Introduction: This study estimated all-cause health care resource utilization (HRU) and costs and work loss outcomes associated with pain management of employed patients with osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee.
Methods: Optum Health Care Solutions data were analyzed for employed patients prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, tramadol, or nontramadol opioids following diagnoses of osteoarthritis of the hip and/or knee. A pre-post design was used to evaluate changes in all-cause HRU and costs, and work loss days and associated costs.
Results: Costs rose for patients in all three cohorts (up to 198.3% for health care costs [tramadol] and up to 178.7% for work loss costs [tramadol]). Greatest increases in all-cause HRU included inpatient visits (237.9% [nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs]; 600% [tramadol]).
Conclusions: Study results provide evidence of increases in all-cause HRU and costs and work loss days and associated costs.
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