A Cheaper, More Effective Solution for Diabetic Neuropathy

Data from a recently published study indicate that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) could lead to better outcomes and lower costs of care for patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

Patients suffering from DPN are conventionally managed with pharmacologic therapies, psychological intervention, physical therapy and minimally invasive spinal procedures. Because of side effects or inefficacy of the aforementioned conventional medical management strategies, many patients are left in pain.

“Ten-kilohertz SCS has been proven as a safe and effective therapy for patients with pain associated with diabetic neuropathy,” study author Erika A. Petersen, MD, FAANS, FACS, a professor of neurosurgery at the University of Arkansas Medical Center, in Little Rock, told Pain Medicine News. “This data demonstrates the health economic benefits of 10-kHz [SCS] compared with conventional medical management [CMM].”

A total of 216 participants with DPN were randomly assigned to receive either 10-kHz SCS in addition to CMM or solely CMM (J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2023;29[9]:1021-1029). At a six-month follow-up analysis, patients in the SCS arm had nearly half the mean rate of hospitalizations per patient compared with the group who received CMM alone (0.08 vs. 0.15; P=0.066). The mean annual cost per patient was $6,300 in the SCS group versus $9,532 in the group that received only CMM.

Costs were calculated based on publicly available Medicare fee schedules and claims data, as well as existing literature. Healthcare resource utilization was patient reported and limits the study’s findings due to risk for inherent bias within patient-reported figures.

Petersen said, “In future analyses, we will look at two-year healthcare resource utilization data—as well as other data sets—to establish the long-term ‘cost-effectiveness’ of SCS therapy.”

Petersen has received research support from Mainstay, Medtronic, Nalu, Neuros Medical, Nevro Corp., ReNeuron, Saluda and SPR, as well as personal fees from Abbott Neuromodulation, Biotronik, Medtronic Neuromodulation, Nalu, Neuros Medical, Nevro Corp., Presidio Medical, Saluda and Vertos. She also holds stock options from neuro42 and SynerFuse.

"Source: A Cheaper, More Effective Solution for Diabetic Neuropathy from Pain Medicine News. Retrieved from https://www.painmedicinenews.com/Section/Clinical-Pain-Medicine/82."