Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance During Peripheral Vascular Interventions: Long-term Clinical Outcomes and Costs From the Japanese Perspective

PURPOSE

The value of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance during peripheral vascular revascularization procedures is incompletely understood. Moreover, data on long-term clinical outcomes and costs are limited. The objective of this study was to compare outcomes and costs between IVUS and contrast angiography alone in patients undergoing peripheral revascularization procedures in Japan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective comparative analysis was performed using the Japanese Medical Data Vision insurance claims database. All patients undergoing revascularization for peripheral artery disease (PAD) between April 2009 and July 2019 were included. Patients were followed until July 2020, death, or a subsequent revascularization procedure for PAD. Two patient groups were compared: one undergoing IVUS imaging or the other contrast angiography alone. The primary end point was major adverse cardiac and limb events, including all-cause-mortality, endovascular thrombolysis, subsequent revascularization procedures for PAD, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and major amputations. Total health care costs were documented over the follow-up and compared between groups, using a bootstrap method.

RESULTS

The study included 3956 patients in the IVUS group and 5889 in the angiography alone group. Intravascular ultrasound was significantly associated with reduced risk of a subsequent revascularization procedure (adjusted hazard ratio: 0.25 [0.22-0.28]) and major adverse cardiac and limb events (0.69 [0.65-0.73]). The total costs were significantly lower in the IVUS group, with a mean cost saving over follow-up of $18 173 [$7 695-$28 595] per patient.

CONCLUSION

The use of IVUS during peripheral revascularization provides superior long-term clinical outcomes at lower costs compared with contrast angiography alone, warranting wider adoption and fewer barriers to IVUS reimbursement for patients with PAD undergoing routine revascularization.

CLINICAL IMPACT

Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance during peripheral vascular revascularization has been introduced to improve the precision of the procedure. However, questions over the benefit of IVUS in terms of long-term clinical outcome and over cost have limited its use in everyday clinical practice. This study, performed in a Japanese health insurance claims database, demonstrates that use of IVUS provides a superior clinical outcome over the long term at a lower cost compared to angiography alone. These findings should encourage clinicians to use IVUS in routine peripheral vascular revascularization procedures and encourage providers to reduce barriers to use.

Patients' description and resource use in COVID-19 hospitalized patients based on a French claims real-world database

Context

Coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The disease can cause symptoms ranging from mild to very severe. People with risk factors as age, gender, medical conditions may be more likely to need hospitalization or intensive care if they have Covid-19, or to die of the infection. A retrospective study based on a national French hospitalized claims database (PMSI) over the year 2020 has been performed to support Covid-19 patient's description but also to describe the disease management with a dedicated focus on ventilation status and finally to describe the health care resource use and the economic impact for treatment of Covid-19 in outpatient patients with more than one risk-factor for severe Covid-19. –

Objectives

The main objective was to describe patient's characteristics hospitalized for Covid-19. The secondary objectives were to describe the disease management of Covid-19 according to the ventilation status, the health care resource use for and economic impact of Covid-19 disease management in hospital.

Method

This retrospective observational study identified people with Covid-19 in the PMSI through hospitalisation diagnosis codes in 2020. 4 ventilation status were identified: without and with oxygen support (O2), with non-invasive ventilation (NIV), with mechanical ventilation (MV) based on CCAM acts. Due to underreporting of medical procedure related to oxygen support, status “without oxygen support” was combined to O2 status. In case of several status in the same stay, the most severe was kept. Risk factors were identified through ICD10 codes, DRG and age. Rehospitalizations were calculated for 1st wave stays (from January to June). A minimum delay of 14 days between 2 stays was applied (to not consider transfer as a rehospitalisation). Cost estimation was performed based on health insurance perspective.

Results

About 200,00 patients for 240,00 stays. 1% of stay were in NIV status, 8% in MV. Median age was 69 years and 54% of patients were men. Men were overrepresented in NIV and MV. 10% of people over 80 had MV. 34% of patients had no risk factor (11% of MV patients, 6% of NIV and 36% of O2). The length of stay increases with the requirement of ventilation support. From a mean of 7 days for O2 to 22 days for MV. 16% of patients died (14% of O2, 25% of NIV, 36% of MV). The mortality rate increase with the age, between 1 and 5% for patients younger than 60 years, 9% for 61-65 years, 13% for 66-70 years, 17% for 71-75, 23% for 76-80 years and 33% for patients older than 80 years old. 14% of 1st wave patients were rehospitalised in 2020. The mean cost of Covid-19 hospitalisation was €5,510 (€+/- 7,142) and the median is €3,800. The mean cost of hospitalisation increased with ventilation support intensity from €3,990 (€+/- 3,021) for O2, up to €10, 600 (€+/- 5,534) for NIV and €21,100 (€+/- 15,343) for MV.

Conclusion

Age, sex and risk factor increased the severity of ventilation support, cost and mortality rates. Elderly people had less MV support, shorter length of stay and lower cost. In this study, requirement for low-flow oxygen support was largely under-reported, due to many reasons: lack of impact of O2 support on stay valorisation, not specified in the registry, and overload of work leading to enter only the most valuable information in the database. This under-reporting could also apply, to a much lesser extent to non-invasive ventilation, as such procedure is associated with increased stay cost.

Conflict of interest

VM, KB and KLL are employees of Roche. CL, CB, ALM and AM are employees of Creativ-Ceutical, a contract research organisation under contract with Roche for the implementation and exploitation of this study.

Financial support

This study was funded by Roche.

Impact de santé publique de la COVID-19 chez les patients français traités en ambulatoire, présentant au moins un facteur de risque de forme sévère

Introduction

La situation sanitaire causée par la COVID-19 est très dynamique, tant au niveau mondial qu'en France, avec à la fois l'arrivée de nouveaux variants et donc des changements de positionnement des traitements, mais une protection accrue contre les formes sévères par les vaccins. Dans ce contexte, il apparaît utile, voire nécessaire d'estimer le poids du fardeau sanitaire et économique de la COVID-19, pour soutenir les choix futurs des allocations de ressources et pour permettre la comparaison avec d'autres maladies. L'objectif de cette étude est d'apporter des premiers éléments de réponse, en présentant les résultats d'un modèle de simulation, simple mais flexible, permettant d'évaluer l'impact de santé publique de la COVID-19 chez les patients français traités en ambulatoire, présentant au moins un facteur de risque de forme sévère.

Matériels et méthodes

La population d'intérêt est représentée par la population de la cohorte d'autorisation temporaire d'utilisation (ATU) de Ronapreve (moyenne de 63 ans). La première partie de ce modèle de simulation permet de refléter la phase aigüe de la COVID-19 (un mois), avec un arbre de décision. Les patients sont pris en charge soit en ambulatoire soit à l'hôpital, selon des probabilités dérivées de la même cohorte d'ATU. A l'issue de cette phase, les patients peuvent être « en vie sans forme longue », « en vie avec une forme longue traitée en ambulatoire », « en vie avec une forme longue ou prolongée traitée à l'hôpital », ou « décédé ». La seconde partie permet de simuler le devenir des patients sur 2 ans, à l'aide d'une chaîne de Markov. Dans chaque partie du modèle, les caractéristiques des séjours hospitaliers, que ce soit leur durée, la mortalité ou le coût associé, ont été documentées par une analyse de la base de données du PMSI. Plusieurs analyses de scénarios ont été réalisées.

Résultats

Sur 1 000 patients sont observées 382 hospitalisations, dont 258 au cours du premier mois, 407 formes longues ou prolongées de la COVID-19 et 37 décès. De façon générale, le modèle permet d'estimer le fardeau de la COVID-19 à 0,7 jours de vie perdu le premier mois, avec un coût associé de 1 578 €, et à 27 jours de vie perdus sur l'ensemble de l'horizon temporel, avec un coût associé de 4 280 €. La charge sanitaire et financière la plus élevée est observée pour les patients âgés de plus de 80 ans et pour les patients non vaccinés. Les scénarios menés avec un variant moins sévère, ou avec l'arrivée de nouveaux traitements efficaces permettent de documenter la réduction non négligeable du poids de ce fardeau.

Conclusion

Cette étude permet de quantifier le fardeau considérable lié à la COVID-19 en France chez les patients infectés et traités en ambulatoire, présentant au moins un facteur de risque de forme sévère. Il semble indispensable de mettre en place des stratégies capables de réduire ce fardeau, en particulier chez les patients les plus vulnérables.

Liens d'intérêts déclarés

Roche SA France

[Care pathway diversity of patients with multiple sclerosis between French regions]

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to analyze and to compare data from 2015, focusing on hospital care for patients with multiple sclerosis from three French regions with different characteristics in terms of prevalence, size and number of multiple sclerosis competencies and resource centers.

METHODS

All hospital admissions from the PMSI MCO 2015 database, with a principal or related diagnosis (PD-RD) of G35* ("multiple sclerosis") were extracted. We also extracted chemotherapy treatments administered in hospital, during admissions with a significant associated diagnosis (SAD) of G35*, if the PD or RD was coded Z512 ("non-tumor chemotherapy"). The analyzed regions corresponded to those of 2015, some of which have since merged.

RESULTS

There were 95,359 hospital admissions for multiple sclerosis in France in 2015 among a total cohort of 21,102 patients, resulting in a total cost of € 54.1m. Patients with MS were managed mainly in the ambulatory setting, which accounted for 88.5 % of all admissions. The Rhône-Alpes region represented 7.6 % of national admissions for MS, 9.6 % of patients, and 14 % of inpatient days, contributing 10.4 % of the national cost of MS care. 58.4 % of stays were managed by the two main multiple sclerosis centers. The Nord-Pas-de-Calais region represented 9.8 % of national admissions, 10 % of patients, 6.6 % of inpatient days, and 9.1 % of the national cost. 29.8 % of stays were managed by the main multiple sclerosis center. The Centre region represented 2.7 % of stays, 2.8 % of patients, 3.1 % of inpatient days, and 2.8 % of the national cost. 28.4 % of stays were managed by the main multiple sclerosis center.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights the diversity of multiple sclerosis hospital management and care between these three regions.

Determinants of malignant pleural mesothelioma survival and burden of disease in France: a national cohort analysis

This study was undertaken to determine the healthcare burden of malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) in France and to analyze its associations with socioeconomic deprivation, population density, and management outcomes. A national hospital database was used to extract incident MPM patients in years 2011 and 2012. Cox models were used to analyze 1- and 2-year survival according to sex, age, co-morbidities, management, population-density index, and social deprivation index. The analysis included 1,890 patients (76% men; age: 73.6 ± 10.0 years; 84% with significant co-morbidities; 57% living in urban zones; 53% in highly underprivileged areas). Only 1% underwent curative surgical procedure; 65% received at least one chemotherapy cycle, 72% of them with at least one pemetrexed and/or bevacizumab administration. One- and 2-year survival rates were 64% and 48%, respectively. Median survival was 14.9 (95% CI: 13.7-15.7) months. The mean cost per patient was 27,624 ± 17,263 euros (31% representing pemetrexed and bevacizumab costs). Multivariate analyses retained men, age >70 years, chronic renal failure, chronic respiratory failure, and never receiving pemetrexed as factors of poor prognosis. After adjusting the analysis to age, sex, and co-morbidities, living in rural/semi-rural area was associated with better 2-year survival (HR: 0.83 [95% CI: 0.73-0.94]; P < 0.01); social deprivation index was not significantly associated with survival. With approximately 1,000 new cases per year in France, MPMs represents a significant national health care burden. Co-morbidities, sex, age, and living place appear to be significant factors of prognosis.

Costs of dengue in three French territories of the Americas: an analysis of the hospital medical information system (PMSI) database

BACKGROUND

Dengue is a major emerging public health concern in tropical and subtropical countries. Severe dengue can lead to hospitalisation and death. This study was performed to assess the economic burden of hospitalisations for dengue from 2007 to 2011 in three French territories of the Americas where dengue is endemic (French Guiana, Martinique and Guadeloupe).

METHODS

Data on dengue-associated hospitalisations were extracted from the French national hospital administrative database, Programme de Médicalisation des Systèmes d'Information (PMSI). The numbers of stays and the corresponding number of hospitalised patients were determined using disease-specific ICD-10 codes. Associated hospital costs were estimated from the payer perspective, using French official tariffs.

RESULTS

Overall, 4183 patients (mean age 32 years; 51 % male) were hospitalised for dengue, corresponding to 4574 hospital stays. In nearly all hospital stays (98 %; 4471), the illness was medically managed and the mean length of stay was 4.3 days. The mean cost per stay was €2522, corresponding to a total hospital cost of €11.5 million over the 5 years assessed. The majority of hospitalisations (80 % of patients) and associated costs (75 % of total hospital costs) were incurred during two epidemics.

CONCLUSION

Severe dengue is associated with significant hospital costs that escalate during outbreaks.

Burden of herpes zoster: the direct and comorbidity costs of herpes zoster events in hospitalized patients over 50 years in France

Background

The objectives of this study were to describe hospital stays related to HZ and to evaluate the direct and indirect cost of hospitalizations due to HZ among patients aged over 50 years.

Methods

The hospitalizations of people aged over 50 years were selected from the French national hospital 2011 database (PMSI) using ICD-10 diagnosis codes for HZ.

Firstly, stays with HZ as principal or related diagnostic were described through the patient characteristics, type of hospitalization and the related costs. Secondly, a retrospective case–control analysis was performed on stays with HZ as comorbidity in 5 main hospitalizations causes (circulatory, respiratory, osteo-articular, digestive systems and diabetes) to assess the impact of HZ as co-morbidity on the length of stay, mortality rate and costs.

Results

In the first analysis, 2,571 hospital stays were collected (60 % of women, mean age: 76.3 years and mean LOS: 9.5 days). The total health assurance costs were 10,8 M€. Mean cost per hospital stay was 4,206€. In the second analysis, a significant difference in LOS and costs was shown when HZ was associated as comorbidity in other hospitalization’s causes.

Conclusions

HZ directly impacts on the hospital cost. When present as comorbidity for other medical reasons, HZ significantly increases the length of hospital stay with subsequent economic burden for the French Health System.

Tubal sterilization: pregnancy rates after hysteroscopic versus laparoscopic sterilization in France, 2006-2010

OBJECTIVE

To compare the rates of pregnancy among women who underwent Essure hysteroscopic sterilization versus tubal ligation in France between 2006 and 2010.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING

Hospital care in France (nationwide). Anonymised database of all hospital discharge summaries in France.

PATIENTS

Recruitment was based on procedure codes in the national database of hospital discharge summaries. The study included all women who underwent tubal sterilization by Essure microinserts or by tubal ligation and subsequently were hospitalised either for all unexpected pregnancies related diagnosis (e.g., miscarriage, legal abortion, or delivery) or for pregnancies following reversal microsurgery or invitro fertilization (IVF) treatment.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

During the study period, French hospitals performed 109,277 tubal sterilization procedures: 39,169 Essure sterilizations and 70,108 laparoscopic tubal ligations. The respective indication of both techniques depended on the surgeons' skill. The median age of the two populations was similar, 41 years (range 28-52) for Essure patients and 40 years (range 27-54) for those undergoing tubal ligation (p=0.42). A Cox model has been performed. Following sterilization, after adjustment on age Essure patients became pregnant at a significantly lower rate than laparoscopic ligation patients 0.36% versus 0.46%, respectively (HR=0.62 (040-096)), and their pregnancy rate of post-sterilization procedure was significantly lower (reversal microsurgeries: 0.02% versus 0.19% (p<0.001), IVF treatment: 0.08% versus 0.27%) (p<0.001). The pregnancy rates after IVF were 12.5% and 5.35%, respectively, and 0% and 11.36% after tubal repair.

CONCLUSION

This nationwide study of tubal sterilization demonstrates that Essure was associated with lower rates of pregnancy versus tubal ligation.