COMPARATIVE CLINICAL AND PHARMACOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF THE EFFICACY OF MODERN COMBINATION THERAPY IN PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS, STAGES I-III

Abstract

Objective: To study and comparatively evaluate the clinical and cost-effectiveness of modern structure/disease modifying anti- osteoarthritis drugs (S/ DMOADs) and hyaluronic acid (HLA) in modern intensive treatment of the primary knee osteoarthritis (KOA), stages I-III. Methods: A comparative clinical and pharmacoeconomic analysis (PEA) of the effectiveness of a 6-month course of modern S/DMOADs (Structum®, Artra®) in combination with intra-articular HLA preparations (Ostenil®) and symptom-modifying drugs (SMDs) including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and glucocorticoids (GCs) was conducted in 103 patients with primary KOA, stages I-III. Results: At the end of the study (after 6 months), in patients with primary KOA, stages I-III, a statistically significant improvement in all clinical, laboratory and instrumental parameters reflecting the severity and activity of the disease was verified. The gains were most clearly observed in patients with early stages of KOA (I-II). Conclusion: Treatment with modern S/DMOADs (Structum®, Artra®) and HLA preparations (Ostenil®) and, symptomatically with (NSAIDs and GCs intraarticularly) in primary KOA patients, I-III stages demonstrates positive changes in all clinical and laboratory parameters (mainly in early stages of the disease). In addition, and no less critical, it considerably limits the use of NSAIDs. Therefore, treatment with Structum® of patients with early primary KOA is the most cost-effective. Keywords: Primary osteoarthritis, knee joints, pharmacoeconomic analysis, Structum®, Artra®, Ostenil®, WOMAC index.