Disease burden of knee osteoarthritis patients with a joint replacement compared to matched controls: a population-based analysis of a Dutch medical claims database

OBJECTIVE: On a population level, the incidence of knee prostheses (KP) has increased, but excess health care costs per patient, compared to matched controls without a KP, in the years surrounding these procedures and their determinants are largely unknown. We therefore aimed to provide estimates of age and sex-specific incidence of KPs, revision KPs, and prosthesis complications in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine excess health care costs in the years surrounding surgery compared with matched controls.

METHODS: All KPs in OA patients in the Achmea Health Database were identified as well as up to four controls. Incidence rates of KPs, revisions, and complications from 2006-2013 were determined. Annual health care cost and excess costs (over matched controls) preceding, during, and after surgery were calculated and their determinants were evaluated.

RESULTS: The increased incidence of KPs, revisions, and complications was strongest in younger age categories and men. The average costs per patient were relatively stable between 2006-2012. KP patient's annual health care costs increased towards the year of surgery. After surgery, costs decreased, but remained higher as compared to costs prior to surgery. High post-surgery costs were mainly associated with subsequent revisions or additional KPs, but costs were also higher in females, lower age categories, and lower SES.

CONCLUSION: These results underscore the increasing burden and medical need associated with end-stage OA, especially in younger age categories. Improvement of guidelines tailored to individual patient groups aimed at avoiding complications and revisions is required to counteract this increasing burden.