Conclusion
We found no clear evidence that stratified exercise therapy is more cost-effective compared to usual exercise therapy in patients with knee OA. However, results should be interpreted with caution as the study power was lower than intended, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, it is up to policy-makers, whether they perceive the likelihood of stratified exercise therapy possibly generating societal cost savings while maintaining clinical effects, to determine if implementation of this intervention in clinical practice is warranted.