Due to limitations of existing pharmacological therapies for the management of chronic pain in osteoarthritis (OA), surgical interventions remain a major component of current standard of care, with total joint replacements (TJRs) considered for people who have not responded adequately to conservative treatment. This study aimed to quantify the economic burden of moderate-to-severe chronic pain in patients with OA in England prior to TJR.

A retrospective, longitudinal cohort design was employed using Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD primary care data linked to Hospital Episode Statistics secondary care data in England. Patients (age ≥18 years) with an existing OA diagnosis of any anatomical site (Read/ICD-10) were indexed (Dec-2009 to Nov-2017) on a moderate-to-severe pain event (which included TJR) occurring within an episode of chronic pain. 5-year TJR rates from indexing were assessed via Kaplan-Meier estimates. All-cause healthcare resource utilisation and direct medical costs were evaluated in the 1–12 and 13–24 months prior to the first TJR experienced after index. Statistical significance was assessed via paired t-tests.

The study cohort comprised 5,931 eligible patients (57.9% aged ≥65 years, 59.2% female). 2,176 (36.7%) underwent TJR (knee: 54.4%; hip: 42.8%; other: 2.8%). The 5-year TJR rate was 45.4% (knee: 24.3%; hip: 17.5%; other: 6.8%). Patients experienced more general practitioner consultations in 1–12 months pre-TJR compared with 13–24 months pre-TJR (means: 12.13 vs. 9.61; p<0.0001), more outpatient visits (6.68 vs. 3.77; p<0.0001), more hospitalisations (0.74 vs. 0.62; p=0.0032), and more emergency department visits (0.29 vs. 0.25, p=0.0190). Total time (days) spent as an inpatient was higher in 1–12 months pre-TJR (1.86 vs. 1.07; p<0.0001). Mean total per-patient cost pre-TJR increased from £1,771 (13–24 months) to £2,621 (1–12 months) (p<0.0001).

Resource-use and costs incurred were substantially greater in the 12 months immediately prior to TJR, compared with 13–24 months prior. Reasons for increased healthcare and economic burden in the pre-TJR period deserve further exploration as potential targets for efforts to improve patient experience and efficiency of care.