ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:To evaluate cost-effectiveness of celecoxib for osteoarthritis(OA)in China. METHODS:OA cost-ef-fectiveness analysis model developed by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence(NICE)was adopted using celecoxib, diclofenac+PPIs as control. Related risk Zof adverse event was from CONDOR trials.The effectiveness was measured by QALY. Costs and QALYs were discounted annually at 4.76%. RESULTS:Celecoxib had a cost of $3 591 and 8.826 QALYs while diclofe-nac+PPIs had a cost of $3 674 and 8.830 QALYs. The incremental costs and QALYs of celecoxib to diclofenac+PPIs were -$83 and -0.004 QALYs,respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio(ICER)for diclofenac+PPIs to celecoxib was$23 258/QALY. The results of single factor sensitivity analysis and probability sensitivity analysis showed that drug cost was driving factor of IC-ER,and the results of two therapy plans were similar. CONCLUSIONS:Celecoxib is a less costly alternative than diclofenac+PPIs. The difference in QALYs between celecoxib and diclofenac+PPIs is extremely small,so celecoxib is likely to be cost-effec-tive for OA patients.