Effect of pregabalin in the treatment of refractory neck pain: cost and clinical evidence from medical practice in orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation clinics.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The study aims to prospectively analyze the effect of adding pregabalin upon costs and consequences in the treatment of refractory neck pain under routine medical practice.

METHODS:

A secondary analysis was carried out including patients over 18 years, with 6-month chronic neck pain refractory from a prospective, naturalistic, 12-week two-visit study. The analysis compared patients adding pregabalin to its therapy vs. usual care. Severity of pain, healthcare resources utilization, lost workday equivalents (LWDE) because of pain, and related cost-adjusted reductions were assessed.

RESULTS:

A total of 312 patients (65.3% women, age 54.2 [12.1] years), 78.2% receiving pregabalin, were analyzed. Adding pregabalin was associated with higher adjusted reduction in pain severity: -3.2 (1.8) points, 55.4% responders (≥50% baseline pain reduction) vs. -2.3 (2.0) and 38.2%, respectively; P<0.001, yielding a higher reduction in mean LWDE: 20.1 (23.1) vs. 8.2 (22.4); P=0.014, which produced significant reductions in the indirect components of cost: €1,041.0 (1,222.8) vs. €457.3 (1,132.1), P=0.028. The costs of pregabalin (€309.8 [193.2] vs. €26.4 [79.6], P<0.001) was offset by higher numerical reductions in the other components of costs, producing similar direct cost reductions in both groups at the end of the study: €66.8 (1,080.8) and €143.5 (1,922.4), respectively; P=0.295.

CONCLUSION:

Compared with usual care, the addition of pregabalin to treat refractory neck pain seems to be associated with a higher reduction in pain severity and lost work-days equivalents, which in turn results in a greater reduction of the indirect components of cost while maintaining similar healthcare cost levels despite its higher price.

• Authors: Mariano Flórez-García, Félix Ceberio-Balda, Carles Morera-Domínguez, Xavier Masramón, María Pérez
• Journal: Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain (Pain Pract) 2011 Jul-Aug Vol. 11 Issue 4 Pg. 369-80 ISSN: 1533-2500 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 21199310 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2010 The Authors. Pain Practice © 2010 World Institute of Pain.

Chemical References

• Analgesics
• Pregabalin
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Analgesics (economics, therapeutic use)
• Costs and Cost Analysis
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neck Pain (drug therapy, economics)
• Orthopedic Procedures (economics)
• Pain, Intractable (drug therapy, economics)
• Pregabalin
• Prospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (analogs & derivatives, economics, therapeutic use)