OBJECTIVES

This study estimates the direct medical cost for the first year of follow-up in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis from a third payer perspective.

METHODS

A cost description study of Osteoarthrosis (ICD10: M15.0) was carried out using the standard costing technique. Average direct medical costs were estimated by cost items (pharmacological treatment, laboratory tests and consultations). The treatment dosage of the disease was based on the consensus of PANLAR for the treatment of Osteoarthrosis (2016). Direct medical costs were described using the recommendations of the Colombian Institute of Technological Evaluation in Health. Costs of pharmacological treatments were estimated from tariffs reported from Circulars of the National Commission of prices of medicines and medical devices, which set maximum prices for some drugs in Colombia, and from SISMED, official source of medication price and sales volume information. Because the units and market share of drugs for Osteoarthrosis were available, we estimated a weighted mean cost, with its minimum and maximum costs. Costs were reported in Colombian pesos of 2018.

RESULTS

The mean costs of care per year in pharmacological treatment were: in glucosamine (1500mg/1200mg/day) COP 218.103 (188.294 - 316.087), acetaminophen (3000 mg/day) COP 163.798 (100.050 - 363.013), tramadol (10/100 md/day) COP 14.461 (9.149 - 26.562) and Etoricoxib (90mg/day) COP 919.042 (660.505 - 1.535.278). For laboratory tests (2 per year), the complete blood count represents an average annual cost of COP 26.562 (26.562 - 26.562), liver transaminases COP 33.350 (33.350 - 33.350) and creatinine COP 7.969 (7.969 - 7.969). Finally, by consulting the rheumatologist (two per year) the mean cost was COP 43.384 (43.384 - 43.384).

CONCLUSIONS

Pharmacological treatment represents the largest share (92%) of total annual mean cost of a patient with osteoarthritis, estimated through a standard costing.