Economic Evaluation of the InTENSE Program of Therapy Alongside Botulinum Neurotoxin a for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Upper Limb Spasticity

Spasticity is a persistent and debilitating consequence of stroke and effective rehabilitation is a healthcare priority. Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) with supportive therapy has increasingly been embedded within clinical practice for treatment of post-stroke spasticity. But the evidence for this...

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Main Authors: Rachel Milte, Jia Song, Sean Docking, Julie Ratcliffe, Ian D. Cameron, Maria Crotty, Louise Ada, Coralie English, Natasha A. Lannin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-07-01
Series:Toxins
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/7/341
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author Rachel Milte
Jia Song
Sean Docking
Julie Ratcliffe
Ian D. Cameron
Maria Crotty
Louise Ada
Coralie English
Natasha A. Lannin
author_facet Rachel Milte
Jia Song
Sean Docking
Julie Ratcliffe
Ian D. Cameron
Maria Crotty
Louise Ada
Coralie English
Natasha A. Lannin
author_sort Rachel Milte
collection DOAJ
description Spasticity is a persistent and debilitating consequence of stroke and effective rehabilitation is a healthcare priority. Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) with supportive therapy has increasingly been embedded within clinical practice for treatment of post-stroke spasticity. But the evidence for this approach has hitherto been limited to the findings of a limited number of small trials. The InTENSE trial was undertaken specifically to provide high-quality clinical trial evidence focusing on the effect of BoNT-A and adjunctive therapy on upper limb spasticity. While the clinical trial did not detect a significant impact upon clinical outcomes, there remains a need to evaluate any impact on the broader use of healthcare resources and overall cost-effectiveness. A detailed cost–utility analysis of the InTENSE trial was undertaken. The costs over the 12-month follow-up period were compared with quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained using utilities generated from the EQ-5D three level (EQ-5D-3L) instrument. There were no significant differences in QALY gained between the intervention and control groups identified, or in the majority of health and community care costs. The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio per QALY gained was estimated at AU $63,947.11 (Australian dollars), which is well above accepted thresholds for cost-effectiveness in Australia. The study was unable to identify evidence for the cost-effectiveness of treatment approaches combining BoNT-A with adjunctive therapy.
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spelling doaj-art-e3e2f9b68b5d42ea94c52ac7817e753a2025-08-20T03:08:05ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-07-0117734110.3390/toxins17070341Economic Evaluation of the InTENSE Program of Therapy Alongside Botulinum Neurotoxin a for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Upper Limb SpasticityRachel Milte0Jia Song1Sean Docking2Julie Ratcliffe3Ian D. Cameron4Maria Crotty5Louise Ada6Coralie English7Natasha A. Lannin8Caring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaCaring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaSchool of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3004, AustraliaCaring Futures Institute, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaSydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaCollege of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5001, AustraliaSydney School of Health Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, AustraliaSchool of Health Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, AustraliaDepartment of Neuroscience, Monash University, Alfred Health, Melbourne, VIC 304, AustraliaSpasticity is a persistent and debilitating consequence of stroke and effective rehabilitation is a healthcare priority. Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) with supportive therapy has increasingly been embedded within clinical practice for treatment of post-stroke spasticity. But the evidence for this approach has hitherto been limited to the findings of a limited number of small trials. The InTENSE trial was undertaken specifically to provide high-quality clinical trial evidence focusing on the effect of BoNT-A and adjunctive therapy on upper limb spasticity. While the clinical trial did not detect a significant impact upon clinical outcomes, there remains a need to evaluate any impact on the broader use of healthcare resources and overall cost-effectiveness. A detailed cost–utility analysis of the InTENSE trial was undertaken. The costs over the 12-month follow-up period were compared with quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained using utilities generated from the EQ-5D three level (EQ-5D-3L) instrument. There were no significant differences in QALY gained between the intervention and control groups identified, or in the majority of health and community care costs. The Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio per QALY gained was estimated at AU $63,947.11 (Australian dollars), which is well above accepted thresholds for cost-effectiveness in Australia. The study was unable to identify evidence for the cost-effectiveness of treatment approaches combining BoNT-A with adjunctive therapy.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/7/341strokerehabilitationbotulinum neurotoxin Aeconomic evaluationcost–utility analysiscost-effectiveness analysis
spellingShingle Rachel Milte
Jia Song
Sean Docking
Julie Ratcliffe
Ian D. Cameron
Maria Crotty
Louise Ada
Coralie English
Natasha A. Lannin
Economic Evaluation of the InTENSE Program of Therapy Alongside Botulinum Neurotoxin a for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Upper Limb Spasticity
Toxins
stroke
rehabilitation
botulinum neurotoxin A
economic evaluation
cost–utility analysis
cost-effectiveness analysis
title Economic Evaluation of the InTENSE Program of Therapy Alongside Botulinum Neurotoxin a for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Upper Limb Spasticity
title_full Economic Evaluation of the InTENSE Program of Therapy Alongside Botulinum Neurotoxin a for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Upper Limb Spasticity
title_fullStr Economic Evaluation of the InTENSE Program of Therapy Alongside Botulinum Neurotoxin a for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Upper Limb Spasticity
title_full_unstemmed Economic Evaluation of the InTENSE Program of Therapy Alongside Botulinum Neurotoxin a for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Upper Limb Spasticity
title_short Economic Evaluation of the InTENSE Program of Therapy Alongside Botulinum Neurotoxin a for the Rehabilitation of Chronic Upper Limb Spasticity
title_sort economic evaluation of the intense program of therapy alongside botulinum neurotoxin a for the rehabilitation of chronic upper limb spasticity
topic stroke
rehabilitation
botulinum neurotoxin A
economic evaluation
cost–utility analysis
cost-effectiveness analysis
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/7/341
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