Cost-effectiveness of tapentadol immediate release versus oxycodone immediate release for acute post-operative pain after major hip surgeries

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of tapentadol immediate-release (IR) versus oxycodone IR for post-operative pain after a major hip surgery.

Methods

This study has been conducted using an Australian societal perspective, focusing on adult patients after a major hip surgery. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using a decision-analytic model. The model incorporated drug and other resource costs, the probability of opioid-related adverse events, and quality-adjusted life months (QALM) in each treatment arm. A willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of AU$2500 was used per QALM gained. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the uncertainty of the assumptions. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of tapentadol IR versus oxycodone IR, expressed as Australian dollars (AU$) per QALM gained.

Results

Tapentadol IR dominated oxycodone IR, with a cost savings of AU$201 and an increase in QALM by 0.014. The ICER was −13,946 AU$/QALM (negative value attributed to numerator). In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, 84.2% of the simulations were in favour of tapentadol IR at the WTP threshold.

Conclusions

Tapentadol IR may be more cost-effective than oxycodone IR for the treatment of acute postoperative pain after major hip surgeries.

Keywords:

• Costs and cost analysis
• tapentadol
• opioid analgesics
• acute pain
• orthopaedic procedures

Transparency

Declaration of funding

This study was not funded.

Declaration of financial/other relationships

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties. Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contributions

XW and AP conceived of the study. All authors contributed to its design. XW and AP performed the analysis and JP contributed to its interpretation. XW wrote the first draft of the manuscript. This was critically revised by AP and JP.