QUALITY OF LIFE AND PRODUCTIVITY LOSS COSTS OF NERVE BLOCK WITH DEEPLY INSERTED ACUPOTOMY VERSUS NERVE BLOCK ALONE IN LUMBOSACRAL RADICULOPATHY
Author(s)
Yoonjin Lee, BS1, Tae Yong Park, MS, PhD2, Jin Hyun Lee, MS, PhD2, Hae Sun Suh, MA, MS, PhD3;
1Kyung Hee University, Department of Regulatory Science, Graduate School, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 2Institute for Integrative Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon, Korea, Republic of, 3Kyung Hee University, College of Pharmacy, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
1Kyung Hee University, Department of Regulatory Science, Graduate School, Seoul, Korea, Republic of, 2Institute for Integrative Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University International St. Mary’s Hospital, Incheon, Korea, Republic of, 3Kyung Hee University, College of Pharmacy, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare quality of life and productivity loss costs between nerve block combined with deeply inserted acupotomy and nerve block alone patients with Lumbosacral Radiculopathy(LR).
METHODS: A two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients diagnosed with LR. Eligible participants were aged 18-85 years and had a Numeral Rating Scale (NRS) of ≥ 5. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) nerve block combined with deeply inserted acupotomy or (2) nerve block alone. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the validated Korean version of the EQ-5D-5L at five time points (2, 4, 8, 16, and 56 weeks). Productivity loss was measured using iMTA Productivity Cost Questionnaire, which captured costs related to absenteeism, presenteeism, and unpaid work assessing up to 16 weeks. Between group comparisons were conducted using analysis of covariance, adjusting for baseline values.
RESULTS: A total of 114 patients with LR were included, with a mean age of 61.3 years (standard deviation [SD]=13.7). Baseline EQ-5D-5L mean scores did not differ significantly between the acupotomy combination group (0.546 ± 0.131) and the nerve block alone group (0.558 ± 0.144; p=0.6413). At the end of treatment, mean EQ-5D-5L score was significantly higher in the acupotomy combination group than the nerve block alone group (mean difference, 0.087; p<0.001). Compared with baseline, EQ-5D-5L scores increased in both groups during the post-treatment period, with consistently higher scores observed in the acupotomy combination group. In terms of productivity loss, total productivity loss costs associated with LR were significantly lower in the acupotomy combination group (USD 1150.54) compared with the nerve block alone group (USD 3070.27; p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of nerve block and deeply inserted acupotomy therapy was associated with greater improvements in quality of life and lower productivity loss costs, highlighting its potential value in the comprehensive management of LR.
METHODS: A two-arm randomized controlled trial was conducted in patients diagnosed with LR. Eligible participants were aged 18-85 years and had a Numeral Rating Scale (NRS) of ≥ 5. Participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups: (1) nerve block combined with deeply inserted acupotomy or (2) nerve block alone. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the validated Korean version of the EQ-5D-5L at five time points (2, 4, 8, 16, and 56 weeks). Productivity loss was measured using iMTA Productivity Cost Questionnaire, which captured costs related to absenteeism, presenteeism, and unpaid work assessing up to 16 weeks. Between group comparisons were conducted using analysis of covariance, adjusting for baseline values.
RESULTS: A total of 114 patients with LR were included, with a mean age of 61.3 years (standard deviation [SD]=13.7). Baseline EQ-5D-5L mean scores did not differ significantly between the acupotomy combination group (0.546 ± 0.131) and the nerve block alone group (0.558 ± 0.144; p=0.6413). At the end of treatment, mean EQ-5D-5L score was significantly higher in the acupotomy combination group than the nerve block alone group (mean difference, 0.087; p<0.001). Compared with baseline, EQ-5D-5L scores increased in both groups during the post-treatment period, with consistently higher scores observed in the acupotomy combination group. In terms of productivity loss, total productivity loss costs associated with LR were significantly lower in the acupotomy combination group (USD 1150.54) compared with the nerve block alone group (USD 3070.27; p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: The combination of nerve block and deeply inserted acupotomy therapy was associated with greater improvements in quality of life and lower productivity loss costs, highlighting its potential value in the comprehensive management of LR.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EE347
Topic
Economic Evaluation
Topic Subcategory
Trial-Based Economic Evaluation, Work & Home Productivity - Indirect Costs
Disease
SDC: Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal)