Economic impact of the use of Hyalubrix® in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis in Italy

The present study aims at evaluating the economic impact of the use of hyaluronic acid (Hyalubrix®60/HyalOne) as an alternative to surgery in the treatment of hip osteoarthritis, consistently with the therapeutic protocol envisaged in the Ortobrix study. To quantify the cost and efficacy of the treatment options under evaluation, the perspective of both the Italian NHS and the Society was considered. To this end, a decision analysis model was created over a 4-year period, to quantify the cost of treatments, procedures and adverse events, as well as the benefits expressed as survival rates and reduced lost workdays. The results show that, since the treatment with Hyalubrix® enables to avoid or delay the need for Total Hip Replacement (THR) surgery, it is possible to reduce mortality, adverse events and total costs. Hyalubrix®, given in the hip by ultrasound-guided intra-articular injection as an alternative to surgery is the most favourable option, helping preserve the survival rate over a 4-year period, of approximately 1 in 100 patients considered candidates for THR, preserve work capacity for a total differential amount of 500 days, and achieve considerable savings in economic terms, of approximately 550,000 € and 600,000€ euros from the NHS and the Societal perspectives, respectively.