Digital Osteoarthritis Treatment is a Cost-Effective Alternative to Traditional Care

A newly published research study from Lund University compares the cost of a digital first-line osteoarthritis treatment program with traditional care. The results show that digital treatment costs only 25% of traditional treatment.

“To my knowledge, this is the first study to examine cost differences between traditional osteoarthritis treatment and a digital program.” – Håkan Nero, researcher and physical therapist at Lund University.

Cost Analysis Findings

The study analyzed key factors used in cost evaluations, including the number of visits, administrative costs, and transportation. The digital program, which connects patients with physical therapists, was found to cost approximately 25% of traditional treatment. The largest cost differences were on the patient side in terms of time and travel expenses.

“The results suggest that the cost of digitally delivered treatment is significantly lower, with the greatest cost burden in traditional care falling on the patient. Previous research has shown a link between participation in the digital program and improvements in osteoarthritis symptoms, but this health economic study also demonstrates its cost-effectiveness.” – Leif Dahlberg, Senior Professor of Orthopedics at Lund University.

The Future of Osteoarthritis Care

Osteoarthritis affects a significant portion of the adult population, and its prevalence is expected to increase in the coming decades. Preventive and efficient care is crucial in managing the challenges associated with the condition. As osteoarthritis requires long-term treatment, digital technologies have the potential to offer cost-effective care solutions. Depending on the extent to which digital models replace traditional care, significant healthcare resources could be saved.

“The study estimates that if half of the patients who received traditional osteoarthritis treatment in 2018 had instead been treated digitally, approximately 87 million in healthcare costs could have been saved. Moreover, this digital delivery model has proven to be a vital option during the pandemic when other treatments were unavailable.” – Håkan Nero

Read the full study here

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

Digital first-line osteoarthritis treatment is provided by Joint Academy. The study was commissioned by Leif Dahlberg, Senior Professor of Orthopedics at Lund University and Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Joint Academy. In addition to his role as a researcher at Lund University, Håkan Nero is also responsible for research and scientific development at Joint Academy.

Joint Academy provided some of the data used in the analysis but had no influence on the study’s design, implementation, or results. The study was funded through research grants awarded to the Department of Clinical Sciences at Lund University.