Cost-effectiveness analyses using real-world data: an overview of the literature

Hot topics in allergen immunotherapy, 2023: Current status and future perspective

The importance of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is multifaceted, encompassing both clinical and quality-of-life improvements and cost-effectiveness in the long term. Key mechanisms of allergen tolerance induced by AIT include changes in memory type allergen-specific T- and B-cell responses towards a regulatory phenotype with decreased Type 2 responses, suppression of allergen-specific IgE and increased IgG1 and IgG4, decreased mast cell and eosinophil numbers in allergic tissues and increased activation thresholds. The potential of novel patient enrolment strategies for AIT is taking into account recent advances in biomarkers discoveries, molecular allergy diagnostics and mobile health applications contributing to a personalized approach enhancement that can increase AIT efficacy and compliance. Artificial intelligence can help manage and interpret complex and heterogeneous data, including big data from omics and non-omics research, potentially predict disease subtypes, identify biomarkers and monitor patient responses to AIT. Novel AIT preparations, such as synthetic compounds, innovative carrier systems and adjuvants, are also of great promise. Advances in clinical trial models, including adaptive, complex and hybrid designs as well as real-world evidence, allow more flexibility and cost reduction. The analyses of AIT cost-effectiveness show a clear long-term advantage compared to pharmacotherapy. Important research questions, such as defining clinical endpoints, biomarkers of patient selection and efficacy, mechanisms and the modulation of the placebo effect and alternatives to conventional field trials, including allergen exposure chamber studies are still to be elucidated. This review demonstrates that AIT is still in its growth phase and shows immense development prospects.

Real-world data: a comprehensive literature review on the barriers, challenges, and opportunities associated with their inclusion in the health technology assessment process

Objective: This review aimed to assess the current use and acceptance of real-world data (RWD) and real-world evidence (RWE) in health technology assessment (HTA) process. It additionally aimed to discern stakeholders' viewpoints concerning RWD and RWE in HTA and illuminate the obstacles, difficulties, prospects, and consequences associated with the incorporation of RWD and RWE into the realm of HTA. Methods: A comprehensive PRISMA-based systematic review was performed in July 2022 in PubMed/Medline, Scopus, IDEAS-RePEc, International HTA database, and Centre for Reviews and Dissemination with ad hoc supplementary search in Google Scholar and international organization websites. The review included pre-determined inclusion criteria while the selection of eligible studies, the data extraction process and quality assessment were carried out using standardized and transparent methods. Results: Twenty-nine (n = 29) studies were included in the review out of 2,115 studies identified by the search strategy. In various global contexts, disparities in RWD utilization were evident, with randomized controlled trials (RCTs) serving as the primary evidence source. RWD and RWE played pivotal roles, surpassing relative effectiveness assessments (REAs) and significantly influencing decision-making and cost-effectiveness analyses. Identified challenges impeding RWD integration into HTA encompassed limited local data access, complexities in non-randomized trial design, data quality, privacy, and fragmentation. Addressing these is imperative for optimal RWD utilization. Incorporating RWD/RWE in HTA yields multifaceted advantages, enhancing understanding of treatment efficacy, resource utilization, and cost analysis, particularly via patient registries. RWE complements assessments of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) and rare diseases. Local data utilization strengthens HTA, bridging gaps when RCT data is lacking. RWD aids medical device decision-making, cancer drug reassessment, and indirect treatment comparisons. Challenges include data availability, stakeholder acceptance, expertise, and privacy. However, standardization, training, collaboration, and guidance can surmount these barriers, fostering enhanced RWD utilization in HTA. Conclusion: This study highlights the intricate global landscape of RWD and RWE acceptance in HTA. Recognizing regional nuances, addressing methodological challenges, and promoting collaboration are pivotal, among others, for leveraging RWD and RWE effectively in healthcare decision-making.

How the structural determinants of health inequities impact access to prescription medication for pregnant women in Australia: a narrative review

Structural factors that contribute to health disparities (e.g., population-level policies, cultural norms) impact the distribution of resources in society and can affect medication accessibility; even in high-income countries like Australia. Industry practices and regulatory approaches (e.g., a conservative approach to testing medicines in pregnant women) influence the availability of safety and efficacy data necessary for the licencing and funding of prescription medications used during pregnancy. Consequently, pregnant women may be prescribed medications outside of regulatory or funder-approved indications, posing risks for both prescribers and pregnant women and potentially compromising equitable access to medications. This review examines the regulatory and legislative structural factors that contribute to health disparities and perpetuate the deeply ingrained social norm that we should be protecting pregnant women from clinical research rather than safeguarding them through such research. Addressing these challenges requires a renewed commitment to integrated, woman-centred maternal healthcare and strengthened collaboration across all sectors.

Funding

Australian Government Research Training Program Stipend from the University of Technology Sydney, National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Fellowship, Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation Fellowship (CRF-210323).

Pharmacoepidemiology: An Overview

The aims of this review are to provide a comprehensive overview of the definition and scope of pharmacoepidemiology, to summarize the study designs and methodologies used in the field, to discuss the future trends in the field and new methodologies to address bias and confounding, and finally to give some recommendations to clinicians interested in pharmacoepidemiologic research. Because drug efficacy and safety from randomized clinical trials do not reflect the real-world situation, pharmacoepidemiological studies on drug safety monitoring and drug effectiveness in large numbers of people are needed by healthcare professionals and regulatory institutions. We aim to highlight the importance of pharmacoepidemiologic research in informing evidence-based medicine and public health policy. The development of new designs and methodologies for the generation of valid evidence, as well as new initiatives to provide guidance and recommendations on how to incorporate real-world evidence into the drug development process, are reported on. In addition, we have touched on the implication of artificial intelligence in the management of real-world data. This overview aims to summarize all important aspects to consider when conducting or interpreting a pharmacoepidemiologic study.

Integrating real-world data in cost-effectiveness analysis of universal HLA-B*15:02 screening in Malaysia

AIMS

Despite the availability of newer antiseizure medications, carbamazepine (CBZ) remains the gold standard. However, patients of Asian ancestry are susceptible to CBZ-related severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Universal HLA-B*15:02 screening is a promising intervention to address this. With the increasing recognition of integrating real-world evidence in economic evaluations, the cost-effectiveness of universal HLA-B*15:02 screening was assessed using available real-world data in Malaysia.

METHODS

A hybrid model of a decision tree and Markov model was developed to evaluate 3 strategies for treating newly diagnosed epilepsy among adults: (i) CBZ initiation without HLA-B*15:02 screening (current practice); (ii) universal HLA-B*15:02 screening prior to CBZ initiation; and (iii) alternative prescribing without HLA-B*15:02 screening. The model was populated with real-world inputs derived from the Malaysian population. From a societal perspective, base-case analysis and sensitivity analyses estimated the costs and outcomes over a lifetime. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated.

RESULTS

In the base-cases analysis, universal HLA-B*15:02 screening yielded the lowest total costs and the highest total quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. Compared with current practice, universal screening was less costly by USD100 and more effective by QALYs increase of 0.1306, while alternative prescribing resulted in 0.1383 QALYs loss at additional costs of USD332. The highest seizure remission rate (56%) was estimated for universal HLA-B*15:02 screening vs. current practice (54%) and alternative prescribing (48%).

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that universal HLA-B*15:02 screening is a cost-effective intervention in Malaysia. With the demonstrated value of real-world evidence in economic evaluations, more relevant standardization efforts should be emphasized to better inform decision-making.

Challenges and opportunities in building a health economic framework for personalized medicine in oncology

Personalized medicine has allowed for knowledge at an individual level for several diseases and this has led to improvements in prevention and treatment of various types of neoplasms. Despite the greater availability of tests, the costs of genomic testing and targeted therapies are still high for most patients, especially in low- and middle-income countries. Although value frameworks and health technology assessment are fundamental to allow decision-making by policymakers, there are several concerns in terms of personalized medicine pharmacoeconomics. A global effort may improve these tools in order to allow access to personalized medicine for an increasing number of patients with cancer.

Contributions of cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) to influenza vaccination policy for older adults in Europe

This review describes the importance of economic evaluations and real-world evidence (RWE) for the assessment of enhanced influenza vaccines for older adults in Europe. Individuals ≥65 years of age are at increased risk of severe influenza outcomes and many countries in Europe recommend enhanced vaccines for this population to mitigate immunosenescence. Some National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) may preferentially recommend a specific enhanced vaccine, necessitating comparative economic evaluation and estimation of relative vaccine effectiveness between enhanced vaccine options in the absence of direct head-to-head efficacy data. Distinct approaches to economic modeling and cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) guide national vaccination policies in Europe, including how underlying data, such as RWE, are used in these models. RWE is an important evidence source for input into CEA models based on disease factors (e.g., antigenic shift and seasonal variation) and practical factors (e.g., limitations of performing multiple randomized clinical trials to capture seasonal variation; the need to obtain relevant patient-oriented, real-world endpoints, such as hospitalizations). CEA is considered crucial to vaccine assessment among certain countries in Europe, but further harmonization of economic evaluations, including the use of RWE, across NITAGs in Europe may be of benefit, alongside standardized approaches for vaccine appraisal. In the future, more countries may use RWE as an input in CEA models to support NITAG recommendations for enhanced influenza vaccines in older populations, especially considering the value of RWE for the assessment of influenza epidemiology and vaccine effectiveness as stated by the World Health Organization, and the availability of a broad RWE base for certain enhanced vaccines.

Real-World Evidence in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Enhanced Influenza Vaccines in Adults ≥ 65 Years of Age: Literature Review and Expert Opinion

Influenza vaccination can benefit most populations, including adults ≥ 65 years of age, who are at greater risk of influenza-related complications. In many countries, enhanced vaccines, such as adjuvanted, high-dose, and recombinant trivalent/quadrivalent influenza vaccines (aTIV/aQIV, HD-TIV/HD-QIV, and QIVr, respectively), are recommended in older populations to provide higher immunogenicity and increased relative vaccine efficacy/effectiveness (rVE) than standard-dose vaccines. This review explores how efficacy and effectiveness data from randomized controlled trials and real-world evidence (RWE) are used in economic evaluations. Findings from published cost-effectiveness analyses (CEA) on enhanced influenza vaccines for older adults are summarized, and the assumptions and approaches used in these CEA are assessed alongside discussion of the importance of RWE in CEA. Results from many CEA showed that adjuvanted and high-dose enhanced vaccines were cost-effective compared with standard vaccines, and that differences in rVE estimates and acquisition price may drive differences in cost-effectiveness estimates between enhanced vaccines. Overall, RWE and CEA provide clinical and economic rationale for enhanced vaccine use in people ≥ 65 years of age, an at-risk population with substantial burden of disease. Countries that consider RWE when making vaccine recommendations have preferentially recommended aTIV/aQIV, as well as HD-TIV/HD-QIV and QIVr, to protect older individuals.

An Investigation into the Relationship Between Choice of Model Structure and How to Adjust for Subsequent Therapies Using a Case Study in Oncology

BACKGROUND

A common challenge in health technology assessments (HTAs) of cancer treatments is how subsequent therapy use within the trial follow-up may influence cost-effectiveness model outcomes. Although overall survival (OS) is often a key driver of model results, there are no guidelines to advise how to adjust for this potential confounding, with different approaches available dependent on the model structure.

OBJECTIVE

We compared a partitioned survival analysis (PartSA) with a semi-Markov multi-state model (MSM) structure, with and without attempts to adjust for the impact of subsequent therapies on OS using a case study describing outcomes for people with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

METHODS

Both model structures included three health states: pre-progression, progressed disease and death. Three traditional crossover methods were considered within the context of the PartSA, whereas for the MSM, the probability of post-progression death was pooled across arms. Impacts on the model incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) were recorded.

RESULTS

The unadjusted PartSA produced an ICER of £623,563, and after adjustment yielded an ICER range of £381,340-£386,907. The unadjusted MSM produced an ICER of £1,283,780. Adjusting OS in the MSM resulted in an ICER of £345,486.

CONCLUSIONS

The simplicity of the PartSA is lost when the decision problem becomes more complex (for example, when OS data are confounded by subsequent therapies). In this setting, the MSM structure may be considered more flexible, with fewer and less restrictive assumptions required versus the PartSA. Researchers should consider important study design features that may influence the generalisability of data when undertaking model conceptualisation.

Real-World Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: How Much Uncertainty Is in the Results?

Cost-effectiveness analyses of new cancer treatments in real-world settings (e.g., post-clinical trials) inform healthcare decision makers about their healthcare investments for patient populations. The results of these analyses are often, though not always, presented with statistical uncertainty. This paper identifies five ways to characterize statistical uncertainty: (1) a 95% confidence interval (CI) for the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER); (2) a 95% CI for the incremental net benefit (INB); (3) an INB by willingness-to-pay (WTP) plot; (4) a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve (CEAC); and (5) a cost-effectiveness scatterplot. It also explores their usage in 22 articles previously identified by a rapid review of real-world cost effectiveness of novel cancer treatments. Seventy-seven percent of these articles presented uncertainty results. The majority those papers (59%) used administrative data to inform their analyses while the remaining were conducted using models. Cost-effectiveness scatterplots were the most commonly used method (34.3%), with 40% indicating high levels of statistical uncertainty, suggesting the possibility of a qualitatively different result from the estimate given. Understanding the necessity for and the meaning of uncertainty in real-world cost-effectiveness analysis will strengthen knowledge translation efforts to improve patient outcomes in an efficient manner.

Health care resource utilization and costs among individuals with vs without Huntington disease in a US population

BACKGROUND: Quantifying the extent of health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs associated with Huntington disease (HD) is vital for providers, decisionmakers, and payers to understand unmet treatment needs and to ensure limited resources can be used to benefit the maximum number of people with HD. OBJECTIVE: To quantify HCRU and costs for people with HD, overall and by disease stage, and compare these with non-HD controls. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data from the IBM MarketScan Commercial, Multi-State Medicaid, and Medicare Supplemental Databases from January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2018. People with an HD claim between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2017, were selected for this analysis and matched with non-HD controls for comparison. The HD cohort and the non-HD controls were exact matched on their follow-up duration and propensity score matched 1:4 to create the final analytical cohort. Index date was the first HD diagnosis for the HD cohort (proxy index date assigned to controls), and all individuals were required to have continuous enrollment for 12 or more months pre-index (baseline) and 3 or more months post-index. Proportions of all-cause HCRU (ie, outpatient visits, inpatient visits, emergency department visits, pharmacy fills, radiology visits, and physical/occupational therapy visits) in the 6-months post-index and HCRU counts and costs per patient per month (PPPM) over the entire follow-up were calculated for each cohort. RESULTS: A total of 2,473 individuals with HD and 9,522 matched non-HD controls were identified. HCRU in 6 months post-index was significantly greater in people with HD compared with non-HD controls for all health care service categories; P < 0.0001. The mean number of HCRU PPPM for all measured healthcare services was significantly higher in people with HD compared with non-HD controls (P < 0.001). Mean total costs (2018 USD PPPM) for the HD cohort ($2,260 [SD = $4,682]) were twice the total costs in the non-HD cohort ($1,056 [SD = $3,078]) (P < 0.0001) and were highest across all disease stages. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides current comprehensive HCRU and cost estimates in individuals with HD relative to those without the disease, thus demonstrating the high economic burden imposed by HD. DISCLOSURES: Dr Ta: Employment with Genentech (at time of study) and stock options with Roche; Dr To: Employment and stock options/dividends with Genentech; Dr Patel: Employment and stock options with Roche/Genentech; Dr Fuller: Employment with CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation; Mr Surinach: Employment with Genesis Research (which receives consulting fees from Genentech/Roche); Dr Abbass: Employment and stock options with Genentech; Dr Exuzides: Employment and stock options with Roche/Genentech; and Ms Luo: Employment with CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation. This study was funded by Genentech Inc. The authors thank Greg Rowe of Chrysalis Medical Communications for providing medical writing support, which was funded by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, in accordance with Good Publication Practice (GPP3) guidelines (http://www.ismpp.org/gpp3).

Cost-effectiveness analysis of primary treatments for localised prostate cancer: A population-based Markov analysis using real-world evidence

OBJECTIVE

We evaluate cost-effectiveness of primary treatments for localised prostate cancer by uniquely combining prospectively collected real-world outcomes and costs from UCSF Cancer of Prostate Strategic Urologic Research Endeavor (CaPSURE™).

METHODS

Markov models assessed cost-effectiveness of radical prostatectomy (RP), brachytherapy, electron beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and brachytherapy with EBRT by risk from US payers perspective over 8 years. Treatment costs included office visits, hospitalisation, procedures, medication and long-term care. Patients' surveyed HRQoL were mapped into utilities. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) used cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and willingness-to-pay of $150,000/QALY.

RESULTS

Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) showed for low-risk prostate cancer, EBRT dominated the lowest cost brachytherapy, but RPns and brachytherapy plus EBRT were cost-effective compared to brachytherapy with ICERs of $18,926 and $41,662 per QALY. In medium-risk patients, RP, EBRT and brachytherapy plus EBRT all were cost-effective compared with brachytherapy, with ICERs of $30,604, $22,588 and $21,627/QALY. In high-risk, brachytherapy dominated all treatments. Procedure cost and utility are driving ICER, but probabilistic sensitivity analysis showed the model was robust across variables.

CONCLUSION

This first CEA combining prospective real-world evidence for HRQOL outcomes with costs shows cost-effectiveness of treatments vary by risk groups, providing new evidence for treatment decisions.

Using real world evidence to generate cost-effectiveness analysis of fibrinolytic therapy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction in Thailand

BACKGROUND

Due to limited access to primary percutaneous coronary intervention for the management of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) in low-to-middle-income countries (LMICs), fibrinolysis serves as a vital alternative reperfusion therapy. Among fibrinolytic agents, the cost-effectiveness of tenecteplase (TNK) in LMICs as compared to streptokinase (SK) for STEMI management remains unknown.

METHODS

Cost-effectiveness was analyzed using a hybrid model consisting of short-term analysis (30-days decision tree model) and long-term analysis (Markov model). Both health care provider and societal perspectives over a lifetime horizon with 3% discount rate were considered. Input parameters were obtained from Thailand's national health database, a network meta-analysis and literature review. Outcome measure was an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) determined by an incremental cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gain. An ICER of less than $5,590 per QALY gain is considered cost-effective. Series of sensitivity analyses were also performed.

FINDINGS

From the societal perspective, TNK increases cost by $827 and increases QALY by 0·173. Thus, the ICER is $4,777 per QALY gained. Similarly, the ICER from health care provider perspective is $4,664 per QALY gained. In the probabilistic sensitivity analysis, using 5,590 USD per QALY as threshold, the probability of TNK being cost-effective was 83% from both perspectives. The most influential parameters were risk ratio of death for treatment with TNK compared to SK and drug cost of TNK.

INTERPRETATION

In a resource-limited country like Thailand, tenecteplase is a cost-effective fibrinolytic drug for treatment of STEMI compared to streptokinase.

FUNDING

None.

Randomized Versus Real-World Evidence on the Efficacy and Toxicity of Checkpoint Inhibitors in Cancer in Patients with Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer or Melanoma: A Meta-analysis

Background

Both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and real-world evidence (RWE) studies provide results regarding the efficacy and toxicity of checkpoint inhibitors in cancer patients. The results from these two sources are considered complementary but whether they are comparable remains unknown.

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and toxicity of checkpoint inhibitors between RCTs and RWE studies in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or melanoma.

Patients and Methods

Two electronic databases were searched to identify eligible studies, either RCTs or RWE studies, investigating the efficacy or toxicity of checkpoint inhibitors given for indications that were approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) at the date of the last search. A meta-analysis was performed and the pooled estimates of objective response rates (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and toxicity and treatment discontinuation between RCTs and RWE studies were compared.

Results

In total, 43 RWE studies and 15 RCTs were eligible, with adequate data for pooled estimates for immunotherapy indications regarding NSCLC and melanoma. No statistically significant or clinically meaningful differences in terms of pooled PFS, OS, or rates of treatment discontinuation due to toxicity between RCTs and RWE studies were observed. In some indications, a higher rate of response rates and lower rate of toxicity in favor of RWE was observed.

Conclusion

In patients with melanoma or NSCLC, the clinical value of checkpoint inhibitors is evident in both RCTs and real-world settings. Some differences in response or toxicity rates in favor of RWE mainly reflects the inherent difficulties in evaluating these outcomes in RWE studies.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11523-022-00901-1.

Comparison of Permanent Hair Removal Procedures before Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty: Why We Should Consider Laser Hair Removal as a First-Line Treatment for Patients Who Meet Criteria

Introduction

Permanent genital hair removal is required before gender-affirming vaginoplasty to prevent hair-related complications. No previous studies have directly compared the relative efficacy, costs, and patient experiences with laser hair removal (LHR) vs electrolysis treatments. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversight of medical devices is poorly understood and commonly misrepresented, adversely affecting patient care.

Aim

This study compares treatment outcomes of electrolysis and LHR for genital hair removal and investigates FDA regulation of electrolysis and LHR devices.

Methods

Penile-inversion vaginoplasty and shallow-depth vaginoplasty patients completed surveys about their preoperative hair removal, including procedure type, number/frequency of sessions, cost, and discomfort. Publicly available FDA-review documents and databases were reviewed.

Main Outcomes Measure

Compared to electrolysis, LHR was associated with greater efficiency, decreased cost, decreased pain, and improved patient satisfaction.

Results

Of 52 total (44 full-depth and 8 shallow-depth) vaginoplasty patients, 22 of 52 underwent electrolysis only, 15 of 52 underwent laser only, and 15 of 52 used both techniques. Compared to patients that underwent LHR only, patients that underwent only electrolysis required a significantly greater number of treatment sessions (mean 24.3 electrolysis vs 8.1 LHR sessions, P < .01) and more frequent sessions (every 2.4 weeks for electrolysis vs 5.3 weeks for LHR, P < .01) to complete treatment (defined as absence of re-growth over 2 months). Electrolysis sessions were significantly longer than LHR sessions (152 minutes vs 26 minutes, P < .01). Total treatment costs for electrolysis ($5,161) were significantly greater than for laser ($981, P < .01). Electrolysis was associated with greater pain and significantly increased need for pretreatment analgesia, which further contributed to higher net costs for treatment with electrolysis vs laser. Many LHR and electrolysis devices have been FDA-cleared for safety, but the FDA does not assess or compare clinical efficacy or efficiency.

Clinical Implications

For patients with dark-pigmented hair, providers should consider LHR as the first-line treatment option for preoperative hair removal before gender-affirming vaginoplasty.

Strength and Limitations

This is the first study to compare electrolysis and LHR for genital hair removal. The discussion addresses FDA review/oversight of devices, which is commonly misrepresented. Limitations include the survey format for data collection.

Conclusion

When compared with electrolysis, LHR showed greater treatment efficiency (shorter and fewer treatment sessions to complete treatment), less pain, greater tolerability, and lower total cost. Our data suggests that, for patients with dark genital hair, providers should consider recommending laser as the first-line treatment for permanent genital hair removal before vaginoplasty.

Yuan N, Feldman A, Chin P, et al. Comparison of Permanent Hair Removal Procedures before Gender-Affirming Vaginoplasty: Why We Should Consider Laser Hair Removal as a First-Line Treatment for Patients Who Meet Criteria. Sex Med 2022;10:100545.

Clinical and economic analysis of Gastrodin injection for dizziness or vertigo: a retrospective cohort study based on electronic health records in China

Background

Dizziness and vertigo are common clinical symptoms. Gastrodin injection has shown clinical effects on dizziness or vertigo. However, little is known about the effectiveness and costs of combining Gastrodin injection with conventional treatment on dizziness or vertigo in daily practice. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and economic effects of Gastrodin injection for patients with dizziness or vertigo in comparison to Extract of Ginkgo Biloba Leaves injection in real-world practice.

Methods

Data was collected from the Hospital Information System of 131 hospitals across China from January to December 2018. Patients whose primary discharge diagnosis was dizziness or vertigo according to ICD-10 diagnostic coding were included and divided into two samples: sample of dizziness or vertigo; sample of dizziness or vertigo, with the complication of cerebral infarction. Comparative analysis of the medical cost per hospitalization, hospitalization duration, effective rates, and cure rates between the group of Gastrodin injection and the group of Extract of Ginkgo Biloba Leaves injection was conducted. Propensity Score Matching was used to control potential confounding factors.

Results

In the sample of dizziness or vertigo, although there was no significant differences on hospitalization duration (P = 0.080), the group of Gastrodin injection was significantly better than the group of Extract of Ginkgo Biloba Leaves injection (P < 0.001) in terms of treatment effect and the per capita hospitalization cost. In the sample of dizziness or vertigo, with the complication of cerebral infarction, there was no significant difference (P = 0.371) in terms of hospitalization duration, but the group of Gastrodin injection was significantly better than the group of Extract of Ginkgo Biloba Leaves injection (P = 0.009) in terms of treatment effect, and significant difference regarding the per capita hospitalization cost (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Gastrodin injection showed advantages for inpatients with dizziness or vertigo compared with Extract of Ginkgo Biloba Leaves injection. Future studies using prospective pragmatic controlled trials can test and explore more about the effects of Gastrodin injections on dizziness or vertigo.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13020-021-00561-9.

Big Data and Real-World Data based Cost-Effectiveness Studies and Decision-making Models: A Systematic Review and Analysis

Background: Big data and real-world data (RWD) have been increasingly used to measure the effectiveness and costs in cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA). However, the characteristics and methodologies of CEA based on big data and RWD remain unknown. The objectives of this study were to review the characteristics and methodologies of the CEA studies based on big data and RWD and to compare the characteristics and methodologies between the CEA studies with or without decision-analytic models. Methods: The literature search was conducted in Medline (Pubmed), Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library (as of June 2020). Full CEA studies with an incremental analysis that used big data and RWD for both effectiveness and costs written in English were included. There were no restrictions regarding publication date. Results: 70 studies on CEA using RWD (37 with decision-analytic models and 33 without) were included. The majority of the studies were published between 2011 and 2020, and the number of CEA based on RWD has been increasing over the years. Few CEA studies used big data. Pharmacological interventions were the most frequently studied intervention, and they were more frequently evaluated by the studies without decision-analytic models, while those with the model focused on treatment regimen. Compared to CEA studies using decision-analytic models, both effectiveness and costs of those using the model were more likely to be obtained from literature review. All the studies using decision-analytic models included sensitivity analyses, while four studies no using the model neither used sensitivity analysis nor controlled for confounders. Conclusion: The review shows that RWD has been increasingly applied in conducting the cost-effectiveness analysis. However, few CEA studies are based on big data. In future CEA studies using big data and RWD, it is encouraged to control confounders and to discount in long-term research when decision-analytic models are not used.

Linking Provider Specialty and Outpatient Diagnoses in Medicare Claims Data: Data Quality Implications

BACKGROUND

With increasing use of real world data in observational health care research, data quality assessment of these data is equally gaining in importance. Electronic health record (EHR) or claims datasets can differ significantly in the spectrum of care covered by the data.

OBJECTIVE

In our study, we link provider specialty with diagnoses (encoded in International Classification of Diseases) with a motivation to characterize data completeness.

METHODS

We develop a set of measures that determine diagnostic span of a specialty (how many distinct diagnosis codes are generated by a specialty) and specialty span of a diagnosis (how many specialties diagnose a given condition). We also analyze ranked lists for both measures. As use case, we apply these measures to outpatient Medicare claims data from 2016 (3.5 billion diagnosis-specialty pairs). We analyze 82 distinct specialties present in Medicare claims (using Medicare list of specialties derived from level III Healthcare Provider Taxonomy Codes).

RESULTS

A typical specialty diagnoses on average 4,046 distinct diagnosis codes. It can range from 33 codes for medical toxicology to 25,475 codes for internal medicine. Specialties with large visit volume tend to have large diagnostic span. Median specialty span of a diagnosis code is 8 specialties with a range from 1 to 82 specialties. In total, 13.5% of all observed diagnoses are generated exclusively by a single specialty. Quantitative cumulative rankings reveal that some diagnosis codes can be dominated by few specialties. Using such diagnoses in cohort or outcome definitions may thus be vulnerable to incomplete specialty coverage of a given dataset.

CONCLUSION

We propose specialty fingerprinting as a method to assess data completeness component of data quality. Datasets covering a full spectrum of care can be used to generate reference benchmark data that can quantify relative importance of a specialty in constructing diagnostic history elements of computable phenotype definitions.

Tofacitinib: Real-World Data and Treatment Persistence in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Tofacitinib is an oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor indicated for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The efficacy and safety/tolerability of tofacitinib have been extensively evaluated as monotherapy and combination therapy in multiple, randomised, multicentre studies in patients with RA. Tofacitinib as monotherapy (as first- and second-line treatment) or as combination with methotrexate (MTX) or other csDMARDs as second- and third-line treatment is effective and generally well tolerated in patients with RA. This article focuses on recent real-world evidence investigating the effectiveness, treatment persistence and safety/tolerability of tofacitinib in patients with RA. With this purpose, a literature review was conducted from April 2018 up to October 2020 for the effectiveness, persistence and safety of tofacitinib for the treatment of RA, primarily focusing on real-world studies. These retrospective and prospective and observational studies demonstrate the effectiveness of tofacitinib, thus supporting pivotal data from the clinical trial programme. Treatment persistence was generally comparable to that of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs. Safety findings in these observational studies were consistent with the known safety profile of the approved dose of 5 mg twice daily.

Do existing real-world data sources generate suitable evidence for the HTA of medical devices in Europe? Mapping and critical appraisal

AIM

Technological and computational advancements offer new tools for the collection and analysis of real-world data (RWD). Considering the substantial effort and resources devoted to collecting RWD, a greater return would be achieved if real-world evidence (RWE) was effectively used to support Health Technology Assessment (HTA) and decision making on medical technologies. A useful question is: To what extent are RWD suitable for generating RWE?

METHODS

We mapped existing RWD sources in Europe for three case studies: hip and knee arthroplasty, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and mitral valve repair (TMVR), and robotic surgery procedures. We provided a comprehensive assessment of their content and appropriateness for conducting the HTA of medical devices. The identification of RWD sources was performed combining a systematic search on PubMed with gray literature scoping, covering fifteen European countries.

RESULTS

We identified seventy-one RWD sources on arthroplasties; ninety-five on TAVI and TMVR; and seventy-seven on robotic procedures. The number, content, and integrity of the sources varied dramatically across countries. Most sources included at least one health outcome (97.5%), with mortality and rehospitalization/reoperation the most common; 80% of sources included resource outcomes, with length of stay the most common, and comparators were available in almost 70% of sources.

CONCLUSIONS

RWD sources bear the potential for the HTA of medical devices. The main challenges are data accessibility, a lack of standardization of health and economic outcomes, and inadequate comparators. These findings are crucial to enabling the incorporation of RWD into decision making and represent a readily available tool for getting acquainted with existing information sources.

Common Problems, Common Data Model Solutions: Evidence Generation for Health Technology Assessment

There is growing interest in using observational data to assess the safety, effectiveness, and cost effectiveness of medical technologies, but operational, technical, and methodological challenges limit its more widespread use. Common data models and federated data networks offer a potential solution to many of these problems. The open-source Observational and Medical Outcomes Partnerships (OMOP) common data model standardises the structure, format, and terminologies of otherwise disparate datasets, enabling the execution of common analytical code across a federated data network in which only code and aggregate results are shared. While common data models are increasingly used in regulatory decision making, relatively little attention has been given to their use in health technology assessment (HTA). We show that the common data model has the potential to facilitate access to relevant data, enable multidatabase studies to enhance statistical power and transfer results across populations and settings to meet the needs of local HTA decision makers, and validate findings. The use of open-source and standardised analytics improves transparency and reduces coding errors, thereby increasing confidence in the results. Further engagement from the HTA community is required to inform the appropriate standards for mapping data to the common data model and to design tools that can support evidence generation and decision making.

Cost-effectiveness of GLP-1 receptor agonists versus insulin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes: a real-world study and systematic review

BACKGROUND

To conduct a real-word-study-based cost-effectiveness analysis of a GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) versus insulin among type 2 diabetes patients requiring intensified injection therapy and a systematic review of cost-effectiveness studies of GLP-1RAs versus insulin.

METHODS

Individual-level analyses incorporating real-world effectiveness and cost data were conducted for a cohort of 1022 propensity-score-matched pairs of GLP-1RA and insulin users from Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database, 2007-2016. Study outcomes included the number needed to treat (NNT) to prevent one case of clinical events, healthcare costs, and cost per case of event prevented. Costs were in 2019 US dollars. Analyses were performed from a third-party payer and healthcare sector perspectives. Structured systematic review procedures were conducted to synthesize updated evidence on the cost-effectiveness of GLP-1RAs versus insulin.

RESULTS

Over a mean follow-up of 2.3 years, the NNT using a GLP-1RA versus insulin to prevent one case of all-cause mortality and hospitalized hypoglycemia was 57 and 30, respectively. Using GLP-1RAs instead of insulin cost US$54,851 and US$29,115 per case of all-cause mortality and hospitalized hypoglycemia prevented, respectively, from the payer perspective, and saved US$19,391 and US$10,293, respectively, from the healthcare sector perspective. Sensitivity analyses showed that the probability of using GLP-1RAs versus insulin being cost-effective for preventing one case of all-cause mortality or hospitalized hypoglycemia ranged from 60 to 100%. The systematic review revealed a cost-effective profile of using GLP-1RAs versus insulin.

CONCLUSIONS

Using GLP-1RAs versus insulin for type 2 diabetes patients requiring intensified injection therapy in clinical practice is cost-effective.

Real-World Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Gemcitabine and Cisplatin Compared to Docetaxel and Cisplatin Plus Fluorouracil Induction Chemotherapy in Locoregionally Advanced Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Background

Addition of gemcitabine and cisplatin (GP) or docetaxel and cisplatin plus fluorouracil (TPF) to concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) significantly improved survival in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, an economic evaluation of these regimens remains unknown. The purpose of this study is to compare the cost-effectiveness of GP versus TPF regimen in the treatment of locoregionally advanced NPC in China.

Materials and methods

A comprehensive Markov model was developed to evaluate the health and economic outcomes of GP versus TPF regimen for patients with locoregionally advanced NPC. Baseline and clinical outcome were derived from 158 patients with newly diagnosed stage III-IVA NPC between 2010 and 2015. We evaluated the quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. One-way sensitive analysis explored the impact of uncertainty in key model parameters on results, and probabilistic uncertainty was assessed through a Monte Carlo probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

Results

GP regimen provided an additional 0.42 QALYs with incremental cost of $3,821.99, resulting in an ICER of $9,099.98 per QALY versus TPF regimen at the real-world setting. One-way sensitivity analysis found that the results were most sensitive to the cost and proportion of receiving subsequent treatment in two groups. The probability that GP regimen being cost-effective compared with TPF regimen was 86.9% at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) of $31,008.16 per QALY.

Conclusion

Using real-world data, GP regimen was demonstrated a cost-effective alternative to TFP regimen for patients with locoregionally advanced NPC in China. It provides valuable evidence for clinicians when making treatment decisions to improve the cost-effectiveness of treatment.

How Accessible Is Genital Gender-Affirming Surgery for Transgender Patients With Commercial and Public Health Insurance in the United States? Results of a Patient-Modeled Search for Services and a Survey of Providers

INTRODUCTION

In the United States, 1.4-1.65 million people identify as transgender, many of whom will seek genital gender-affirming surgery (GAS). The number of surgeons, geographic proximity thereof, and exclusionary insurance policies has limited patient access to genital GAS.

AIM

To assess the accessibility of both feminizing and masculinizing genital GAS (vaginoplasty, metoidioplasty, and phalloplasty) by identifying the location of GAS surgeons, health insurance, or payment forms accepted.

METHODS

Between February and April 2018, genital GAS surgeons were identified via Google search. Surgeons' offices were contacted by telephone or e-mail.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

We queried the type of genital GAS performed, the health insurance or payment forms accepted, and the type of medical practice (academic, private, or group managed-care practice).

RESULTS

We identified 96 surgeons across 64 individual medical centers offering genital GAS. The survey response rate was 83.3%. Only 61 of 80 (76.3%) surgeons across 38 of 53 (72%) locations confirmed offering genital GAS. Only 20 (40%) U.S. states had at least one genital GAS provider. 30 of 38 (79%) locations reported accepting any form of insurance. Only 24 of 38 (63%) locations (14 academic; 10 private/group) accepted Medicaid (P = .016); 18 of 38 (47%) locations (13 academic; 5 private/group) accepted Medicare (P = .001).

CLINICAL TRANSLATION

Reconciliation of the public policies regarding insurance coverage for GAS with the actual practices of the providers is necessary for improving access to GAS for transgender individuals.

STRENGTHS & LIMITATIONS

We purposefully used a methodology mirroring how a patient would find GAS surgeons, which also accounts for key limitations: only surgeons whose services were featured on the internet were identified. We could not verify the services or insurance-related information surgeons reported.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that access to genital GAS is significantly limited by the number of providers and the uneven geographic distribution across the United States, in which only 20 of 50 U.S. states have at least one genital GAS surgeon. Feldman AT, Chen A, Poudrier G, et al. How Accessible Is Genital Gender-Affirming Surgery for Transgender Patients With Commercial and Public Health Insurance in the United States? Results of a Patient-Modeled Search for Services and a Survey of Providers. Sex Med 2020;8:664-672.

Use of real-world evidence in meta-analyses and cost-effectiveness models

Real-world evidence (RWE) provides external validity, supplementing and enhancing the randomized controlled trial data with valuable information on patient behaviors and outcomes, turning efficacy and safety results into real-world effectiveness and risks, but the use of RWE is associated with challenges. The objectives of this communication were to (1) summarize all guidance on how to conduct an RWE meta-analysis (MA) and how to develop an RWE cost-effectiveness model, (2) to describe our experience, challenges faced and solutions identified, (3) to provide recommendations on how to conduct such analyses. No formal guidelines on how to conduct an RWE MA or to develop an RWE cost-effectiveness model were identified. Using the context of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants in stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation, we conducted an RWE MA, after having identified sources of uncertainty. We then implemented the results in an RWE cost-effectiveness model, defined as a model where all inputs come from RWE, including all parameters related to treatment effect. Based on challenges faced, our first recommendation relates to the necessity of conducting sensitivity analyses, either based on clinical or methodological considerations. Our second recommendation is the need for extensive collaboration with a wide range of experts, during the development of the analyses protocols, the implementation of the analyses and the interpretation of the results. RWE may address a number of gaps related to the treatment effect, and RWE economic evaluations for the treatment effect can provide extremely valuable insights into real-world economic value of interventions. As the increased recognition of the value of RWE could influence health technology assessment decision, and current practices, this communication supports the urgent need of more formal guidelines.

Real-world evidence of poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors in the treatment of ovarian cancer: A systematic literature review

OBJECTIVE

The treatment landscape for ovarian cancer has shifted in recent years with the approval of poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors in 2014. Most patients with ovarian cancer have advanced disease at diagnosis. Understanding how treatments for advanced disease work in real-world settings must be assessed to provide care for these patients. Therefore, the objective of this study was to locate and assess real-world studies measuring the safety and effectiveness of poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors and analyze the results.Data sources: A targeted systematic literature review was conducted in April 2020 of PubMed/Medline. Inclusion criteria consisted of observational studies using real-world data of olaparib, rucaparib, or niraparib as an intervention in the treatment of ovarian cancer. In addition, studies needed to assess either clinical effectiveness or safety. Once studies were identified, we aimed to narratively describe the studies' patient population, intervention effectiveness, and/or safety.Data summary: Our systematic review identified six studies assessing the real-world effectiveness and/or safety of poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, with five assessing olaparib, one assessing poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors as a composite, and none assessing either niraparib or rucaparib. The median progression free survival in the real-world trials for olaparib ranged from 12.7 to 15.6 months. The median overall survival in the real-world trials for olaparib ranged from 30.9 to 35.4 months. Rates of treatment discontinuation due to adverse events for olaparib ranged from 4.4% to 12.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified studies showed slightly higher, but comparable results for median progression free survival, median overall survival, and discontinuation due to adverse events compared to the respective randomized controlled trials.

Economic Evaluations Informed Exclusively by Real World Data: A Systematic Review

Economic evaluations using Real World Data (RWD) has been increasing in the very recent years, however, this source of information has several advantages and limitations. The aim of this review was to assess the quality of full economic evaluations (EE) developed using RWD. A systematic review was carried out through articles from the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. Included were studies that employed RWD for both costs and effectiveness. Methodological quality of the studies was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. Of the 14,011 studies identified, 93 were included. Roughly half of the studies were carried out in a hospital setting. The most frequently assessed illnesses were neoplasms while the most evaluated interventions were pharmacological. The main source of costs and effects of RWD were information systems. The most frequent clinical outcome was survival. Some 47% of studies met at least 80% of CHEERS criteria. Studies were conducted with samples of 100-1000 patients or more, were randomized, and those that reported bias controls were those that fulfilled most CHEERS criteria. In conclusion, fewer than half the studies met 80% of the CHEERS checklist criteria.

Cost of Managing Type 2 Diabetes Before and After Initiating Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitor Treatment: A Longitudinal Study Using a French Public Health Insurance Database

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes is a growing epidemic that imposes a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems. This study aimed to evaluate the cost of managing type 2 diabetes (T2D) with dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors (DPP4Is) using real-world data.

METHOD

This longitudinal study used data from the French EGB (Echantillon Généraliste des Bénéficiaires) database. The annual average direct healthcare cost of treating patients with T2D was calculated 3 years prior and 3 years after initiation of DPP4I therapy. Actual total ambulatory and hospital care expenditure for the 3 years after DPP4I initiation was compared to projected costs. The distribution of costs across all care modalities was assessed over the 6-year period.

RESULTS

Ambulatory and hospital care expenditure data for 919 patients with T2D starting DPP4I therapy alone or in combination in 2013 were analyzed. A total of 526 patients (57.2%) were still being treated with DPP4I 3 years after DPP4I initiation. Regardless of the treatment regimen, the ambulatory and hospital care costs increased above projected costs in the first year following DPP4I initiation, and then declined during the second and third years to levels in line with or below projected values for patients using DPP4Is as an add-on therapy. The increase in total expenditure in the first year following DPP4I initiation and the subsequent decline in costs in the second and third years were both associated with general trends in consumption across all aspects of patient care.

CONCLUSION

Despite an initial increase in healthcare expenditure, concomitant with reevaluation of patient care, this study showed that initiation of DPP4Is as an add-on therapy in French patients with T2D was associated with care expenditure that was in line or below predicted values within the 3 years following treatment initiation. Additional studies are required to evaluate the economic impact of the long-term treatment benefits.

Real-world cost-effectiveness of rivaroxaban compared with vitamin K antagonists in the context of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in France

Objective

The objective was to assess the real-world cost-effectiveness of rivaroxaban, versus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), for stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) from a French national health insurance perspective.

Methods

A Markov model was developed with a lifetime horizon and cycle length of 3 months. All inputs were drawn from real-world evidence (RWE) studies: data on baseline patient characteristics at model entry were obtained from a French RWE study, clinical event rates as well as persistence rates for the VKA treatment arm were estimated from a variety of RWE studies, and a meta-analysis provided comparative effectiveness for rivaroxaban compared to VKA. Model outcomes included costs (drug costs, clinical event costs, and VKA monitoring costs), quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and life-years (LY) gained, incremental cost per QALY, and incremental cost per LY. Sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the model and to better understand the results drivers.

Results

In the base-case analysis, the incremental total cost was €714 and the total incremental QALYs and LYs were 0.12 and 0.16, respectively. The resulting incremental cost/QALY and incremental cost/LY were €6,006 and €4,586, respectively. The results were more sensitive to the inclusion of treatment-specific utility decrements and clinical event rates.

Conclusions

Although there is no official willingness-to-pay threshold in France, these results suggest that rivaroxaban is likely to be cost-effective compared to VKA in French patients with AF from a national insurance perspective.