Economic evaluation in the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia

Abstract

Fibromyalgia is a worldwide frequent rheumatologic disorder that generates a great economic impact. Economic evaluation studies are necessary to describe the costs involved in the diagnosis and treatment of fibromyalgia and to identify cost-effective treatments, especially in developing countries. The purpose of this study is to generate evidence on the economic consequences of fibromyalgia. To achieve this purpose, two studies will be performed. The first study will estimate the healthcare costs related to the treatment of fibromyalgia in Brazil. The International Classification of Disease code related to fibromyalgia M79.7 will be used to identify outpatient and inpatient care costs. Data will be analyzed descriptively, and subgroup analysis by gender and age groups will be performed. Costs will be presented in the currency related to the journal of publication (dollar, euro or pounds). The second study will be a systematic review of economic evaluations of non-pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia. A search will be conducted in the databases EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, PEDro, EconLit, NHSEED and HTA to identify economic evaluations alongside model studies and randomized controlled trials. The primary outcome will be incremental costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). Selection of the studies based on title, abstract and the full paper, data extraction using a customized sheet, and the assessment of the risk of bias will be conducted by two independent reviewers and disagreement between the reviewers will be solved first by discussion and then by arbitration of a third reviewer, if the disagreement persists. For data synthesis, differences in costs and effects will be pooled, if possible, and cost-effectiveness ratios will be presented descriptively. (AU)