Review Limitations
Several limitations should be considered in interpreting the data presented in this review. First, the review presents data from five studies, with only three studies providing an estimate of the prevalence of DDIs. Results of these studies may not represent the entire pain patient population. Second, the studies utilized only two Market Scan databases that were the Commercial database and the Medicare Supplemental database. Although the databases are large (i.e., covering more than 100 million members), it may not represent subpopulation such as those from medium and small firms, the Medicaid population and retirees without Medicare supplemental insurance provided by employers. In addition, the costs of DDEs from the older population could be slightly higher compared with the DDE costs of the >65 years old US population because the Medicare supplemental database includes payments information from self-insured companies. Since this study presents the cost results in a relative value and not absolute numbers, the upward bias could be nearly diminished.
Expert Rev Pharmacoeconomics Outcomes Res. 2013;13(6):725-734. © 2013 Expert Reviews Ltd.