Are current cost-utility analysis studies effective in the United States for spine surgery?
A new article published in Spine says the literature is small, but growing. The researchers conducted a MEDLINE search to identify cost-analysis studies in spine care, focused specifically on surgical intervention in the United States. There were 424 articles screened and 20 articles meeting the study’s criteria. These studies were assessed with the Quality of Health Economic Studies instrument.
The researchers found:
1. There is varied evidence supporting and questioning operative spine intervention’s cost-effectiveness.
2. Most studies report favorable cost-effectiveness ratios, but a few suggest surgical intervention is not cost-effective.
3. The average Quality of Health Economic Studies score was 75.1.
4. Study authors did note there are a number of weaknesses in the literature, and evidence quality is variable. There are only a few studies adopting long-term horizons or with significant follow-up, one of the most evident weaknesses.
5. The studies with high Quality of Health Economic Studies scores were more likely to have these qualities:
• Sensitivity analysis
• Societal cost perspective
• Funding disclosure
6. The study also highlighted the need for additional cost-utility analysis studies in spine care and study authors called for higher quality studies in the future.