Cost-utility analysis of longstanding exercise therapy versus usual care in people with rheumatoid arthritis and...

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of longstanding personalized exercise therapy compared with usual care in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and severe functional disability.

In this cost-utility analysis of a randomized controlled trial (n = 215), with 1 year follow-up, the study population comprised individuals with RA and reported severe difficulties in performing basic daily activities. Assessments were at baseline, 12, 26, and 52 weeks, with measurements of costs including medical and non-medical costs as recorded by patients and healthcare providers. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) were estimated using the EuroQol 5 dimensions 5 levels (EQ-5D-5L) and EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). Costs and QALY differences were analysed according to the intention-to-treat principle using cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

The 1 year societal costs were non-significantly in favour of the usual care group, with a small difference of €180 [95% confidence interval (CI) €-4493 to €4852]. The QALYs were non-significantly in favour of the intervention group, by 0.02 according to the EQ-5D-5L (95% CI -0.05 to 0.09) and by 0.04 according to the EQ-VAS (95% CI 0.00 to 0.08). For a willingness-to-pay threshold of €50 000 per QALY, the intervention was the cost-effective strategy with 60% certainty.

This economic evaluation showed no clear economic preference for either group, as the intervention costs were higher in the intervention group, but partly compensated by other cost savings and improved QALYs. Despite severe RA, patients had better clinical outcomes compared with usual care, suggesting no economic reasons to refrain from exercise therapy.

Netherlands Trial Register NL8235, included in the International Clinical Trial Registry Platform (ICTRP) (https://trialsearch.who.int/Trial2.aspx?TrialID=NL8235).