Cost-Effectiveness of Hominis Placenta Therapy for Chronic Temporomandibular Disorder: An Economic Evaluation Alongside a Pragmatic Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Background

Hominis placenta (HP) exhibits anti-inflammatory, antiviral and nerve growth-promoting properties; however, there are limited studies about HP therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Objective

To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of HP therapy with that of physical therapy (PT) in patients with TMD.

Methods

This cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted alongside a 26-week multicentre pragmatic randomised controlled trial (RCT). Eighty-two patients with chronic TMD were randomly assigned to the HP and PT groups at a ratio of 1:1. Patients with a visual analogue scale (VAS) score of ≥ 40 mm for temporomandibular joint pain and persistent pain for ≥ 3 months were included. The primary economic endpoint was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, which analysed the cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained in the HP group. QALYs were calculated using EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D) and Short-Form 6D (SF-6D). The primary and secondary analyses were conducted from societal and healthcare perspectives.

Results

HP therapy was the dominant treatment option from a societal perspective owing to its higher QALY and lower cost compared with those of PT. Differences in QALYs calculated using EQ-5D and SF-6D between the two groups were 0.015 and 0.034, respectively, while those in cost from societal perspectives and healthcare perspectives were −3764 and 113 USD, respectively. Analysis from a healthcare perspective indicated that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio calculated using the EQ-5D and SF-6D was 7786 and 3338 USD, respectively.

Conclusion

HP therapy is a more cost-effective therapeutic option than PT for patients with chronic TMD.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04087005; Clinical Research Information Service KCT0004437