The analysis of economic burden for the treatment of osteoarthritis in china: Analysis of 67382 out-patients from Peking university people's hospital

Abstract

Purpose: With a high prevalence of osteoarthritis (OA) in the old population, the outpatient treatment of OA may bring economic burden. Until now, there is no report about the economic burden of OA in China. In this study, we aim to analysis the economic burden of OA in China. Methods: The study enrolled all out-patients prescriptions for the treatment of osteoarthritis in Peking University People's Hospital in 2012. Statistical method was applied to analyze the average cost of each prescription for out-patients and the cost structure. Results: A total of 67382 prescriptions involving 25410 osteoarthritis out- patients were enrolled in this study. The incidence of OA-related visits to the hospital was 2.6 times per year per person. The direct cost of out-patient service for osteoarthritis in 2012 in all in this hospital was 283.59 million Yuan, in average each visit to the hospital may spend 420.9 Yuan. In all kind of medicine, the cost of traditional Chinese medicine was the highest (156.2 Yuan per prescription, 37.1%), followed by glucosamine (139.0 Yuan per prescription, 33.0%), anti-osteoporosis drugs (77.9 Yuan per prescription, 18.5%), intra-articular medicine (20.7 Yuan per prescription, 4.9%), NSAIDs (19.6 Yuan per prescription, 4.7%), topical NSAIDs and capsaicin (3.8 Yuan per prescription, 0.9%), weak opioids (3.3 Yuan per prescription, 0.8%), acetaminophen (0.4 Yuan per prescription, 0.1%). Conclusions: Among all the medicine for the treatment of OA, the cost of traditional Chinese medicine and glucosamine is much more higher than others, which is based on no clear guidelines. Imaging: Hand, Spine, Shoulder, Other