Clinical and economic impact analysis of viscosupplementation with hylan G-F 20 versus hyaluronic acids and no viscosupplementation for the treatment of knee osteoarthritis in Colombia

Background: Viscosupplementation is a viable alternative for managing knee osteoarthritis, showing potential to delay the need for total joint replacement in affected patients.

Methods: We constructed an economic model that compared viscosupplementation with hylan G-F 20, with available hyaluronic acids, and no viscosupplementation over a 5-year period, from the perspective of the Colombian general health system. Time until total knee replacement, sourced from published literature, informed the model. Costs, including acquisition, administration, and knee replacement surgery, were sourced from the local drug prices database and the Ministry of Health's integral information system and expressed in USD.

Results: Over 5 years, hylan G-F 20 demonstrated a total cost of USD$45,188,523 compared to hyaluronic acids (USD$50,247,826) and no viscosupplementation (USD$27,345,736). Hylan G-F 20 yielded 39,400 total knee replacement-free years, exceeding hyaluronic acid (30,741) and no viscosupplementation (4,280). Cumulative costs per surgery-free patient showed substantial savings, ranging from USD$1,158 to $6,847 for hylan G-F 20, compared to $1,164 to $74,662 for hyaluronic acid and $5,426 to $6,389 for no viscosupplementation.

Conclusions: Hylan G-F 20 showed reduced cost per surgery-free patient compared to hyaluronic acids and no viscosupplementation, enhancing knee replacement-free years.