Health-related quality-of-life effects of oxaprozin and nabumetone in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee

Imputing productivity gains from clinical trials

OBJECTIVE

To respond to employer and payer interest in the extent to which productivity gains offset therapy costs by identifying clinical trials that did not include such measures and using their clinical data to impute productivity impact.

METHODS

A PubMed search identified the sample of 25 clinical trials of musculoskeletal pain medications and antidepressants. Next, we applied regression coefficients, quantifying the empirical relationship between clinical measures to each trial's clinical outcomes data. This validated methodology provides estimates of Work Limitations Questionnaire Productivity Loss scores.

RESULTS

Based on imputation, musculoskeletal medications and antidepressants achieved median productivity gains of approximately 0.5% and 1.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Accounting for productivity gains based on the Work Limitations Questionnaire could substantially influence cost-effectiveness results reported in the health economics literature.

Pain and quality of life

This paper deals with the impact of pain on quality of life (QOL). Two major factors have contributed to the enhanced importance of QOL in recent years: the increasing frequency of pain and the resources devoted to its treatment, and the growing theoretical insight that pain affects the person as a whole. QOL is defined as the person's evaluation of his or her well-being and functioning in different life domains. It is a subjective, phenomenological, multidimensional, dynamic, evaluative, and yet quantifiable, construct. Commonly used scales for its assessment (eg, WHOQOL, SF-36) are described. Studies show that pain affects most domains of QOL, primarily physical and emotional functioning. The effect depends on the extent, duration, acuteness, intensity, affectivity, and meaning of the pain as well as on the underlying disease and the individual's characteristics. QOL is sensitive also to the treatment of pain and treatment modalities, as shown particularly by studies on cancer pain. Pain reduction is not always attended by the expected improvement in QOL. Pain is not synonymous with poor QOL and constitutes only one important factor determining QOL. The main conclusions are that treatment of pain should be multidisciplinary, considering the impact of pain and the treatment on QOL and targetting also improvement of the affected domains of QOL.

An observational study of health-related quality of life and pain outcomes in chronic low back pain patients treated with fentanyl transdermal system

BACKGROUND

The analgesic effect of long-acting opioids, such as transdermal fentanyl, has been demonstrated in patients with cancer, neuropathic pain and chronic low back pain (CLBP). However, the broader effect of long-acting opioids on the patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is less well known.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate HRQoL outcomes in CLBP patients treated with transdermal fentanyl.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

An observational study was conducted at 17 clinical centers in the US. Eligible patients had CLBP diagnosis for at least 3 months and were taking short-acting opioids chronically, and then initiated transdermal fentanyl treatment. Patients completed the Treatment Outcomes in Pain Survey (TOPS), which includes the SF-36 Health Survey, at baseline and > or = 9 weeks of treatment. The HRQoL burden of CLBP was determined by comparing CLBP patients' SF-36 scores to the general US population and low back pain patient norms. HRQoL outcomes were determined by comparing baseline and follow-up TOPS and SF-36 scores. Additionally, HRQoL outcomes were evaluated across patient groups stratified by changes in pain intensity ratings as measured by an 11-point numerical rating scale.

RESULTS

At baseline CLBP patients (N = 131) scored one-to-two standard deviations (SD) below age and gender adjusted SF-36 general population norms (MANOVA F = 127.1, p < 0.0001) and significantly lower than low back pain norms (MANOVA F = 125.3, p < 0.0001). At follow-up, significant improvement (p < 0.05) was observed on six of the SF-36 scales and both SF-36 summary measures and five of the six TOPS pain-related scales. The magnitude of change in scores in effect size units among these scales ranged from 0.17 to 0.80, which are considered small to large effect size changes. HRQoL score improvement was greatest among patients experiencing the greatest pain relief.

CONCLUSION

CLBP patients who chronically used short-acting opioids showed tremendous HRQoL burden. Favorable HRQoL outcomes were observed among patients who reported pain relief.

Subjective impact of osteoarthritis flare-ups on patients' quality of life

BACKGROUND

Clinical trials on osteoarthritis (OA) flare-ups treatment usually focus only on objective measures of health status, albeit recent literature suggestions on the importance of patients' subjectivity. Aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of OA and of its different types of medical treatment(s) on Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in terms of both subjective satisfaction and functional status.

METHODS

An observational study on prospective data collected from the Evaluation of Quality of life in OA (EQuO) clinical trial (April 1999-November 2000) was conducted; outpatients from 70 participating centers (Orthopedy or Rheumatology Departments in Italy) with a diagnosis of OA of the hip or knee were consecutively enrolled. Patients were observed at OA flare-ups (baseline) and at follow up 4 weeks after treatment. Patients' objective and subjective HRQoL were assessed by means of the SF-36 and the Satisfaction Profile (SAT-P, which focuses on subjective satisfaction); Present Pain at baseline and Pain Relief at follow up were also evaluated.

RESULTS

Among the 1323 patients, 1138 (86%) were prescribed one drug/treatment of osteoarthritis, 169 (13%) 2 drugs/treatments, and 16 (1%) 3 drugs/treatments; most of treatments involved the prescription of NSAIDs; non-coxib, COX2 selective NSAIDs were prescribed in about 50% of patients. Follow-up visits were performed after 29.0 days on average (+/- 7.69 SD). For all SF-36 domains, all SAT-P items and factors, the differences between baseline and follow up scores resulted statistically significant (p < 0.001), enlighting an improvement both in health status and in subjective HRQoL.

CONCLUSION

Besides the classic health status measures, the assessment of patients' subjective satisfaction provides important clues on treatments efficacy of OA within the patient-centered medicine model. In clinical practice this could lead to a better doctor-patient communication and to higher levels of treatment adherence.

A naturalistic study of the determinants of health related quality of life improvement in osteoarthritic patients treated with non-specific non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

OBJECTIVES

To capture changes in the quality of life (QoL) occurring in patients with osteoarthritis (OA) during treatment with non-specific non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and to identify factors that predict such changes.

METHODS

A naturalistic, prospective follow up of 783 patients with OA in whom primary care physicians decided to start treatment with non-selective NSAIDs. Short Form-36 (SF-36) and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities OA index (WOMAC) were assessed at baseline and after 3 months. Baseline results were compared with QoL values in 4800 subjects randomly selected from the general population. Multiple regression analysis was performed to identify determinants of QoL at baseline and measures influencing changes in SF-36 or WOMAC during follow up.

RESULTS

All QoL dimensions were significantly (p<0.01) decreased in patients with OA compared with controls. Significant improvement (p<0.05) in four dimensions of the SF-36 (vitality, role emotional, role physical, bodily pain) and in all components of the WOMAC was seen between baseline and month 3. Older age, female sex, longer duration of OA, and a higher number of comorbidities were the major determinants of a poor QoL at baseline. Maximal benefit from non-specific NSAIDs was seen in patients with the most severe impairment in QoL and the shortest duration of OA.

CONCLUSION

OA negatively impacts all dimensions of the QoL. Non-specific NSAIDs improve the QoL in patients with OA treated in a "real life setting". The profile of patients receiving maximal benefit from such treatment may be of interest for health providers, enabling them to decide who should preferentially be given cytoprotective treatments or coxibs.

Oxaprozin versus diclofenac in NSAID-refractory periarthritis pain of the shoulder

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of oxaprozin in comparison with diclofenac in patients with periarthritis pain of the shoulder previously unsuccessfully treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs other than diclofenac and oxaprozin.

METHODS

In this open, multicentre, randomised, controlled study, eligible patients with periarthritis of the shoulder were randomised to receive either oxaprozin 1200 mg once daily (n = 49) or diclofenac 50 mg three times daily (n = 47). The treatment period was 15 +/- 1 days. The study was planned on a hypothesis of equivalence between the two study drugs. The primary study endpoint was the change from baseline at day 15 in the patient-assessed shoulder pain score. Secondary efficacy variables included investigator-assessed shoulder function, patient-assessed quality of life on the Short-Form-36 (SF-36) Acute Health Survey and both patients' and investigators' overall assessment of efficacy.

RESULTS

At day 15, the mean changes in shoulder pain score from baseline in the oxaprozin and diclofenac groups were -5.85 +/- SD 4.62 and -5.54 +/- SD 4.41, respectively. The difference between the two groups was not statistically significant, confirming the hypothesis of the study that oxaprozin is as effective as diclofenac. Investigator-assessed shoulder function improved in both groups but more so in the oxaprozin group (p = 0.028 at day 15). Quality of life as measured by SF-36 total score was also improved in both treatment groups, with a trend toward greater improvement in the oxaprozin group. Furthermore, a significantly more favourable effect on the SF-36 'mental health' item was observed in oxaprozin compared with diclofenac-treated patients at day 15 (p = 0.0202). As assessed by investigators, the overall efficacy of oxaprozin was superior to that for diclofenac at visit 3 (8 +/- 1 days) (p = 0.0067). Patients also assessed the overall efficacy of oxaprozin as superior to that of diclofenac at visits 3 (8 +/- 1 days) (p = 0.0235) and 4 (15 +/- 1 days) (p = 0.0272). Only six adverse events, all of which were mild or moderate in intensity and occurred in four diclofenac recipients, were observed in the study.

CONCLUSIONS

As expected, once-daily oxaprozin proved to be as effective as diclofenac three times daily in reducing the primary efficacy variable of patient-assessed shoulder pain score in patients with periarthritis of the shoulder refractory to previous treatments with other NSAIDs. Oxaprozin was shown to be superior to diclofenac in improving shoulder function and was considered by investigators and patients to have greater overall efficacy than diclofenac. In addition, oxaprozin showed a trend toward superior results in improving patients' quality of life compared with diclofenac. A trend towards better tolerability results for oxaprozin compared with diclofenac was also noted.

The increasing need for nonoperative treatment of patients with osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis affects more patients than almost any other musculoskeletal disorder. The number of patients suffering joint pain and stiffness as a result of this disease will increase rapidly in the next decade. Although operative treatments of patients with osteoarthritis will continue to improve and the number of operative procedures will increase slightly in the next decade, only a small fraction of the patients with osteoarthritis will require operative procedures. The most pressing healthcare need for the majority of patients with osteoarthritis is nonoperative care that helps relieve symptoms and improve function, and in some instances slows progression. In rare instances, the symptoms of osteoarthritis improve spontaneously, but most patients need nonoperative care for decades. Orthopaedists need to improve their ability to provide nonoperative care for patients with osteoarthritis. They should be skilled in the early diagnosis of osteoarthritis and in the use of current common nonoperative treatments including patient education, activity modification, shoe modifications, braces, oral analgesics, oral nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medications, oral dietary supplements, and intraarticular injections. Furthermore, orthopaedists should be prepared to incorporate new nonoperative treatments for patients with osteoarthritis into their practice.