Aim: To characterize real-world healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs in adults with chronic pain of peripheral nerve origin treated with peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS) using the micro-implantable pulse generator (IPG).
Materials & methods: This retrospective observational study (9/1/19-1/31/23) linked patients from the Nalu medical database to the OM1 Real-World Data Cloud (RWDC). Eligible patients received the micro-IPG implant for PNS, were identifiable in both databases, and had ≥ 12 months of RWDC pre/post-implantation claims data. Primary outcomes were all-cause HRCU and medical costs (12 months pre- and post-implantation); secondary outcomes were all-cause pharmacy costs, including opioids, over the same time.
Results: Patients (N = 122) had a higher mean (standard deviation; SD) number of outpatient visits pre-implantation (5.7 [5.4]) than post-implantation (4.9 [5.7]). Mean (SD) total medical costs were 50% lower, from $27,493 ($44,756) to $13,717 ($23,278). Median (first-third quartile [Q1-Q3]) medical costs were 57% lower, from $11,809 ($4,075-$31,788) to $5,094 ($1,815-$13,820). Mean (SD) pharmacy costs (n = 77) were higher post-implantation ($22,470 [$77,203]) than pre-implantation ($20,092 [$64,132]), while median (Q1-Q3) costs were lower (from $2,708 [$222 -11,882] to $2,122 [$50-9,370]). Post-implantation, the proportion of patients using opioids was 31.4% lower.
Conclusion: Patients with PNS using the micro-IPG had reduced HCRU, costs, and opioid use.
Keywords: Administrative claims; analgesics; chronic pain; economic evaluation; electric stimulation; implantable neurostimulators; opioids; real-world evidence.
Title: Healthcare Use and Costs with a Peripheral Nerve Stimulation Device for Chronic Pain Summary: This study reviewed the medical records of 122 adults who received peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS), a treatment for chronic pain, to understand how PNS affects patient healthcare use and costs. Healthcare use and costs in the year before PNS were compared with the year after. The results showed that PNS helped reduce the number of doctor’s visits and medical expenses. After starting PNS therapy, the average number of outpatient doctor’s visits was lowered from 5.7 to 4.9 per year, and total medical costs were cut in half, from $27,493 to $13,717. In addition, the number of patients using opioids went down by 31.4%.