Costs and consequences of acupuncture as a treatment for chronic pain: a systematic review of economic evaluations conducted alongside randomised controlled trials.

Ambrósio EM1, Bloor K, MacPherson H.
Complement Ther Med. 2012 Oct;20(5):364-74. doi: 10.1016/j.ctim.2012.05.002. Epub 2012 Jun 6..

Abstract: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22863652?dopt=Abstract

Full article: http://www.complementarytherapiesinmedicine.com/article/S0965-2299(12)00080-5/fulltext

Results

Eight economic evaluations were included in this review, seven cost-utility analyses and one cost-effectiveness analysis. Conditions treated included low back pain, neck pain, dysmenorrhoea, migraine and headache, and osteoarthritis. From the seven cost-utility analyses, acupuncture was found to be clinically effective but cost more.

Conclusion

Acupuncture appears to be a cost-effective intervention for some chronic pain conditions.