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Chhabra S, Cameron A, Thavorn K, Sikora L, Yadav K. Quality of health economic evaluations in emergency medicine journals: a systematic review. CAN J EMERG MED 2023; 25:676-688. [PMID: 37389770 DOI: 10.1007/s43678-023-00535-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Health economic evaluations are used in decision-making regarding resource allocation and it is imperative that they are completed with rigor. The primary objectives were to describe the characteristics and assess the quality of economic evaluations published in emergency medicine journals. METHODS Two reviewers independently searched 19 emergency medicine-specific journals via Medline and Embase from inception until March 3, 2022. Quality assessment was completed using the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) tool, and the primary outcome was the QHES score out of 100. Additionally, we identified factors that may contribute to higher-quality publications. RESULTS 7260 unique articles yielded 48 economic evaluations that met inclusion criteria. Most studies were cost-utility analyses and of high quality, with a median QHES score of 84 (interquartile range, IQR: 72, 90). Studies based on mathematical models and those primarily designed as an economic evaluation were associated with higher quality scores. The most commonly missed QHES items were: (i) providing and justifying the perspective of the analysis, (ii) providing justification for the primary outcome, and (iii) selecting an outcome that was long enough to allow for relevant events to occur. CONCLUSIONS The majority of health economic evaluations in the emergency medicine literature are cost-utility analyses and are of high quality. Decision analytic models and studies primarily designed as economic analyses were positively correlated with higher quality. To improve study quality, future EM economic evaluations should justify the choice of the perspective of the analysis and the selection of the primary outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn Chhabra
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| | - Austin Cameron
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, IWK Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Kednapa Thavorn
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lindsey Sikora
- Health Sciences Library, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Krishan Yadav
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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Diagnostic Policies Optimization for Chronic Diseases Based on POMDP Model. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10020283. [PMID: 35206897 PMCID: PMC8872177 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10020283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
During the process of disease diagnosis, overdiagnosis can lead to potential health loss and unnecessary anxiety for patients as well as increased medical costs, while underdiagnosis can result in patients not being treated on time. To deal with these problems, we construct a partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) model of chronic diseases to study optimal diagnostic policies, which takes into account individual characteristics of patients. The objective of our model is to maximize a patient’s total expected quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). We also derive some structural properties, including the existence of the diagnostic threshold and the optimal diagnosis age for chronic diseases. The resulting optimization is applied to the management of coronary heart disease (CHD). Based on clinical data, we validate our model, demonstrate how the quantitative tool can provide actionable insights for physicians and decision makers in health-related fields, and compare optimal policies with actual clinical decisions. The results indicate that the diagnostic threshold first decreases and then increases as the patient’s age increases, which contradicts the intuitive non-decreasing thresholds. Moreover, diagnostic thresholds were higher for women than for men, especially at younger ages.
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Ladapo JA, Davidson KW, Moise N, Chen A, Clarke GN, Dolor RJ, Margolis KL, Thanataveerat A, Kronish IM. Economic outcomes of depression screening after acute coronary syndromes: The CODIACS-QoL randomized clinical trial. Gen Hosp Psychiatry 2021; 71:47-54. [PMID: 33933921 PMCID: PMC10784112 DOI: 10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2021.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of screening for depression in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and no history of depression. METHODS Cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomized trial enrolling 1500 patients with ACS between 2013 and 2017. Patients were randomized to no screening, screening and notifying the primary care provider (PCP), and screening, notifying the PCP, and providing enhanced depression treatment. Outcomes measured were Healthcare utilization, costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. RESULTS 7.1% of patients screened positive for depressive symptoms. There was no significant difference in usage of mental health services, cardiovascular tests and procedures, and medications. Mean total costs in No Screen group ($7440), in Screen, Notify, and Treat group ($6745), and in Screen and Notify group ($6204). The difference was only significant in the Screen and Notify group versus the No Screen group (-$1236, 95% confidence interval -$2388 to -$96). Because mean QALYs were higher (+0.003 QALY in Screen and Notify; +0.004 QALYs in Screen, Notify, and Treat) and mean total costs were lower in both intervention groups, these interventions were cost-effective. There was substantial uncertainty because confidence intervals around cost differences were wide and QALY effects were small. CONCLUSION Depression screening strategies for patients with ACS may be modestly cost-effective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph A Ladapo
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America.
| | - Karina W Davidson
- Center for Personalized Health, Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY, United States of America
| | - Nathalie Moise
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
| | - Alexander Chen
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, United States of America
| | | | - Rowena J Dolor
- Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States of America
| | - Karen L Margolis
- HealthPartners Institute, Minneapolis, MN, United States of America
| | | | - Ian M Kronish
- Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States of America
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Primeau CA, Zomar BO, Somerville LE, Joshi I, Giffin JR, Marsh JD. Health Economic Evaluations of Hip and Knee Interventions in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine: A Systematic Review and Quality Assessment. Orthop J Sports Med 2021; 9:2325967120987241. [PMID: 34262974 PMCID: PMC8243245 DOI: 10.1177/2325967120987241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The economic burden of musculoskeletal diseases is substantial and growing. Economic evaluations compare costs and health benefits of interventions simultaneously to help inform value-based care; thus, it is crucial to ensure that studies are using appropriate methodology to provide valid evidence on the cost-effectiveness of interventions. This is particularly the case in orthopaedic sports medicine, where several interventions of varying costs are available to treat common hip and knee conditions. PURPOSE To summarize and evaluate the quality of economic evaluations in orthopaedic sports medicine for knee and hip interventions and identify areas for quality improvement. STUDY DESIGN Systematic review; Level of evidence, 3. METHODS The Medline, AMED, OVID Health Star, and EMBASE databases were searched from inception to March 1, 2020, to identify economic evaluations that compared ≥2 interventions for hip and/or knee conditions in orthopaedic sports medicine. We assessed the quality of full economic evaluations using the Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) tool, which consists of 16 questions for a total score of 100. We classified studies into quartiles based on QHES score (extremely poor quality to high quality) and we evaluated the frequency of studies that addressed each of the 16 QHES questions. RESULTS A total of 93 studies were included in the systematic review. There were 41 (44%) cost analyses, of which 21 (51%) inappropriately concluded interventions were cost-effective. Only 52 (56%) of the included studies were full economic evaluations, although 40 of these (77%) fell in the high-quality quartile. The mean QHES score was 83.2 ± 19. Authors consistently addressed 12 of the QHES questions; questions that were missed or unclear were related to statistical uncertainty, appropriateness of costing methodology, and discussion of potential biases. The most frequently missed question was whether the cost perspective of the analysis was stated and justified. CONCLUSION The number of studies in orthopaedic sports medicine is small, despite their overall good quality. Yet, there are still many highly cited studies based on low-quality or partial economic evaluations that are being used to influence clinical decision-making. Investigators should follow international health economic guidelines for study design and critical appraisal of studies to further improve quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Codie A. Primeau
- School of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Bone and Joint Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Bryn O. Zomar
- School of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Bone and Joint Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Ishita Joshi
- School of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Bone and Joint Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - J. Robert Giffin
- Bone and Joint Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- London Health Sciences
Centre, University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Surgery, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jacquelyn D. Marsh
- School of Physical Therapy, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- Bone and Joint Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
- London Health Sciences
Centre, University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada
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Cost-Effectiveness of Arthroplasty Management in Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis: a Quality Review of the Literature. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN RHEUMATOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40674-020-00157-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Xiong W, Qu Y, Chen H, Qian J. Insight into long noncoding RNA-miRNA-mRNA axes in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury: the implications for mechanism and therapy. Epigenomics 2019; 11:1733-1748. [PMID: 31701757 DOI: 10.2217/epi-2019-0119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Emerging evidence has demonstrated that regulatory noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and miRNAs, play crucial roles in the initiation and progress of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), which is associated with autophagy, apoptosis and necrosis of cardiomyocytes, as well as oxidative stress, inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction. LncRNAs serve as a precursor or host of miRNAs and directly/indirectly affecting miRNAs via competitive binding or sponge effects. Simultaneously, miRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate the expression of genes by targeting various mRNA sequences due to their imperfect pairing with mRNAs. This review summarizes the potential regulatory role of lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA axes in MIRI and related molecular mechanisms of cardiac disorders, also provides insight into the potential therapies for MIRI-induced diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Xiong
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province 650032, PR China
| | - Yan Qu
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province 650032, PR China.,Department of Anesthesiology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, The Second People's Hospital of Yunnan, Kunming, Yunnan province 650021, PR China
| | - Hongmei Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Kunming Angel Women's & Children's Hospital, Kunming, Yunnan province 650108, PR China
| | - Jinqiao Qian
- Department of Anesthesiology, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan province 650032, PR China
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