar occupation. The corresponding numbers for knee OA were 51 and 44% respectively. Sick leave was higher among those with hip and knee OA (26%) than those in the reference groups (13% vs 12%). CONCLUSIONS: The consistently higher SES in the BOA population compared with the general population indicates that this self-management program for OA may not reach the more socioeconomically disadvantaged groups, who are often those with a higher disease burden.

Surgical Approaches in Total Hip Arthroplasty Cost Per Case Analysis: A Retrospective, Matched, Micro-costing Analysis in a Socialised Healthcare System.

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) offers an effective method of pain relief and restoration of function for patients with end-stage arthritis. The anterior approach (AA) claims to benefit patients with decreased pain, increased mobilisation and decreasing length of hospital stay (LOS). In a socialised healthcare platform we questioned whether the AA, compared to posterior (PA) and lateral (LA) approaches, can decrease the cost burden. METHODS: Using a retrospective matched cohort study, we matched 69 AA patients to 69 LA and 69 PA patients for age (p = 0.99), gender (p = 0.99) and number of pre-surgical risk factors (p = 0.99). First, we used the Resource Intensity Weights (RIW) using the Health Services agreed on method of calculating cost. Secondly, micro-costing analysis was performed using the financial services data for each patient's hospital stay. RESULTS: Using the RIW based cost analysis and 2-day reduction (95% CI 1.8-2.4) in LOS, the AA offers an estimated savings per case of $4099 (p < 0.001) compared to the LA and PA. Using micro-costing analysis, we found a total saving of $1858.00 per case (95% CI 1391-2324) when comparing the AA to the PA and LA. There was a statistically significant cost savings using every category: Net Direct Salary ($901.00, p < 0.001), Net Drug ($8.00, p = 0.003), Patient Supply ($454.00, p = 0.001), Patient Drug ($15.00, p = 0.008), Indirect Cost ($385.00, p < 0.001), Patient Care Administration ($106.00, p < 0.001). Furthermore, the AA saved 142 minutes of in-hospital rehabilitation time. CONCLUSION: The AA THA provides statistically significant reductions in cost compared to PA and LA while releasing rehabilitation resources.

Total Hip Arthroplasty for Secondary Causes of Arthritis An Increase in Time and Money.

BACKGROUND: Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a frequently performed, highly successful orthopedic procedure. Although primary osteoarthritis (PA) is the most common reason for (THA), there are several secondary conditions that lead to degenerative hip disease that are successfully treated with THA. The purpose of this study was to examine the incidence of these secondary causes of arthritis (SA) leading to THA and to compare the relative surgical costs, operating times, and hospital length of stay (LOS) for THA done for PA versus SA. METHODS: Electronic medical records from 836 continuous patients undergoing primary THA over a 2-year period were reviewed at a single high-volume joint arthroplasty center. Data obtained included age, sex, laterality, diagnosis leading to THA, surgical costs based on hospital fees, operating room time, and hospital LOS. Using operative reports, office visit notes, and radiology reports or images, patients were categorized into PA or SA groupings. PA was defined as osteoarthritis of no other known etiology, whereas SA was defined when a known underlying diagnosis led to degenerative joint disease of the hip. SA included hip dysplasia, post-traumatic arthritis (PTA), avascular necrosis (AVN), inflammatory arthropathy, Perthes disease, and slipped capital femoral epiphysis (SCFE). Means and proportions of the variables from both groups were analyzed and compared using t-tests and chi-squared tests where applicable. RESULTS: There were 599 patients in the PA group and 237 patients in the SA group. The SA group was significantly younger than the PA group (54.4 years versus 64.0 years; p = 0.0001). The SA cohort had significantly higher mean surgical costs ($29,662 versus $27,078; p = 0.0005), operating room times (189 minutes versus 179 minutes; p = 0.0042), and LOS (4.2 days versus 3.9 days; p = 0.0312). Within the SA group, the hip dysplasia subgrouping had the lowest cost and operating room time, whereas the PTA subgrouping had the highest cost and operating room time. CONCLUSIONS: More than a quarter of primary THAs are performed due to secondary arthritis, most commonly due to hip dysplasia. Cases of THA due to secondary arthritis are associated with significantly increased hospital costs, operating time, and postoperative length of stay compared to THA's performed for primary osteoarthritis. Patients with post-traumatic hip arthritis may contribute the highest economic burden and present the most complex cases for arthroplasty surgeons.

EQ-5D-5L utilities per health states in Spanish population with knee or hip osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to obtain utilities by means of EQ-5D-5L for different health states in patients with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) or hip osteoarthritis (HOA) in Spain, and to compare these values with those used in foreign studies with the aim of discussing their transferability for their use in economic evaluations conducted in Spain. METHODS: Primary study: Observational prospective study of KOA or HOA patients in Spain. Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics were collected to characterize the sample. Utilities were elicited using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. ANOVA and bivariable analyses were conducted to identify differences between health states. LITERATURE REVIEW: Using the bibliographic databases NSH EED and CEA Registry, we conducted searches of model-based cost utilities analyses of technologies in KOA or HOA patients. Health states and utilities were extracted and compared with values obtained from the Spanish sample. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-seven subjects with KOA and 361 subjects with HOA were included, with average utilities of 0.544 and 0.520, respectively. In both samples, differences were found in utilities according to level of pain, stiffness and physical function (WOMAC) and severity of symptoms (Oxford scales), so that the worst the symptoms, the lower the utilities. The utilities after surgery were higher than before surgery. Due to limitations from our study related to sample size and observational design, it was not possible to estimate utilities for approximately half the health states included in the published models because they were directly related to specific technologies. For almost 100% of health states of the selected studies we obtained very different utilities from those reported in the literature. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge this is the first article with detailed utilities estimated using the EQ-5D-5L in Spain for KOA and HOA patients. In both populations, utilities are lower for worse health states in terms of level of pain, stiffness and physical function according to WOMAC, and according to the Oxford scales. Most utilities obtained from the Spanish sample are lower than those reported in the international literature. Further studies estimating utilities from local populations are required to avoid the use of foreign sources in economic evaluations.

Impact of Pain Severity and Opioid Use on Health Care Resource Utilization and Costs Among Patients with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis. The primary symptom of OA-pain-increases the disease burden by negatively affecting daily activities and quality of life. Opioids are often prescribed for treating pain in patients with OA but have questionable benefit-risk profiles. There is limited evidence on the economic impact of pain severity and opioid use among patients with OA. OBJECTIVES: To (a) evaluate the association of pain severity with health care resource utilization (HRU) and costs among patients with knee/hip OA and (b) characterize the association of opioid use with HRU and costs while controlling for pain severity. METHODS: Using deterministically linked health care claims data and electronic health records from the Optum Research Database, this retrospective cohort study included commercial and Medicare Advantage Part D enrollees who were diagnosed with knee/hip OA during the January 1, 2010-December 31, 2016 time period and had ≥ 1 pain score (11-point Likert scale: 0 = no pain, 10 = worst possible pain) between the first OA diagnosis date and October 2016. The index date was the date of the evaluated pain score; HRU and costs were observed over the 3-month postindex period. For patients with multiple pain scores, each episode required a 3-month post-index follow-up period. Generalized estimating equation models, adjusted for multiple observation panels per patient and baseline variables that may contribute to HRU and costs (age, sex, race/ethnicity, region, insurance type, integrated delivery network, body mass index, pain medication use, provider specialty, Charlson Comorbidity Index score, and other select comorbid conditions), were used to estimate all-cause and OA-related costs expressed as per patient per month (PPPM). Comparisons were performed for moderate (score 4-6) and severe (score 7-10) pain episodes versus no/mild pain episodes (score 0-3) and those with baseline opioid use versus those without. RESULTS: Included were 35,861 patients with knee/hip OA (mean age 66.5 years; 64.7% women) who had 70,716 pain episodes (58% mild, 23% moderate, 19% severe, and 37.0% with baseline opioid use). When controlling for other potential confounding factors, moderate/severe pain episodes were associated with higher all-cause and OA-related HRU than mild pain episodes. Relative to mild pain episodes, moderate/severe pain episodes were also associated with significantly higher adjusted average all-cause PPPM costs ($1,876/$1,840 vs. $1,602), and OA-related PPPM costs ($550/$577 vs. $394; all P < 0.05). Baseline opioid use was associated with significantly higher all-cause PPPM costs versus no opioid use (mild, $1,735 vs. $1,492; moderate, $2,034 vs. $1,755; severe, $2,100 vs. $1,643, all P < 0.001), and a higher likelihood of incurring OA-related costs relative to those without (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results provide evidence of the economic impact of opioid use and inadequate pain control by demonstrating that increased pain severity and opioid use in patients with OA were independently associated with higher HRU and costs. Additional studies should confirm causality between opioid use and HRU and costs, taking into consideration underlying OA characteristics. DISCLOSURES: Funding for this study was contributed by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries. Wei is an employee at Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, with stock ownership. Gandhi was an employee at Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, with stock ownership, at the time of this study. Blauer-Peterson and Johnson are employees of Optum, which was contracted to conduct the research for this study.

Value-based healthcare analysis of joint replacement surgery for patients with primary hip osteoarthritis.

Background: A quarter of the population present at least once a year with a musculoskeletal disorder. Primary hip osteoarthritis is a high-volume condition with significant clinical need and population-level costs. There remains much variation in patient outcomes and care delivery costs for this condition. Aims: The study aimed to gauge if pathway redesign based on the principles of value-based healthcare (VBHC) could increase value. The aim was to calculate the value of treatment for primary hip osteoarthritis through measuring outcomes that matter to patients, as well as the costs of delivering them. Additionally it aimed to compare two care pathways to identify which elements may better promote the delivery of high-value clinical care. Methods: Two care models were evaluated: the first being a traditional model with multiple entry points and without pathway standardisation, and the second an intentionally designed standardised multidisciplinary pathway. Mandated National Health Service patient-reported outcomes were assessed but were restructured into a patient-centred format to assess the impact on pain, function and psychological outcomes. Patient-level pathway economic evaluation was performed. Using these data, outcomes were mapped against cost to calculate value. Results: There were no significant differences in clinical outcomes between the two models. The intentionally designed model delivered better value care, having lower pathway costs. This model produced a small but inconsistent positive financial margin. Conclusions: Intentionally designed, integrated elective services offer an opportunity to develop and evaluate VBHC models. Analysis of two care pathways from a VBHC perspective demonstrated that an intentionally designed pathway had higher value. The higher value pathway maximised the benefits of having physiotherapists and orthopaedic surgeons working side by side. Developing and measuring patient-orientated outcomes and performing accurate economic evaluation are the key to understanding and achieving better value care.

Preoperative Prediction of Value Metrics and a Patient-Specific Payment Model for Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: Development and Validation of a Deep Learning Model.

BACKGROUND: The primary objective was to develop and test an artificial neural network (ANN) that learns and predicts length of stay (LOS), inpatient charges, and discharge disposition for total hip arthroplasty. The secondary objective was to create a patient-specific payment model (PSPM) accounting for patient complexity. METHODS: Using 15 preoperative variables from 78,335 primary total hip arthroplasty cases for osteoarthritis from the National Inpatient Sample and our institutional database, an ANN was developed to predict LOS, charges, and disposition. Validity metrics included accuracy and area under the curve of the receiver operating characteristic curve. Predictive uncertainty was stratified by All Patient Refined comorbidity cohort to establish the PSPM. RESULTS: The dynamic model demonstrated "learning" in the first 30 training rounds with areas under the curve of 82.0%, 83.4%, and 79.4% for LOS, charges, and disposition, respectively. The proposed PSPM established a risk increase of 2.5%, 8.9%, and 17.3% for moderate, major, and severe comorbidities, respectively. CONCLUSION: The deep learning ANN demonstrated "learning" with good reliability, responsiveness, and validity in its prediction of value-centered outcomes. This model can be applied to implement a PSPM for tiered payments based on the complexity of the case.

Health resource use and costs of symptomatic knee and/or hip osteoarthritis.

BACKGROUND: Data on the economic consequences of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) are scarce. We aimed to estimate the annual direct and indirect costs for patients followed for hip and/or knee OA in the Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis Long term Assessment (KHOALA) cohort. METHODS: The KHOALA cohort, set up from 2007 to 2009, is a French multicenter study of 878 individuals with symptomatic knee/hip OA who were 40-75 years old. Resources used were collected annually for 5 years. Costs were assigned by using official sources and expressed in 2018 euros per patient. RESULTS: The mean annual total costs per patient over the 5-year study period were 2,180 ± 5,305€. The mean annual direct medical costs per patient were 2,120 ± 5,275€ and mean annual indirect costs per patient 180 ± 1,735€ for people of working age. Costs increased slightly over the study period. Drugs were the largest cost share, representing over 50% of all direct costs. However, the proportion attributable to OA drugs accounted for only 10.5% of drug costs. The second cost share was hospitalizations; hip and knee prosthetic surgery accounted for 27% of surgery hospitalization costs. Health professional visits were the third cost share, accounting for 3% of direct medical costs. The median costs induced could be as high as 2 billion €/year (IQR 0.7-4.3) in France. CONCLUSION: Hip and knee OA costs were substantial and increased over the study period in France. However, the costs attributable to OA represented only a small fraction of overall costs.

The projected burden of primary total knee and hip replacement for osteoarthritis in Australia to the year 2030.

BACKGROUND: Comprehensive national joint replacement registries with well-validated data offer unique opportunities for examining the potential future burden of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) at a population level. This study aimed to forecast the burden of primary total knee (TKR) and hip replacements (THR) performed for OA in Australia to the year 2030, and to model the impact of contrasting obesity scenarios on TKR burden. METHODS: De-identified TKR and THR data for 2003-2013 were obtained from the Australian Orthopaedic Association National Joint Replacement Registry. Population projections and obesity trends were obtained from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, with public and private hospital costs sourced from the National Hospital Cost Data Collection. Procedure rates were projected according to two scenarios: (1) constant rate of surgery from 2013 onwards; and (2) continued growth in surgery rates based on 2003-2013 growth. Sensitivity analyses were used to estimate future TKR burden if: (1) obesity rates continued to increase linearly; or (2) 1-5% of the overweight or obese population attained a normal body mass index. RESULTS: Based on recent growth, the incidence of TKR and THR for OA is estimated to rise by 276% and 208%, respectively, by 2030. The total cost to the healthcare system would be $AUD5.32 billion, of which $AUD3.54 billion relates to the private sector. Projected growth in obesity rates would result in 24,707 additional TKRs totalling $AUD521 million. A population-level reduction in obesity could result in up to 8062 fewer procedures and cost savings of up to $AUD170 million. CONCLUSIONS: If surgery trends for OA continue, Australia faces an unsustainable joint replacement burden by 2030, with significant healthcare budget and health workforce implications. Strategies to reduce national obesity could produce important TKR savings.

Use of the Corail stem for revision total hip arthroplasty: evaluation of clinical outcomes and cost

Background: With the growing number of total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures performed, revision surgery is also proportionately increasing, resulting in greater health care expenditures. The purpose of this study was to assess clinical outcomes and cost when using a collared, fully hydroxyapatite-coated primary femoral stem for revision THA compared to commonly used revision femoral stems. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients who underwent revision THA with a primary stem between 2011 and 2016 and matched them on demographic variables and reason for revision to a similar cohort who underwent revision THA. We extracted operative data and information on in-hospital resource use from the patients' charts to calculate average cost per procedure. Patient-reported outcomes were recorded preoperatively and 1 year postoperatively. Results: We included 20 patients in our analysis, of whom 10 received a primary stem and 10, a typical revision stem. There were no significant between-group differences in mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index score, Harris Hip Score, 12-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12) Mental Composite Scale score or Physical Composite Scale score at 1 year. Operative time was significantly shorter and total cost was significantly lower (mean difference ­3707.64, 95% confidence interval ­5532.85 to ­1882.43) with a primary stem than with other revision femoral stems. Conclusion: We found similar clinical outcomes and significant institutional cost savings with a primary femoral stem in revision THA. This suggests a role for a primary femoral stem such as a collared, fully hydroxyapatite-coated stem for revision THA.

Contexte: Avec le nombre croissant d'interventions pour prothèse de hanche (PTH) effectuées, la chirurgie de révision est aussi proportionnellement en hausse, ce qui entraîne des coûts supérieurs pour le système de santé. Le but de cette étude était d'évaluer les résultats cliniques et le coût associés à l'emploi d'une prothèse fémorale primaire à collerette entièrement recouverte d'hydroxyapatite pour la révision de PTH, comparativement à d'autres prothèses d'usage courant utilisées pour les révisions. Méthodes: Nous avons identifié rétrospectivement les patients ayant subi une révision de PTH avec une prothèse primaire entre 2011 et 2016 et nous les avons assortis selon les caractéristiques démographiques et le motif de la révision à une cohorte similaire soumise à une révision de PTH. Nous avons extrait les données sur l'opération et sur l'utilisation des ressources hospitalières à partir des dossiers des patients pour calculer le coût par intervention. Les résultats déclarés par les patients ont été notés avant l'intervention et 1 an après. Résultats: Nous avons inclus 20 patients dans notre analyse, dont 10 ont reçu une prothèse primaire et 10, une révision de prothèse typique. On n'a noté aucune différence significative entre les groupes pour ce qui est du score WOMAC (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) moyen pour l'arthrose, du score de Harris pour la hanche, ou des sous-échelles santé mentale ou santé physique à 1 an du questionnaire SF-12 (12-Item Short Form Health Survey). L'intervention a duré significativement moins longtemps et le coût a été significativement moindre (différence moyenne ­3707,64, intervalle de confiance de 95 % ­5532,85 à ­1882,43) avec une prothèse primaire qu'avec les autres prothèses de révision. Conclusion: Nous avons observé des résultats cliniques similaires et des économies significatives pour l'établissement avec la prothèse primaire utilisée pour la révision de PTH. Cela donne à penser que la prothèse fémorale primaire, par exemple, à collerette et entièrement recouverte d'hydroxyapatite, aurait un rôle à jouer pour la révision de PTH.

Value-based Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty: A Framework for Understanding the Literature.

Since passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, the current decade has witnessed an explosion of the value-based total hip and knee arthroplasty literature. Total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty are the most common inpatient surgeries for Medicare beneficiaries, and thus, it is no surprise that total joint arthroplasty is currently a prime target of efforts toward cost reduction and quality improvement. The purpose of this review was to provide a framework for understanding the rapidly growing quality and cost literature. Research efforts toward quality improvement are likely to be effective when they address the structure, process, and most importantly outcomes of total joint arthroplasty. Similarly, cost savings should be evaluated with an understanding of existing accounting methods, relationships to the entire cycle of osteoarthritis care, and the direct effect on the quality of care provided.

Effects of Osteoarthritis Pain and Concurrent Insomnia and Depression on Health Care Use in a Primary Care Population of Older Adults.

OBJECTIVE: To examine independent and combined effects of pain with concurrent insomnia and depression symptoms on the use of health care services in older adults with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Patients were Group Health Cooperative (GHC) patients with a primary diagnosis of OA (n = 2,976). We used survey data on pain (Graded Chronic Pain Scale), insomnia (Insomnia Severity Index), and depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-8), and health care use extracted from GHC electronic health records (office visits, length of stay, outpatient and inpatient costs, and hip or knee replacement) for 3 years after the survey. Negative binomial, logistic, and generalized linear models were used to assess predictors of health care use. RESULTS: Approximately 34% and 29% of patients displayed at least subclinical insomnia and at least subclinical depression symptoms, respectively, in addition to moderate-to-severe pain. Pain had the greatest independent effects on increasing all types of health care use, followed by depression (moderate effects) on increased office visits, length of stay, outpatient and inpatient costs, and insomnia (mild effects) on decreased length of stay. No synergistic effects of the 3 symptoms on use of health care services were observed. The combined effects of pain plus insomnia and pain plus depression were significant for all types of health care use and increased greatly with increasing severity of insomnia and depression, except for hip/knee replacement. CONCLUSION: Pain is the main driver for health care use in patients with OA. In addition to pain, insomnia plus depression jointly increased diverse types of health care use, and these combined effects increased greatly with increasing severity of insomnia and depression. These findings indicate the important role that concurrent symptomatic conditions may play in increasing use of health care services.