Comparative Effectiveness Reviews

Health Problem: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver malignancy in the United States, accounting for approximately 90% of primary liver cancers. The definitive therapies for HCC are surgical resection, tumor ablation, and liver transplantation; however, most patients are not eligible for these therapies due to the overall burden or severity of their dis…

Health Problem: Obesity is a common condition in the United States, where approximately 37.7% of adults aged 20 years and older are considered obese. Data from 2013 to 2014 show a rate of obesity of 17.2% among younger individuals aged 2 to 19 years. Morbid obesity is associated with substantively elevated morbidity and mortality due to comorbid conditions, including type…

Health Problem: In the United States, stroke afflicts 795,000 individuals each year, with 610,000 being a first stroke and 185,000 being recurrent stroke. Stroke causes 140,000 deaths annually. It is estimated that 29% to 75% of stroke survivors experience upper extremity impairments and stroke reduces mobility in more than 50% of survivors age 65 years and older.

Health Problem: Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease of the skin that affects 7.5 million people in the United States and is characterized by the appearance of red, thickened, scaly patches on the skin.

Technology Description: Laser therapy typically involves passing a focused laser beam back and forth over the entire area of a psoriasis lesion. In s…

Health Problem: It is estimated that 60% to 80% of the adult population in the United States will experience clinically significant low back pain (LBP) at some point in time. The vast majority of LBP is mechanical in nature, i.e., arising from anatomic structures of the spine. Nonspecific chronic LBP may be attributed to normal degenerative changes in the intervertebral discs …

Health Problem: Osteoarthritis of the knee is the primary indication for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in the United States. Many TKA recipients are unsatisfied with the amount of pain relief and functional improvement they have long term. Malalignment of the implant has particularly been associated with poor clinical outcomes, early implant loosening, premature implant wear, …

Health Problem: Acute postoperative pain and swelling is common following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Inadequately controlled pain negatively affects quality of life and recovery of function and may result in an increase in morbidity, recovery time, opioid use, and risk of complications or persistent postsurgical pain. According to 2010 data, approximately 4.7 million peopl…

Health Problem: Conditions of the Achilles tendon, such as Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) or Achilles tendinopathy (AT), as well as conditions of the plantar fascia (plantar fasciitis [PF]) can result from overuse or can be due to sports, age, and/or a combination of seve…

Health Problem: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition, which presents in childhood and is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction; restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, or activities; and clinically significant impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of current functio…

Health Problem: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, obstructive respiratory disorder in which airways are clogged with mucus; airways and alveoli lose elasticity; or alveoli are thickened, inflamed, or destroyed. Signs and symptoms include ongoing cough, often producing mucus; shortness of breath; audible breathing such as wheezing, whistling, or squ…