Demora en Cadera Arthroplasty. Resultados económicos de Costos y Salud. (I)

⁎Division of Orthopaedics, Department of Surgery and Anesthesia, Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Wellington South, New Zealand †Health Services Research Centre, Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

This prospective cohort study of 153 patients aimed to determine the economic and health costs of waiting for total hip arthroplasty (THA). Health-related quality of life, using self-completed WOMAC and EQ-5D questionnaires, was assessed monthly from enrolment preoperatively to 6 months postsurgery. Monthly cost diaries were used to record costs. The mean waiting time was 5.1 months and mean total cost of waiting for surgery was NZ$4305 (US$2876) per person (pp) (NZ$1 = US$0.668). Waiting more than 6 months was associated with a higher total mean cost (NZ$4278/US$2858 pp) than waiting less than 6 months (NZ$2828/US$1889 pp; P < .01). Improvements from preoperative to postoperative WOMAC and EQ-5D scores were identified (P ≤ .01). Waiting longer led to poorer physical function preoperatively (P ≤ .01). Those with poor initial health status showed greater improvement in WOMAC (P = .0001) and EQ-5D (P = .003) measures by 6 months after surgery. Longer waits for total hip arthroplasty incur greater economic costs and deterioration in physical function while waiting.