LAUSR

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of tapentadol immediate release (IR) versus oxycodone IR for post-operative pain after major hip surgery. METHODS This study has been conducted using an Australian societal perspective, focusing on adult patients after major hip surgery. A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using a decision analytic model. The model incorporated drug and other resource costs, the probability of opioid-related adverse events, and quality-adjusted life-months (QALM) in each treatment arm. A willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of AU$2500 was used per QALM gained. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted to examine the uncertainty of the assumptions. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of tapentadol IR versus oxycodone IR, expressed as Australian dollars (AU$) per QALM gained. RESULTS Tapentadol IR dominated oxycodone IR, with a cost savings of AU$201 and increase in QALM by 0.014. The ICER was -13,946 AU$/QALM (negative value attributed to numerator). In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, 84.2% of the simulations were in favour of tapentadol IR at the WTP threshold. CONCLUSIONS Tapentadol IR may be more cost-effective than oxycodone IR for the treatment of acute post-operative pain after major hip surgeries.