Cost-Effectiveness Of A Community-Based Diet And Exercise Intervention In Persons With Knee OA And Overweight Or Obesity: Data From The We-Can Randomized Clinical Trial

Purpose: Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is a prevalent, debilitating, and costly condition that is exacerbated by excess body weight. The Weight Loss and Exercise for Communities with Arthritis in North Carolina (WE-CAN) trial tested both community-based Health Education (HE) and Diet and Exercise (D+E) interventions. HE consisted of periodic group meetings focused on nutrition and other health literacy topics. D+E consisted of a calorie-restricted dietary plan and group exercise sessions delivered in community settings by trained exercise interventionists. The D+E program led to a mean 7.7 kg weight reduction and 32% reduction in pain over 18 months. Over the same period, the HE program led to a mean 1.7 kg weight reduction and 24% pain reduction. We sought to determine the cost-effectiveness of these community-based HE and D+E programs in patients with knee OA and overweight or obesity (BMI>27 kg/m2).