Journal of medical economics
-
Comorbidities and resource utilization among patients with osteoarthritis (OA) in clinical practice have been infrequently characterized. The purpose of this study was to examine comorbidities, pain-related pharmacotherapy, and direct medical costs of patients with OA in clinical practice. ⋯ The patient burden of OA was characterized by a high prevalence of comorbidities. The payer burden was also substantial, with significantly greater use of pain-related and adjunctive medications, and higher direct medical costs.
-
The aims of this paper are to generate estimates of the association between the severity and frequency of pain in Spain and (i) labor force participation and workforce status and (ii) patterns of absenteeism and presenteeism for the employed workforce. ⋯ The experience of pain, in particular severe daily pain, has a substantial negative impact both on labor force participation in Spain as well as reported absenteeism and presenteeism. As a measure of health status, it clearly has an impact that outstrips other health status measures. Whether or not pain is considered as a disease in its own right, the experience of chronic pain, as defined here, presents policy-makers with a major challenge. Programs to relieve the burden of pain in the community clearly have the potential for substantial benefits from societal, individual, and employer perspectives.
-
To determine how patient-rated osteoarthritis (OA) severity correlates with other patient-reported and clinical outcomes in the European clinical setting. ⋯ In five European countries, patient-rated OA severity was associated with other patient-reported outcomes, and may be of benefit in the clinical setting when choosing treatment options aimed at improving pain, function and productivity, providing an accurate and tangible assessment of patient's perceptions of their disease.
-
The aims of this paper are to report on the prevalence, correlates and treatment of pain in the adult Spanish population. The analysis also explores the association between the experience of pain and health-related quality of life (HRQoL), employment and productivity, and healthcare resource utilization. ⋯ The experience of pain represents a substantial burden on both individuals and the Spanish economy. The experience of pain is associated with a substantial reduction in both the PCS component of the SF-12 and SF-6D absolute utilities--most notably in respect of severe pain. The experience of pain is also associated, not only with reduced labor force participation and increased absenteeism and presenteeism, but with substantially higher patterns of healthcare resource utilization.
-
To assess the demographic and clinical characteristics associated with initiation of duloxetine therapy compared with other pharmacologic therapies for treatment of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). ⋯ Among commercially-insured DPNP patients, those with prior use of duloxetine or pregabalin were more likely to initiate duloxetine than other treatments. The presence of select comorbidities was also associated with specific medication initiation.