Submersion Injuries and the Cost of Injury Associated with Drowning Events in the United States, 2006-2015

INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization has reported submersion injuries as the third most common cause of death due to unintentional injury in the world. Greater detail in the rates, risk factors, and healthcare associated costs of submersion injuries could be instrumental in demonstrating the need for further funding and intervention.

METHODS

The study was a cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative dataset of inpatient and emergency department (ED) encounters between 2006 and 2015 in the United States (US). Healthcare utilization costs were provided within the datasets and adjusted to reflect actual charges and provider fees. Lastly, the final cost values were adjusted to the 2020 US dollar (USD) and summarized using a log adjusted mean.

RESULTS

On average, there were 11,873 submersion injuries per year that presented to the ED in the US. Resulting in a rate where approximately 9 out of every 100,000 ED visits were associated with a submersion injury. Slightly more than 6% died in the ED, 24.2% were admitted, and 69.3% were discharged from the ED. In total, annual cost of submersion injuries in the US for ED care is approximately $12.5 million, inpatient care is approximately $27.5 million, and total annual healthcare cost exceeds $40 million.

DISCUSSION

While these results only represent a fraction of the total cost associated with submersion injuries, it remains substantial and unchanged over the 10-year study period. Certain demographic groups showed higher rates of injury and disease burden, thus bearing a greater amount of the cost.

Cost and Late Hospital Care of Publicly Insured Children After Appendectomy

INTRODUCTION

Immediate complications of appendicitis are common, but the prevalence of long-term complications is uncertain.

METHODS

We studied all publicly-insured children in the US with uncomplicated or complicated appendicitis in 2018-2019 using administrative claims. The main outcome was late hospital care defined as hospitalization or abdominal procedure within 180 d of an appendicitis discharge, excluding interval appendectomies. Time to late hospital care was evaluated using Cox regression. We evaluated health-care expenditures arising from appendicitis episodes.

RESULTS

Among 95,942 children with appendicitis, 5727 (6.0%) had late hospital care, with 5062 requiring rehospitalization and 2012 (2.1%) surgery. The median time to late hospital care was 10 d (interquartile range 4-33). Age under 5 y (compared with >14 y, hazard ratio [HR] 1.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.70-2.08), complex chronic conditions (HR 2.35, 95% CI 2.13-2.59), and complicated appendicitis (HR 2.81, 95% CI 2.67, 2.96) were each associated with time to late hospital care. Expenditures over 180 d were a median $6553 and $19,589 respectively in those requiring no late hospital care versus those requiring it (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Late hospital care is uncommon in pediatric appendicitis but is costly. Prevention efforts should be targeted to the youngest, most complex children, and those with complicated appendicitis at presentation.

Delabeling of allergy to beta-lactam antibiotics in hospitalized patients: a prospective study evaluating cost savings

BACKGROUND

Patients with a penicillin allergy label are at risk of an associated increase in adverse antibiotic events and hospitalization costs.

AIM

We aimed to study the economic savings derived from the correct diagnosis and delabeling inpatients with suspected beta-lactam allergy, considering the acquisition cost of antimicrobials prescribed during a patient's hospital stay.

METHOD

We prospectively evaluated patients admitted to the University Hospital of Salamanca who had been labeled as allergic to beta-lactams and performed a delabeling study. Subsequently, cost differences between antibiotics administered before and after the allergy study and those derived from those patients who received alternative antibiotics during admission and those who switched to beta-lactams after the allergy study were calculated.

RESULTS

One hundred seventy-seven inpatients labeled as allergic to beta-lactams underwent a delabeling study; 34 (19.2%) were confirmed to have allergy to beta-lactams. Of the total number of patients, 136 (76.8%) received antibiotics during their hospitalization, involving a mean (SD) cost of €203.07 (318.42) and a median (IQR) cost of €88.97 (48.86-233.56). After delabeling in 85 (62.5%) patients, the antibiotic treatment was changed to beta-lactams. In this group of patients, the mean cost (SD) decreased from €188.91 (351.09) before the change to 91.31 (136.07) afterward, and the median cost (IQR) decreased from €72.92 (45.82-211.99) to €19.24 (11.66-168). The reduction was significant compared to the median cost of patients whose treatment was not changed to beta-lactams (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Delabeling hospitalized patients represents a cost-saving measure for treating patients labeled as allergic to beta-lactams.

Economic burden of patients with post-surgical chronic and transient hypoparathyroidism in the United States examined using insurance claims data

BACKGROUND

Hypoparathyroidism (HP) is a rare endocrine disease commonly caused by the removal or damage of parathyroid glands during surgery and resulting in transient (tHP) or chronic (cHP) disease. cHP is associated with multiple complications and comorbid conditions; however, the economic burden has not been well characterized. The objective of this study was to evaluate the healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs associated with post-surgical cHP, using tHP as a reference.

METHODS

This analysis of a US claims database included patients with both an insurance claim for HP and thyroid/neck surgery between October 2014 and December 2019. cHP was defined as an HP claim ≥ 6 months following surgery and tHP was defined as only one HP claim < 6 months following surgery. The cHP index date was the first HP diagnosis claim following their qualifying surgery claim, whereas the tHP index date was the last HP diagnosis claim following the qualifying surgery claim. Patients were continuously enrolled at least 1 year pre- and post-index. Patients' demographic and clinical characteristics, all-cause HCRU, and costs were descriptively analyzed. Total all-cause costs were calculated as the sum of payments for hospitalizations, emergency department, office/clinic visits, and pharmacy.

RESULTS

A total of 1,406 cHP and 773 tHP patients met inclusion criteria. The average age (52.1 years cHP, 53.5 years tHP) and representation of females (83.2% cHP, 81.2% tHP) were similar for both groups. Neck dissection surgery was more prevalent in cHP patients (23.6%) than tHP patients (5.3%). During the 1-2 year follow-up period, cHP patients had a higher prevalence of inpatient admissions (17.4%), and emergency visits (26.0%) than the reference group -tHP patients (14.4% and 21.4% respectively). Among those with a hospitalization, the average number of hospitalizations was 1.5-fold higher for cHP patients. cHP patients also saw more specialists, including endocrinologists (28.7% cHP, 15.8% tHP), cardiologists (16.7% cHP, 9.7% tHP), and nephrologists (4.6% cHP, 3.3% tHP).

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates the increased healthcare burden of cHP on the healthcare system in contrast to patients with tHP. Effective treatment options are needed to minimize the additional resources utilized by patients whose HP becomes chronic.

Reliability, costs, and radiation dose of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry in diagnosis of radiologic sarcopenia in surgically menopausal women

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare reliability, costs, and radiation dose of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) to MRI and CT in measuring muscle mass for the diagnosis of sarcopenia.

METHODS

Thirty-four consecutive DXA scans performed in surgically menopausal women from November 2019 until March 2020 were analyzed by two observers. Observers analyzed muscle mass of the lower limbs in every scan twice. Reliability was assessed by calculating inter- and intra-observer variability. Reliability from CT and MRI as well as radiation dose from CT and DXA were collected from literature. Costs for each type of scan were calculated according to the guidelines for economic evaluation of the Dutch National Health Care Institute.

RESULTS

The 34 participants had a median age of 58 years (IQR 53-65) and a median body mass index of 24.6 (IQR 21.7-29.7). Inter-observer variability had an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of 0.997 (95% CI 0.994-0.998) with a relative variability of 0.037 ± 0.022%. Regarding intra-observer variability, observer 1 had an ICC of 0.998 (95% CI 0.996-0.999) with a relative variability of 0.019 ± 0.016% and observer 2 had an ICC of 0.997 (95% CI 0.993-0.998) with a relative variability of 0.016 ± 0.011%. DXA costs were €62, CT €77, and MRI €195. The estimated radiation dose of CT was 2.5-3.0 mSv, for DXA this was 2-4 µSv.

CONCLUSIONS

DXA has lower costs and a lower radiation dose, with low inter- and intra-observer variability, compared to CT and MRI for assessing lower limb muscle mass.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Netherlands Trial Register; NL8068.

CRITICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

DXA is a good alternative for CT and MRI in assessing lower limb muscle mass, with lower costs and lower radiation dose, while inter-observer and intra-observer variability are low.

KEY POINTS

• Screening for sarcopenia should be optimized as the population ages. • DXA outperformed CT and MRI in the measured metrics. • DXA validity should be further evaluated as an alternative to CT and MRI for sarcopenia evaluation.

Lung ultrasound and procalcitonin, improving antibiotic management and avoiding radiation exposure in pediatric critical patients with bacterial pneumonia: a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Pneumonia is a major public health problem with an impact on morbidity and mortality. Its management still represents a challenge. The aim was to determine whether a new diagnostic algorithm combining lung ultrasound (LUS) and procalcitonin (PCT) improved pneumonia management regarding antibiotic use, radiation exposure, and associated costs, in critically ill pediatric patients with suspected bacterial pneumonia (BP).

METHODS

Randomized, blinded, comparative effectiveness clinical trial. Children < 18y with suspected BP admitted to the PICU from September 2017 to December 2019, were included. PCT was determined at admission. Patients were randomized into the experimental group (EG) and control group (CG) if LUS or chest X-ray (CXR) were done as the first image test, respectively. Patients were classified: 1.LUS/CXR not suggestive of BP and PCT < 1 ng/mL, no antibiotics were recommended; 2.LUS/CXR suggestive of BP, regardless of the PCT value, antibiotics were recommended; 3.LUS/CXR not suggestive of BP and PCT > 1 ng/mL, antibiotics were recommended.

RESULTS

194 children were enrolled, 113 (58.2%) females, median age of 134 (IQR 39-554) days. 96 randomized into EG and 98 into CG. 1. In 75/194 patients the image test was not suggestive of BP with PCT < 1 ng/ml; 29/52 in the EG and 11/23 in the CG did not receive antibiotics. 2. In 101 patients, the image was suggestive of BP; 34/34 in the EG and 57/67 in the CG received antibiotics. Statistically significant differences between groups were observed when PCT resulted < 1 ng/ml (p = 0.01). 3. In 18 patients the image test was not suggestive of BP but PCT resulted > 1 ng/ml, all of them received antibiotics. A total of 0.035 mSv radiation/patient was eluded. A reduction of 77% CXR/patient was observed. LUS did not significantly increase costs.

CONCLUSIONS

Combination of LUS and PCT showed no risk of mistreating BP, avoided radiation and did not increase costs. The algorithm could be a reliable tool for improving pneumonia management.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT04217980.

Introducing a multicomponent staff training intervention to reduce antipsychotic medication: Care home management pre and post intervention views of systemic impact, and preliminary RE-AIM evaluation

OBJECTIVES

We explored views of care home managers when introducing PROCUIDA-Demencia a mixed-methods two-arm cluster randomised controlled pilot and clinical outcomes study aiming to optimise dementia care by introducing psychosocial interventions to reduce antipsychotic medication in care homes.

METHOD

We undertook secondary analysis of pre and post in-depth interviews conducted in summer 2018 with not-for-profit care home managers in Mexico who were allocated to the intervention group. Transcribed data were thematically analysed. Themes were mapped out with RE-AIM quality appraisal framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) as preliminary evaluation to identify practice and future intervention development and evaluation.

RESULTS

Two pre- and three post-intervention themes were constructed. Participants reported measurable positive impact; one home built a new specialist dementia care unit and others hired a psychologist and psychiatrist to sustain the changes. Antipsychotic medication was reduced for some participating residents which also minimised cost burden on family members.

CONCLUSION

Funding, systemic working across families, clinical and social teams and effective systems of governance are urgently required to sustain models like PROCUIDA-Demencia. The RE-AIM preliminary evaluation outlined care home managers' long-term sustainable practice and positive impact on the dementia care system. These findings might inform staff retention strategies and care home systemic care practices. This evaluation is contributing to the Mexican Alzheimer's and other dementias plan.

Incidence and Costs of Clinically Significant Events with Systemic Therapy in Patients with Unresectable Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Systemic therapies have been associated with clinically significant events (CSEs) in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (uHCC). We evaluated the incidence of CSEs (bleeding, clotting, encephalopathy, and portal hypertension), and their impact on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs, in patients with uHCC treated with first-line (1L) atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (A + B), lenvatinib (LEN), or sorafenib (SOR) in the USA.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed using medical/pharmacy claims from Optum® Clinformatics® Data Mart. Patients diagnosed with HCC who initiated 1L A + B between June 01, 2020 and December 31, 2020 or LEN/SOR between January 01, 2016 and May 31, 2020 were included. Outcomes included incidence rates of CSEs, HCRU, and costs. Subgroup analysis was performed in patients with no CSEs or ≥ 1 CSE.

RESULTS

In total, 1379 patients were selected (A + B, n = 271; LEN, n = 217; SOR, n = 891). Clotting (incidence rate per 100 patient-years [PY] 94.9) and bleeding (88.1 per 100 PY) were the most common CSEs in the A + B cohort. The most common CSEs in the LEN cohort were clotting (78.6 per 100 PY) and encephalopathy (66.3 per 100 PY). Encephalopathy (73.0 per 100 PY) and portal hypertension (72.3 per 100 PY) were the most common CSEs in the SOR cohort. Mean total all-cause healthcare costs per patient per month (PPPM) were $32,742, $35,623, and $29,173 in the A + B, LEN, and SOR cohorts, respectively. Mean total all-cause healthcare costs PPPM were higher in patients who had ≥ 1 CSE versus those who did not (A + B $34,304 versus $30,889; LEN $39,591 versus $30,621; SOR $31,022 versus $27,003).

CONCLUSION

Despite improved efficacy of 1L systemic therapies, CSEs remain a concern for patients with uHCC, as well as an economic burden to the healthcare system. Newer treatments that reduce the risk of CSEs, while improving long-term survival in patients with uHCC, are warranted.

Caregiver costs and financial burden in caregivers of African American cancer survivors

PURPOSE

People with cancer commonly rely on loved ones as informal caregivers during and after treatment. Costs related to caregiving and their association with caregiver financial burden are not well understood.

METHODS

Results include data from 964 caregivers of African American cancer survivors in the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors (ROCS) cohort. Caregiving costs include those related to medications, logistics (e.g., transportation), and medical bills. Financial burden measures included caregiver financial resources, strain, and difficulty paying caregiving costs. Prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of associations between costs and high financial burden were calculated using modified Poisson models controlling for caregiver characteristics.

RESULTS

Caregivers included spouses (36%), non-married partners (8%), family members (48%), and friends (9%). Nearly two-thirds (64%) of caregivers reported costs related to caregiving. Logistical costs were the most common (58%), followed by medication costs (35%) and medical bills (17%). High financial hardship was reported by 38% of caregivers. Prevalence of high financial hardship was 52% (95% CI: 24%, 86%) higher among caregivers who reported any versus no caregiver costs. Associations between caregiver costs and high financial burden were evident for costs related to medications (PR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.12, 1.58), logistics (PR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.29, 1.92), and medical bills (PR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.28, 1.92).

CONCLUSIONS

Most caregivers experienced costs related to caregiving, and these costs were associated with higher prevalence of high caregiver financial burden.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

Informal caregivers experience financial hardship related to cancer along with cancer survivors.

Impact of 18FFDG-PET/CT and Laparoscopy in Staging of Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer: A Cost Analysis in the Prospective Multicenter PLASTIC-Study

BACKGROUND

Unnecessary D2-gastrectomy and associated costs can be prevented after detecting non-curable gastric cancer, but impact of staging on treatment costs is unclear. This study determined the cost impact of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18FFDG-PET/CT) and staging laparoscopy (SL) in gastric cancer staging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this cost analysis, four staging strategies were modeled in a decision tree: (1) 18FFDG-PET/CT first, then SL, (2) SL only, (3) 18FFDG-PET/CT only, and (4) neither SL nor 18FFDG-PET/CT. Costs were assessed on the basis of the prospective PLASTIC-study, which evaluated adding 18FFDG-PET/CT and SL to staging advanced gastric cancer (cT3-4 and/or cN+) in 18 Dutch hospitals. The Dutch Healthcare Authority provided 18FFDG-PET/CT unit costs. SL unit costs were calculated bottom-up. Gastrectomy-associated costs were collected with hospital claim data until 30 days postoperatively. Uncertainty was assessed in a probabilistic sensitivity analysis (1000 iterations).

RESULTS

18FFDG-PET/CT costs were €1104 including biopsy/cytology. Bottom-up calculations totaled €1537 per SL. D2-gastrectomy costs were €19,308. Total costs per patient were €18,137 for strategy 1, €17,079 for strategy 2, and €19,805 for strategy 3. If all patients undergo gastrectomy, total costs were €18,959 per patient (strategy 4). Performing SL only reduced costs by €1880 per patient. Adding 18FFDG-PET/CT to SL increased costs by €1058 per patient; IQR €870-1253 in the sensitivity analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

For advanced gastric cancer, performing SL resulted in substantial cost savings by reducing unnecessary gastrectomies. In contrast, routine 18FFDG-PET/CT increased costs without substantially reducing unnecessary gastrectomies, and is not recommended due to limited impact with major costs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

NCT03208621. This trial was registered prospectively on 30-06-2017.

An exploration of service use pattern changes and cost analysis following implementation of community perinatal mental health teams in pregnant women with a history of specialist mental healthcare in England: a national population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

The National Health Service in England pledged >£365 million to improve access to mental healthcare services via Community Perinatal Mental Health Teams (CPMHTs) and reduce the rate of perinatal relapse in women with severe mental illness. This study aimed to explore changes in service use patterns following the implementation of CPMHTs in pregnant women with a history of specialist mental healthcare in England, and conduct a cost-analysis on these changes.

METHODS

This study used a longitudinal cohort design based on existing routine administrative data. The study population was all women residing in England with an onset of pregnancy on or after 1st April 2016 and who gave birth on or before 31st March 2018 with pre-existing mental illness (N = 70,323). Resource use and costs were compared before and after the implementation of CPMHTs. The economic perspective was limited to secondary mental health services, and the time horizon was the perinatal period (from the start of pregnancy to 1-year post-birth, ~ 21 months).

RESULTS

The percentage of women using community mental healthcare services over the perinatal period was higher for areas with CPMHTs (30.96%, n=9,653) compared to areas without CPMHTs (24.72%, n=9,615). The overall percentage of women using acute care services (inpatient and crisis resolution teams) over the perinatal period was lower for areas with CPMHTs (4.94%, n=1,540 vs. 5.58%, n=2,171), comprising reduced crisis resolution team contacts (4.41%, n=1,375 vs. 5.23%, n=2,035) but increased psychiatric admissions (1.43%, n=445 vs. 1.13%, n=441). Total mental healthcare costs over the perinatal period were significantly higher for areas with CPMHTs (fully adjusted incremental cost £111, 95% CI £29 to £192, p-value 0.008).

CONCLUSIONS

Following implementation of CPMHTs, the percentage of women using acute care decreased while the percentage of women using community care increased. However, the greater use of inpatient admissions alongside greater use of community care resulted in a significantly higher mean cost of secondary mental health service use for women in the CPMHT group compared with no CPMHT. Increased costs must be considered with caution as no data was available on relevant outcomes such as quality of life or satisfaction with services.

Real-world Impact of Fremanezumab on Migraine-Related Health Care Resource Utilization in Patients with Comorbidities, Acute Medication Overuse, and/or Unsatisfactory Prior Migraine Preventive Response

INTRODUCTION

Fremanezumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide, is indicated for preventive treatment of migraine in adults. Real-world evidence assessing the effect of fremanezumab on migraine-related medication use, health care resource utilization (HCRU), and costs in patient populations with comorbidities, acute medication overuse (AMO), and/or unsatisfactory prior migraine preventive response (UPMPR) is needed.

METHODS

Data for this US, retrospective claims analysis were obtained from the Merative® MarketScan® Commercial and supplemental databases. Eligible adults with migraine initiated fremanezumab between 1 September 2018 and 30 June 2019 (date of earliest fremanezumab claim is the index date), had ≥ 12 months of continuous enrollment prior to initiation (preindex period) and ≥ 6 months of data following initiation (postindex period; variable follow-up after 6 months), and had certain preindex migraine comorbidities (depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular disease), potential AMO, or UPMPR. Changes in migraine-related concomitant acute and preventive medication use, HCRU, and costs were assessed pre- versus postindex.

RESULTS

In total, 3193 patients met the eligibility criteria. From pre- to postindex, mean (SD) per patient per month (PPPM) number of migraine-related acute medication and preventive medication claims (excluding fremanezumab), respectively, decreased from 0.97 (0.90) to 0.86 (0.87) (P < 0.001) and 0.94 (0.74) to 0.81 (0.75) (P < 0.001). Migraine-related outpatient and neurologist office visits, emergency department visits, and other outpatient services PPPM decreased pre- versus postindex (P < 0.001 for all), resulting in a reduction in mean (SD) total health care costs PPPM from US$541 (US$858) to US$490 (US$974) (P = 0.003). Patients showed high adherence and persistence rates, with mean (SD) proportion of days covered of 0.71 (0.29), medication possession ratio of 0.74 (0.31), and persistence duration of 160.3 (33.2) days 6 months postindex.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with certain migraine comorbidities, potential AMO, and/or UPMPR in a real-world setting had reduced migraine-related medication use, HCRU, and costs following initiation of fremanezumab. Graphical abstract available for this article.

Rapid systematic review of readmissions costs after stroke

BACKGROUND

Stroke readmissions are considered a marker of health quality and may pose a burden to healthcare systems. However, information on the costs of post-stroke readmissions has not been systematically reviewed.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review information about the costs of hospital readmissions of patients whose primary diagnosis in the index admission was a stroke.

METHODS

A rapid systematic review was performed on studies reporting post-stroke readmission costs in EMBASE, MEDLINE, and Web of Science up to June 2021. Relevant data were extracted and presented by readmission and stroke type. The original study's currency values were converted to 2021 US dollars based on the purchasing power parity for gross domestic product. The reporting quality of each of the included studies was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist.

RESULTS

Forty-four studies were identified. Considerable variability in readmission costs was observed among countries, readmissions, stroke types, and durations of the follow-up period. The UK and the USA were the countries reporting the highest readmission costs. In the first year of follow-up, stroke readmission costs accounted for 2.1-23.4%, of direct costs and 3.3-21% of total costs. Among the included studies, only one identified predictors of readmission costs.

CONCLUSION

Our review showed great variability in readmission costs, mainly due to differences in study design, countries and health services, follow-up duration, and reported readmission data. The results of this study can be used to inform policymakers and healthcare providers about the burden of stroke readmissions. Future studies should not solely focus on improving data standardization but should also prioritize the identification of stroke readmission cost predictors.

Costs analysis of cochlear implantation in children

OBJECTIVES

The study assessed the direct medical costs of the cochlear implantation pathway from the healthcare payer's perspective, in children with bilateral severe to profound hearing loss, from diagnosis to 3 years' follow-up after first implantation. We also compared costs between two populations: congenital and progressive deafness.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective costs analysis was performed for 56 children who received a cochlear implant in one French pediatric ENT center. The children had severe to profound hearing loss, and were implanted before the age of 10 years. We calculated direct medical costs in 3 phases: diagnosis to pre-implantation assessment, surgical and hospital management of implantation, and 3 years' follow-up.

RESULTS

Mean costs were €64,675 (range, €38,709-113,954) per child from diagnosis to 3 years after first implantation. Mean costs in congenital deafness detected on neonatal screening and on progressive deafness were respectively €65,420 and €63,930 (P=0.7).

CONCLUSION

The global cost was €64,675 per child from diagnosis to 3 years after first implantation. There was no difference in cost according to congenital versus progressive hearing loss.

Bottom-Up Analysis of Telemonitoring Costs: A Case Study in Slovenian Primary Care

Introduction

Telemonitoring improves clinical outcomes in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and type 2 diabetes (T2D), however, cost structure analyses are lacking. This study seeks to explore the cost structure of telemonitoring for the elderly with AH and T2D in primary care and identify factors influencing costs for potential future expansions.

Methods

Infrastructure, operational, patient participation, and out-of-pocket costs were determined using a bottom-up approach. Infrastructure costs were determined by dividing equipment and telemonitoring platform expenses by the number of participants. Operational and patient participation costs were determined by considering patient training time, data measurement/review time, and teleconsultation time. The change in out-of-pocket costs was assessed in both groups using a structured questionnaire and 12-month expenditure data. Statistical analysis employed an unpaired sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test.

Results

A total of 117 patients aged 71.4±4.7 years were included in the study. The telemonitoring intervention incurred an annual infrastructure costs of €489.4 and operational costs of €97.3 (95% CI 85.7-109.0) per patient. Patient annual participation costs were €215.6 (95% CI 190.9-241.1). Average annual out-of-pocket costs for both groups were €345 (95% CI 221-469). After 12 months the telemonitoring group reported significantly lower out-of-pocket costs (€132 vs. €545, p<0.001), driven by reduced spending on food, dietary supplements, medical equipment, and specialist check-ups compared to the standard care group.

Conclusion

To optimise the cost structure of telemonitoring, strategies like shortening the telemonitoring period, developing a national telemonitoring platform, using patient devices, integrating artificial intelligence into platforms, and involving nurse practitioners as telemedicine centre coordinators should be explored.

Cost minimization analysis of indication-specific osteosynthesis material in oral and maxillofacial surgery

PURPOSE

Following the introduction of the Regulation (EU) 2017/745 by the European Parliament, any bioactive substance or surgical implant introduced into the human body must be documented. The regulation requires any implant to be traced back to the manufacturer. Lot numbers need to be available for every single medical implant. Also, the manufacturer is required by law to provide implants individually packaged and sterilized. Previously, model tray systems (MOS tray) were used for osteosynthesis in oral and maxillofacial surgery, in which the individual implants could not be registered separately. The new regulation made it impossible to use such processes during surgery anymore and a need for a change in the medical practice surged. We examined a possible solution for the new legislation. The aim of this prospective cohort study is to analyze the MOS tray systems to osteosynthesis materials prepackaged in sets. We record and evaluate parameters such as surgical time and documentation time. We perform a short cost analysis of our clinic. The primary aim is to determine how much time is gained or lost by the mandatory increased patient safety. The secondary aim is to describe change in costs.

METHODS

Patients that underwent standard surgical procedures in the clinic of oral and maxillofacial surgery of the faculty hospital Carl Gustav Carus in Dresden were included. We chose open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of anterior mandibular corpus fractures as well as mandibular advancement by means of bilateral sagittal split osteotomies (BSSO) as standardized procedures. Both of these procedures require two osteosynthesis plates and at least four screws for each plate. MOS trays were compared to prepackaged sterilized sets. The sets include a drill bit, two plates, and eight 5-mm screws. A total number of 40 patients were examined. We allocated 20 patients to the ORIF group and the other 20 patients to the BSSO group. Each group was evenly subdivided into a MOS tray group and a prepackaged group. Parameters such as the incision-suture time (IST) as well as the documentation time (DT) by the operating room (OR) staff to complete documentation for the implants are the main focus of investigation.

RESULTS

For open reduction, the incision-suture time was significantly different in favor of the MOS tray (p < 0.05). There was no difference in the BSSO groups. However, we observed a significantly different (p < 0.01) documentation time advantage for the prepackaged sets in both the ORIF and BSSO groups. On top of that, we find that by using the prepackaged kits, we are able to reduce sterilization costs by €11.53 per size-reduced container. Also, there is also a total cut of costs of €38.90 and €43.70, respectively, per standardized procedure for implant material.

CONCLUSIONS

By law, a change in the method of approaching surgery is necessary. For standardized procedures, the right choice of implants can lead to a reduction of documentation time and costs for implant material, sterilization, as well as utilizing less instruments. This in turn leads to lower costs for perioperative processing as well as provision of state-of-the-art implant quality implementing higher patient security.

Excess resource use and cost of drug-resistant infections for six key pathogens in Europe: a systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Quantifying the resource use and cost of antimicrobial resistance establishes the magnitude of the problem and drives action.

OBJECTIVES

Assessment of resource use and cost associated with infections with six key drug-resistant pathogens in Europe.

METHODS

A systematic review and Bayesian meta-analysis.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Econlit databases, and grey literature for the period 1 January 1990, to 21 June 2022.

STUDY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Resource use and cost outcomes (including excess length of stay, overall costs, and other excess in or outpatient costs) were compared between patients with defined antibiotic-resistant infections caused by carbapenem-resistant (CR) Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, CR or third-generation cephalosporin Escherichia coli (3GCREC) and Klebsiella pneumoniae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium, and patients with drug-susceptible or no infection.

PARTICIPANTS

All patients diagnosed with drug-resistant bloodstream infections (BSIs).

INTERVENTIONS

NA.

ASSESSMENT OF RISK OF BIAS

An adapted version of the Joanna Briggs Institute assessment tool, incorporating case-control, cohort, and economic assessment frameworks.

METHODS OF DATA SYNTHESIS

Hierarchical Bayesian meta-analyses were used to assess pathogen-specific resource use estimates.

RESULTS

Of 5969 screened publications, 37 were included in the review. Data were sparse and heterogeneous. Most studies estimated the attributable burden by, comparing resistant and susceptible pathogens (32/37). Four studies analysed the excess cost of hospitalization attributable to 3GCREC BSIs, ranging from -€ 2465.50 to € 6402.81. Eight studies presented adjusted excess length of hospital stay estimates for methicillin-resistant S. aureus and 3GCREC BSIs (4 each) allowing for Bayesian hierarchical analysis, estimating means of 1.26 (95% credible interval [CrI], -0.72 to 4.17) and 1.78 (95% CrI, -0.02 to 3.38) days, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Evidence on most cost and resource use outcomes and across most pathogen-resistance combinations was severely lacking. Given the importance of this evidence for rational policymaking, further research is urgently needed.

Measuring the overall performance of mental healthcare providers

To date there have been no attempts to construct composite measures of healthcare provider performance which reflect preferences for health and non-health benefits, as well as costs. Health and non-health benefits matter to patients, healthcare providers and the general public. We develop a novel provider performance measurement framework that combines health gain, non-health benefit, and cost and illustrate it with an application to 54 English mental health providers. We apply estimates from a discrete choice experiment eliciting the UK general population's valuation of non-health benefits relative to health gains, to administrative and patient survey data for years 2013-2015 to calculate equivalent health benefit (eHB) for providers. We measure costs as forgone health and quantify the relative performance of providers in terms of equivalent net health benefit (eNHB): the value of the health and non-health benefits minus the forgone benefit equivalent of cost. We compare rankings of providers by eHB, eNHB, and by the rankings produced by the hospital sector regulator. We find that taking account of the non-health benefits in the eNHB measure makes a substantial difference to the evaluation of provider performance. Our study demonstrates that the provider performance evaluation space can be extended beyond measures of health gain and cost, and that this matters for comparison of providers.

Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) of direct-to-angiography pathway for acute ischemic stroke patients with suspected large vessel occlusion

INTRODUCTION

Direct-to-angiography (DTA) is a novel care pathway for endovascular treatment (EVT) of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) that has been shown to reduce time-to-treatment and improve clinical outcomes for EVT-eligible patients. The institutional costs of adopting the DTA pathway and the many factors affecting costs have not been studied. In this study, we assess the costs and main cost drivers associated with the DTA pathway compared to the conventional CT pathway for patients presenting with AIS and suspected LVO in the anterior circulation.

METHODS

Time driven activity based costing (TDABC) model was used to compare costs of DTA and conventional pathways from the healthcare institution perspective. Process mapping was used to outline all activities and resources (personnel, equipment, materials) needed for each step in both pathways. The cost model was developed using our institutional patient database and average New York state wages for personnel costs. Total, incremental and proportional costs were calculated based on institutional and patient factors affecting the pathways.

RESULTS

DTA pathway accrued additional $82,583.61 (9%) in total costs compared to the conventional approach for all AIS patients. For EVT-ineligible patients, the DTA pathway incurred additional $82,964.37 (76%) in total costs compared to the CT pathway. For EVT eligible patients, the total and per-patient costs were greater in the CT pathway by $380.76 (0.04%) and $5.60 (0.04%) respectively.

CONCLUSION

As the DTA pathway incurred additional $82,964.37 for EVT-ineligible patients, appropriate patient selection criteria are needed to avoid transferring EVT-ineligible patients to the angiography suite.

The Cost of Seasonal Influenza: A Systematic Literature Review on the Humanistic and Economic Burden of Influenza in Older (≥ 65 Years Old) Adults

INTRODUCTION

Adults aged ≥ 65 years contribute a large proportion of influenza-related hospitalizations and deaths due to increased risk of complications, which result in high medical costs and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Although seasonal influenza vaccines are recommended for older adults, the effectiveness of current vaccines is dependent on several factors including strain matching and recipient demographic factors. This systemic literature review aimed to explore the economic and humanistic burden of influenza in adults aged ≥ 65 years.

METHODS

An electronic database search was conducted to identify studies assessing the economic and humanistic burden of influenza, including influenza symptoms that impact the HRQoL and patient-related outcomes in adults aged ≥ 65 years. Studies were to be published in English and conducted in Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, the UK, USA, Canada, China, Japan, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa.

RESULTS

Thirty-eight studies reported on the economic and humanistic burden of influenza in adults aged ≥ 65 years. Higher direct costs were reported for people at increased risk of influenza-related complications compared to those at low risk. Lower influenza-related total costs were found in those vaccinated with adjuvanted inactivated trivalent influenza vaccine (aTIV) compared to high-dose trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV-HD). Older age was associated with an increased occurrence and longer duration of certain influenza symptoms.

CONCLUSION

Despite the limited data identified, results show that influenza exerts a high humanistic and economic burden in older adults. Further research is required to confirm findings and to identify the unmet needs of current vaccines.

Examining the Relationship Between Screening for Postpartum Depression and Associated Child Health Service Utilization and Costs: A Study Using the All Our Families Cohort and Administrative Data

INTRODUCTION

Despite a recognized association between maternal postpartum depression (PPD) and adverse child health outcomes, evidence examining the relationship between PPD symptoms and associated child health service utilization and costs remains unclear. In addition, there is a paucity of evidence describing the relationship between early identification of maternal PPD and associated health service utilization and costs for children. This study aims to address this gap by describing the secondary associations of screening for maternal PPD and annual health service utilization and costs for children over their first five years of life.

METHODS

Mothers and children enrolled in the prospective All Our Families cohort were linked to provincial administrative data in Alberta, Canada. Multivariable generalized linear models were used to estimate the average annual inpatient, outpatient, physician, and total health service utilization and costs from a public health system perspective for children of mothers screened high risk for PPD, low/moderate risk for PPD, or unscreened.

RESULTS

Total mean costs were greatest for children during their first year of life than other years. Those whose mothers were not screened had significantly lower costs compared to those whose mothers were screened low/moderate risk, despite equivalent health service utilization.

DISCUSSION

Findings from this study describe the secondary associations of screening for maternal PPD using a public health system perspective. More research is required to fully understand variations in health costs for children across maternal PPD screening categories.

Late creation of vascular access increased post-hemodialysis mortality, hospitalization, and health-care expenditure: A population-based cohort study in Taiwan

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

The optimal timing of vascular access (VA) creation for hemodialysis (HD) and whether this timing affects mortality and health-care utilization after HD initiation remain unclear. Thus, we conducted a population-based study to explore their association.

METHODS

We used Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database to analyze health-care outcomes and utilization in a cohort initiating HD during 2003-2013. We stratified patients by the following VA creation time points: >180, 91-180, 31-90, and ≤30 days before and ≤30 days after HD initiation and examined all-cause mortality, ambulatory care utilization/costs, hospital admission/costs, and total expenditure within 2 years after HD. Cox regression, Poisson regression, and general linear regression were used to analyze mortality, health-care utilization, and costs respectively.

RESULTS

We identified 77,205 patients who started HD during 2003-2013. Compared with the patients undergoing VA surgery >180 days before HD initiation, those undergoing VA surgery ≤30 days before HD initiation had the highest mortality-15.92 deaths per 100-person-years, crude hazard ratio (HR) 1.56, and adjusted HR 1.28, the highest hospital admissions rates- 2.72 admission per person-year, crude rate ratio (RR) 1.48 and adjusted RR 1.32, and thus the highest health-care costs- US$31,390 per person-year, 7% increase of costs and 6% increase with adjustment within the 2-year follow-up after HD initiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Late VA creation for HD can increase all-cause mortality, hospitalization, and health-care costs within 2 years after HD initiation. Early preparation of VA has the potential to reduce post-HD mortality and healthcare expenses for the ESKD patients.

An analysis of the diagnoses and costs of pediatric emergency care visits: a single center study

BACKGROUND

Children's emergency care visits are common, although the costs and reasons for visits vary. This register-based study examines the costs of pediatric emergency care and the diagnoses related to visits made to the Pediatric Emergency Unit at Tampere University Hospital (Tays), Tampere, Finland.

METHODS

This retrospective study described pediatric emergency care visits made between September 2018 and December 2019 to a single center in Tampere, Finland. The data were gathered from medical files and from cost-per-patient software and analyzed in groups by age, season, level of treatment in the ED (primary or secondary), and hospitalization, as well as by diagnosis groups.

RESULTS

During the study period, 11,454 visits were made. The total costs were over €3,380,000 ($2,837,758), with a median cost per visit was €260 ($217.90). Higher costs were associated with hospitalization and treatment in secondary care. The most common diagnoses were respiratory tract infections, counseling, other infections, GI symptoms, and other reasons.

CONCLUSION

Seriously ill children incur the highest costs per visit in pediatric emergency care. Respiratory tract infections are common reasons for emergency care visits, and the reasons why children come to emergency care in Finland are similar to those in other countries.

Outcomes following robotic assisted total knee arthroplasty compared to conventional total knee arthroplasty

INTRODUCTION

This study elaborates on previous research to compare length of stay, complication rates, and total cost between patients undergoing robotic assisted total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) and conventional total knee arthroplasty (cTKA). We hypothesized that patients undergoing rTKA would have reduced length of stay, lower complication rates, improved perioperative outcomes, and higher total healthcare costs than those undergoing cTKA.

METHODS

Data were collected from the National Inpatient Sample Database Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project between the years 2016-2019. Patients undergoing rTKA and cTKA were identified under International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision codes (ICD-10-CM/PCS). Length of stay, specific complications, and total costs were examined at time point. SPSS (v 27.0 8, IBM Corp. Armonk, NY) was utilized to compare demographic and analytical statistics between rTKA and cTKA. rTKA and cTKA were compared both before and after propensity matching.

RESULTS

17,249 rTKA (3.09%) and 541,122 cTKA (96.91%) were included. Compared to cTKA patients, rTKA patients had reduced average length of stay of 1.91 days (p < 0.001), higher average total cost of $67133.34 (p < 0.001), reduced periprosthetic infection (OR = 0.027, p < 0.001), periprosthetic dislocation (OR = 0.117, p < 0.001), periprosthetic mechanical complication (OR = 0.315, p < 0.001), pulmonary embolism (OR = 0.358, p < 0.001), transfusion (OR = 0.366, p < 0.001), pneumonia (OR = 0.468, p = 0.002), deep vein thrombosis (OR = 0.479, p = 0.001), and blood loss anemia (OR = 0.728, p < 0.001). These differences remained statistically significant even after propensity matching.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports our hypothesis that rTKA is associated with fewer complications, but higher average total cost than cTKA. Our study shows that rTKA can be safely performed in older and sicker patients. Future studies assessing the impacts of these findings on patient reported outcomes would provide further insight into the benefits of rTKA. Furthermore, identifying patient specific factors that place them at risk for increased complications with cTKA as opposed to rTKA could provide surgeons insight on the method of TKA that maximizes patient outcomes while minimizing healthcare cost.

Evaluating the costs of adverse drug events in hospitalized patients: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Adverse drug events (ADEs) are not only a safety and quality of care issue for patients, but also an economic issue with significant costs. Because they often occur during hospital stays, it is necessary to accurately quantify the costs of ADEs. This review aimed to investigate the methods to calculate these costs, and to characterize their nature.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was conducted to identify methods used to assess the cost of ADEs on Medline, Web of Science and Google Scholar. Original articles published from 2017 to 2022 in English and French were included. Economic evaluations were included if they concerned inpatients.

RESULTS

From 127 studies screened, 20 studies were analyzed. There was a high heterogeneity in nature of costs, methods used, values obtained, and time horizon chosen. A small number of studies considered non-medical (10%), indirect (20%) and opportunity costs (5%). Ten different methods for assessing the cost of ADEs have been reported and nine studies did not explain how they obtained their values.

CONCLUSIONS

There is no consensus in the literature on how to assess the costs of ADEs, due to the heterogeneity of contexts and the choice of different economic perspectives. Our study adds a well-deserved overview of the existing literature that can be a solid lead for future studies and method implementation.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

PROSPERO registration CRD42023413071.

Real-world outcomes of mepolizumab for the treatment of severe eosinophilic asthma in Canada: an observational study

BACKGROUND

Mepolizumab, the first widely available anti-interleukin 5 biologic, targets eosinophilic inflammation and has been shown in clinical trials to reduce exacerbations, oral corticosteroid dependence, and healthcare utilization in patients with severe asthma. The impact of mepolizumab in a real-world, publicly funded healthcare setting is unknown. The objective of this study was to describe the demographics and clinical characteristics of real-world patients receiving mepolizumab, and to compare asthma-related outcomes and associated asthma-related costs before and during mepolizumab use.

METHODS

This retrospective, observational study in Ontario, Canada, included patients initiating mepolizumab between February 2016 and March 2019. Patients were identified using the mepolizumab patient support program and linked to the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences database of publicly accessed healthcare. Patient outcomes were obtained for 12 months pre- and post-mepolizumab initiation and compared.

RESULTS

A total of 275 patients were enrolled in the overall patient support program cohort (mean [standard deviation] age 57.6 [13.5] years, mean [standard deviation] of the median per-patient eosinophil count 540.4 [491.9] cells/μL). Mepolizumab was associated with reductions in asthma exacerbations (46.1%, P < 0.001) and in the number of asthma-related visits to general practitioners (40.2%, P < 0.001), specialists (27.2%, P < 0.001), and emergency departments (52.1%, P < 0.001). Associated costs were significantly lower post- versus pre-mepolizumab for asthma-related general practitioner and specialist visits, and for all-cause emergency department visits and hospital admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

In a real-world population of Canadian patients with severe asthma with an eosinophilic phenotype, the use of mepolizumab within a patient support program reduced asthma exacerbations and decreased asthma-related healthcare resource utilization and associated costs.

A matched-control study on the impact of depressive disorders following lumbar fusion for adult spinal deformity: an analysis of a nationwide administrative database

PURPOSE

In recent years, depression rates have been on the rise, resulting in soaring mental health issues globally. There is paucity of literature about the impact of depression on lumbar fusion for adult spine deformity. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether patients with depressive disorders undergoing lumbar deformity fusion have higher rates of (1) in-hospital length of stay; (2) ninety-day medical and surgical complications; and (3) medical reimbursement.

METHODS

A retrospective study was performed using a nationwide administrative claims database from January 2007 to December 2015 for patients undergoing lumbar fusion for spine deformity. Study participants with depressive disorders were selected and matched to controls by adjusting for sex, age, and comorbidities. In total, the query yielded 3706 patients, with 1286 who were experiencing symptoms of depressive disorders, and 2420 who served as the control cohort.

RESULTS

The study revealed that patients with depressive disorders had significantly higher in-hospital length of stay (6.0 days vs. 5.0 days, p < 0.0001) compared to controls. Study group patients also had higher incidence and odds of ninety-day medical and surgical complications (10.2% vs. 5.0%; OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 2.16-2.89; p < .0001). Moreover, patients with depressive disorders had significantly higher episode of care reimbursement ($54,539.2 vs. $51,645.2, p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

This study illustrated that even after controlling for factors such as sex, age, and comorbidities, patients with depressive disorders had higher rates of in-hospital length of stay, medical and surgical complications, and total reimbursement.

Variation in Severity-Adjusted Resource use and Outcome for Neurosurgical Emergencies in the Intensive Care Unit

BACKGROUND

The correlation between the standardized resource use ratio (SRUR) and standardized hospital mortality ratio (SMR) for neurosurgical emergencies is not known. We studied SRUR and SMR and the factors affecting these in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI), nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH).

METHODS

We extracted data of patients treated in six university hospitals in three countries (2015-2017). Resource use was measured as SRUR based on purchasing power parity-adjusted direct costs and either intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay (costSRURlength of stay) or daily Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System scores (costSRURTherapeutic Intervention Scoring System). Five a priori defined variables reflecting differences in structure and organization between the ICUs were used as explanatory variables in bivariable models, separately for the included neurosurgical diseases.

RESULTS

Out of 28,363 emergency patients treated in six ICUs, 6,162 patients (22%) were admitted with a neurosurgical emergency (41% nontraumatic ICH, 23% SAH, 13% multitrauma TBI, and 23% isolated TBI). The mean costs for neurosurgical admissions were higher than for nonneurosurgical admissions, and the neurosurgical admissions corresponded to 23.6-26.0% of all direct costs related to ICU emergency admissions. A higher physician-to-bed ratio was associated with lower SMRs in the nonneurosurgical admissions but not in the neurosurgical admissions. In patients with nontraumatic ICH, lower costSRURs were associated with higher SMRs. In the bivariable models, independent organization of an ICU was associated with lower costSRURs in patients with nontraumatic ICH and isolated/multitrauma TBI but with higher SMRs in patients with nontraumatic ICH. A higher physician-to-bed ratio was associated with higher costSRURs for patients with SAH. Larger units had higher SMRs for patients with nontraumatic ICH and isolated TBI. None of the ICU-related factors were associated with costSRURs in nonneurosurgical emergency admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Neurosurgical emergencies constitute a major proportion of all emergency ICU admissions. A lower SRUR was associated with higher SMR in patients with nontraumatic ICH but not for the other diagnoses. Different organizational and structural factors seemed to affect resource use for the neurosurgical patients compared with nonneurosurgical patients. This emphasizes the importance of case-mix adjustment when benchmarking resource use and outcomes.

Novel Symptom Subgroups in Individuals With Irritable Bowel Syndrome Predict Disease Impact and Burden

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Current classification systems based on bowel habit fail to capture the multidimensional nature of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). We previously derived and validated a classification system, using latent class analysis, incorporating factors beyond bowel habit. We applied this in another cohort of people with IBS to assess its ability to capture the impact of IBS on the individual, the health care system, and society.

METHODS

We collected demographic, symptom, and psychological health data from adults in the community self-identifying as having IBS, and meeting Rome IV criteria. We applied our latent class analysis model to identify the 7 subgroups (clusters) described previously, based on overall gastrointestinal symptom severity and psychological burden. We assessed quality of life, health care costs (£1 = $1.20), employment status, annual income, work productivity, and ability to perform work duties in each cluster.

RESULTS

Of 1278 responders, 752 (58.8%) met Rome IV criteria. The 7-cluster model fit the data well. The patients in the 4 clusters with the highest psychological burden, and particularly those in cluster 6 with high overall gastrointestinal symptom severity and high psychological burden, showed lower educational levels, higher gastrointestinal symptom-specific anxiety, were more likely to have consulted a gastroenterologist, and used more drugs for IBS. IBS-related and generic quality of life were impaired significantly in these 4 clusters and significantly fewer individuals reported earning ≥£30,000 per year. Productivity and the ability to work, manage at home, engage in social and private leisure activities, and maintain close relationships all were impacted significantly, and IBS-related health care costs over the previous 12 months were highest in these 4 clusters. In those in cluster 6, costs were more than £1000 per person per year.

CONCLUSIONS

Our clusters identify groups of individuals with significant impairments in quality of life, earning potential, and ability to work and function socially, who are high utilizers of health care.

Cost-utility of cardiac contractility modulation in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction in Italy

AIMS

Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) is a device therapy for heart failure, based on the delivery of high-voltage biphasic impulses to the right ventricular septum during the myocardial absolute refractory period. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of CCM therapy plus optimal medical therapy (OMT) vs. OMT alone in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A Markov model with a lifespan time horizon was developed to assess the cost-utility using the FIX trials as main data sources. A deterministic sensitivity analysis and a probabilistic sensitivity analysis were run to analyse the decision uncertainty in the model through cost-effectiveness acceptability curve (CEAC) and cost-effectiveness acceptability frontier (CEAF). Value of information analysis was also conducted computing the expected value of perfect information (EVPI) and the expected value of partial perfect information. The base case results showed that the CCM plus OMT option was highly cost-effective compared with OMT alone with an incremental cost-utility ratio of €7034/quality-adjusted life year (QALY). The CEAC and CEAF illustrated that for all willingness to pay levels above €5600/QALY, tested up to €50 000/QALY, CCM plus OMT alternative had the highest probability of being cost-effective. The EVPI per patient was estimated to be €124 412 on a willingness to pay threshold of €30 000/QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, CCM therapy could be cost-effective when taking a lifetime horizon. Further long-term, post-approval clinical studies are needed to verify these results in a real-world context, particularly concerning the effect of CCM therapy on mortality.

An Economic Evaluation of the Relationship Between Glycemic Control and Total Healthcare Costs for Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: Retrospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Glycemic control is associated with better outcomes among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). This research examines total US all-cause medical costs for adults with T2D with recommended glycemic control (HbA1c < 7%) compared to poor glycemic control (HbA1c ≥ 7%).

METHODS

The study used administrative claims data linked to HbA1c laboratory test results from January 1, 2015 through June 30, 2021 to identify adults with T2D with a recorded HbA1c test. Patients with recommended glycemic control at index date were propensity score matched to patients with poor glycemic control. General linear models and two-part models were used to compare all-cause outpatient, drug, acute care and total costs for 1 year post index date.

RESULTS

The study included 59,830 propensity-matched individuals. Results indicate that recommended glycemic control, compared to poor glycemic control, was associated with statistically significantly lower all-cause acute care ($23,868 ± $21,776 vs. $24,352 ± $22,223), drug ($10,277 ± $14,671 vs. $10,540 ± $14,928), and total medical costs ($41,381 ± $42,757 vs. $42,054 ± $43,422) but significantly higher outpatient costs ($7290 ± $12,028 vs. $7026 ± $11,587) (all p < 0.0001). Sensitivity analyses examined results based upon alternative HbA1c thresholds of ≤ 6.5% and < 8%. Results were generally robust to alternative HbA1c thresholds, with higher HbA1c thresholds associated with higher all-cause total costs as well as increased savings for having HbA1c below threshold.

CONCLUSIONS

Glycemic control was associated with significantly lower all-cause total, drug, and acute care medical costs. Given the high prevalence of T2D in the USA, our results suggest potential economic benefits associated with glycemic control for healthcare providers.

Variability in expenses related to spine oncology care: comparison of payer-negotiated rates at National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers

BACKGROUND

As of 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) requires all hospitals to publish their commercially negotiated prices. To our knowledge, price variation of spine oncology diagnosis and treatments has not been previously investigated.

PURPOSE

The aim of this study is to characterize the availability and variation of prices for spinal oncology services among National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Centers (NCI-DCC).

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional analysis.

METHODS

Cancer centers were identified; those that did not provide patient care or participate in Medicare's Inpatient Prospective System were excluded. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted to gather commercially negotiated prices by searching online for "[center name] price transparency OR machine-readable file OR chargemaster." Data obtained was queried using 44 current procedural terminology (CPT) codes for imaging, procedures, and surgeries relevant to spine oncology. Comparison of prices was achieved by normalizing the median price for each service at each center to the estimated 2022 Medicare reimbursement for the center's Medicare Administrator Contractor. The ratios between the lowest and highest median commercial negotiated price within a center and across all centers were defined as "within-center ratio" and "across-center ratio" respectively.

RESULTS

In total, 49 centers disclosed commercial payer-negotiated rates. Mean rate (±SD) for cervical corpectomy was $9,134 (±$10,034), thoracic laminectomy for neoplasm excision was $5,382 (±$5502), superficial bone biopsy was $1,853 (±$1,717), and single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT) was $813 (±$232). Within-center ratios ranged from 5.0 (SPECT scan) to 17.8 (radiofrequency bone ablation). Across-center ratios (for codes with > 10 centers reporting) ranged from 9.0 (corpectomy, thoracic, lateral extra-cavitary) to 418.7 (anterior approach cervical corpectomy).

CONCLUSIONS

Price transparency for spinal oncology remains elusive despite recent CMS regulatory oversight, with marked heterogeneity in the quality of published rates complicating patients' ability to "shop" for care. Additionally, there continues to be significant variation in commercial rates for spine oncology diagnosis and treatment.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Despite regulation by CMS, prices for spinal oncology services are not uniformly available to patients and vary between NCI-DCC. The findings of this manuscript present potential barriers for patients to compare and obtain affordable care.

Characterising the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient journey after a serious road traffic injury and barriers to access to compensation: a protocol

INTRODUCTION

Road safety has been a long-enduring policy concern in Australia, with significant financial burden of road trauma and evident socioeconomic disparities. Transport injuries disproportionately impact individuals in remote areas, those in lower socioeconomic situations, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander populations. There is a lack of insight into transport injuries in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, absence of Indigenous perspective in published research and limited utilisation of linked data assets to address the inequity. Aim 1 is to determine the breadth, cost and causal factors of serious injury from road traffic crashes in South Australia (SA) and New South Wales (NSW) with a focus on injury prevention. Aim 2 is to identify enablers and barriers to compensation schemes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients in SA and NSW.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This study will be guided by an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Governance Group, applying Knowledge Interface Methodology and Indigenous research principles to ensure Indigenous Data Sovereignty and incorporation of informed perspectives. A mixed-method approach will be undertaken to explore study aims including using big data assets and mapping patient journey.

CONCLUSION

The results of this study will provide valuable insights for the development of focused injury prevention strategies and policies tailored to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. By addressing the specific needs and challenges faced by these communities, the study aims to enhance road safety outcomes and promote equitable access to healthcare and compensation for affected individuals and their families.

Implementation Feasibility and Hidden Costs of Statewide Scaling of Evidence-Based Therapies for Children and Adolescents

OBJECTIVE

State mental health systems are retraining their workforces to deliver services supported by research. Knowledge about evidence-based therapies (EBTs) for child and adolescent disorders is robust, but the feasibility of their statewide scaling has not been examined. The authors reviewed implementation feasibility for 12 commonly used EBTs, defining feasibility for statewide scaling as an EBT having at least one study documenting acceptability, facilitators and barriers, or fidelity; at least one study with a racially and ethnically diverse sample; an entity for training, certification, or licensing; and fiscal data reflecting the costs of implementation.

METHODS

The authors reviewed materials for 12 EBTs being scaled in New York State and conducted a literature review with search terms relevant to their implementation. Costs and certification information were supplemented by discussions with treatment developers and implementers.

RESULTS

All 12 EBTs had been examined for implementation feasibility, but only three had been examined for statewide scaling. Eleven had been studied in populations reflecting racial-ethnic diversity, but few had sufficient power for subgroup analyses to demonstrate effectiveness with these samples. All had certifying or licensing entities. The per-clinician costs of implementation ranged from $500 to $3,500, with overall ongoing costs ranging from $100 to $6,000. A fiscal analysis of three EBTs revealed hidden costs ranging from $5,000 to $24,000 per clinician, potentially limiting sustainability.

CONCLUSIONS

The evidence necessary for embedding EBTs in state systems has notable gaps that may hinder sustainability. Research-funding agencies should prioritize studies that focus on the practical aspects of scaling to assist states as they retrain their workforces.

Costs and scale-up costs of community-based Oral HIV Self-Testing for female sex workers and men who have sex with men in Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia

BACKGROUND

The proportion of individuals who know their HIV status in Indonesia (66% in 2021) still remains far below the first 95% of UNAIDS 2030 target and were much lower in certain Key Populations (KPs) particularly Female Sex Workers (FSW) and Male having Sex with Male (MSM). Indonesia has implemented Oral HIV Self-testing (oral HIVST) through Community-based screening (HIV CBS) in addition to other testing modalities aimed at hard-to-reach KPs, but the implementation cost is still not analysed. This study provides the cost and scale up cost estimation of HIV CBS in Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia.

METHODS

We estimated the societal cost of HIV CBS that was implemented through NGOs. The HIV CBS's total and unit cost were estimated from HIV CBS outcome, health care system cost and client costs. Cost data were presented by input, KPs and areas. Health care system cost inputs were categorized into capital and recurrent cost both in start-up and implementation phases. Client costs were categorized as direct medical, direct non-medical cost and indirect costs. Sensitivity and scenario analyses for scale up were performed.

RESULTS

In total, 5350 and 1401 oral HIVST test kits were distributed for HIV CBS in Jakarta and Bali, respectively. Average total client cost for HIV CBS Self testing process ranged from US$1.9 to US$12.2 for 1 day and US$2.02 to US$33.61 for 2 days process. Average total client cost for HIV CBS confirmation test ranged from US$2.83 to US$18.01. From Societal Perspective, the cost per HIVST kit distributed were US$98.59 and US$40.37 for FSW and MSM in Jakarta andUS$35.26 and US$43.31 for FSW and MSM in Bali.

CONCLUSIONS

CBS using oral HIVST approach varied widely along with characteristics of HIV CBS volume and cost. HIV CBS was most costly among FSW in Jakarta, attributed to the low HIV CBS volume, high personnel salary cost and client cost. Future approaches to minimize cost and/or maximize testing coverage could include unpaid community led distribution to reach end-users, integrating HIVST into routine clinical services via direct or secondary distribution and using social media network.

Societal costs of sepsis in the Netherlands

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is a life-threatening syndrome characterized by acute loss of organ function due to infection. Sepsis survivors are at risk for long-term comorbidities, have a reduced Quality of Life (QoL), and are prone to increased long-term mortality. The societal impact of sepsis includes its disease burden and indirect economic costs. However, these societal costs of sepsis are not fully understood. This study assessed sepsis's disease-related and indirect economic costs in the Netherlands.

METHODS

Sepsis prevalence, incidence, sepsis-related mortality, hospitalizations, life expectancy, QoL population norms, QoL reduction after sepsis, and healthcare use post-sepsis were obtained from previous literature and Statistics Netherlands. We used these data to estimate annual Quality-adjusted Life Years (QALYs), productivity loss, and increase in healthcare use post-sepsis. A sensitivity analysis was performed to analyze the burden and indirect economic costs of sepsis under alternative assumptions, resulting in a baseline, low, and high estimated burden. The results are presented as a baseline (low-high burden) estimate.

RESULTS

The annual disease burden of sepsis is approximately 57,304 (24,398-96,244; low-high burden) QALYs. Of this, mortality accounts for 26,898 (23,166-31,577) QALYs, QoL decrease post-sepsis accounts for 30,406 (1232-64,667) QALYs. The indirect economic burden, attributed to lost productivity and increased healthcare expenditure, is estimated at €416.1 (147.1-610.7) million utilizing the friction cost approach and €3.1 (0.4-5.7) billion using the human capital method. Cumulatively, the combined disease and indirect economic burdens range from €3.8 billion (friction method) to €6.5 billion (human capital method) annually within the Netherlands.

CONCLUSIONS

Sepsis and its complications pose a substantial disease and indirect economic burden to the Netherlands, with an indirect economic burden due to production loss that is potentially larger than the burden due to coronary heart disease or stroke. Our results emphasize the need for future studies to prevent sepsis, saving downstream costs and decreasing the economic burden.

Health economic consequences of optimal vs. observed guideline adherence of coronary angiography in patients with suspected obstructive stable coronary artery in Germany: a microsimulation model

AIMS

While the number of patients with stable coronary artery disease (SCAD) is similar across European countries, Germany has the highest per capita volume of coronary angiographies (CA). This study evaluated the health economic consequences of guideline-non-adherent use of CA in patients with SCAD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

As part of the ENLIGHT-KHK trial, a prospective observational study, this microsimulation model compared the number of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and the costs of real-world use of CA with those of (assumed) complete guideline-adherent use (according to the German National Disease Management Guideline 2019). The model considered non-invasive testing, CA, revascularization, MACE (30 days after CA), and medical costs. Model inputs were obtained from the ENLIGHT-KHK trial (i.e. patients' records, a patient questionnaire, and claims data). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated by comparing the differences in costs and MACE avoided from the perspective of the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI). Independent on pre-test probability (PTP) of SCAD, complete guideline adherence for usage of CA would result in a slightly lower rate of MACE (-0.0017) and less cost (€-807) per person compared with real-world guideline adherence. While cost savings were shown for moderate and low PTP (€901 and €502, respectively), for a high PTP, a guideline-adherent process results in slightly higher costs (€78) compared with real-world guideline adherence. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the results.

CONCLUSION

Our analysis indicates that improving guideline adherence in clinical practice by reducing the amount of CAs in patients with SCAD would lead to cost savings for the German SHI.

Italian healthcare resource consumption for patients on hemodialysis treated for chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP)

Background

Chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus (CKD-aP) affects patients on hemodialysis. This study identified hemodialysis patients presumably affected or not affected by CKD-aP and integrated healthcare costs, from the perspective of the Italian administrative healthcare data.

Methods

Through cross-linkage of Italian administrative healthcare data collected between 2015 and 2017 (accrual period) in the database of Fondazione ReS (Ricerca e Salute), patients undergoing in-hospital/outpatient hemodialysis were selected. Cohorts with and without CKD-aP were created based on the presence/absence of CKD-aP-related treatment (according to common clinical practice and guidelines) supplies and assessed in terms of CKD-aP-related treatments and mean healthcare costs per capita paid by the Italian National Health Service (INHS).

Results

Of 1,239 people on hemodialysis for ≥2 years, CKD-aP affected 218 patients. Patients with CKD-aP were older and with more comorbidities. During the follow-up year, on average, the INHS spent €37,065 per case, €31,286 per control and € 35,988 per non-CKD-aP subject. High-efficiency dialytic therapies performed to people on hemodialysis with CKD-aP largely weighed on the overall mean annual cost.

Conclusions

This real-world study identified patients on chronic hemodialysis potentially treated for CKD-aP. Interestingly, high-efficiency dialysis seems the most frequent and expensive choice for the treatment of CKD-aP. The discovery of appropriate and effective treatments for this condition might offer cost offsets.

Intravenous or subcutaneous natalizumab in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: investigation on efficiency and savings-the EASIER study

INTRODUCTION

EASIER is a multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study investigating the consumption of healthcare resources, including healthcare professional (HCP) active working time, the costs associated with the current natalizumab intravenous (IV) administration, and the potential impact of the adoption of subcutaneous (SC) route.

METHODS

The EASIER study has three parts: (1) time and motion study to measure healthcare resources and working time needed for natalizumab IV administration using a digital data collection tool operated directly by HCPs; (2) HCP structured questionnaire-based estimation of the potential impact of natalizumab SC vs. IV administration; and (3) patient survey on the burden of natalizumab administration.

RESULTS

Nine Italian multiple sclerosis (MS) centers measured 404 IV natalizumab administration procedures and administered 26 HCP questionnaires and 297 patient questionnaires. Patients had a mean of 52 (range 1-176) previous IV administrations and spent a mean (median, IQR) of 152 (130, 94-184) minutes in the center per each IV procedure, with IV infusion covering 50% of the total. Including patient travel time, an average of 5 h was dedicated to each IV administration. Active working time by HCP amounted to 29 min per IV administration procedure, 70% of which by nursing staff. With adoption of the SC route, HCPs estimated a 50% reduction in patient procedure time and 55% lower HCP active working time. This translated into a 63% cost reduction for the MS center per natalizumab administration procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

SC natalizumab administration will consistently reduce consumption of patient and HCP times per procedure and associated costs.

Costs of breast cancer recurrence after initial treatment for HR+, HER2-, high-risk early breast cancer: estimates from SEER-Medicare linked data

OBJECTIVE

To assess the costs of treated recurrence and survival in elderly patients with early breast cancer (EBC) at high risk of recurrence using Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) registry-Medicare linked claims data.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients aged ≥65 years with hormone receptor-positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-), node-positive EBC at high risk of recurrence. Treated recurrences were defined based on treatment events/procedure codes from claims. Primary outcomes were monthly total extra costs and cumulative extra costs of treated recurrence relative to patients with non/untreated recurrence. Costs were calculated using a Kaplan-Meier sampling average estimator method and inflated to 2021 US$. Secondary outcomes included analysis by recurrence type and overall survival (OS) after recurrence. Subgroup analysis evaluated costs in patients with Medicare Part D coverage.

RESULTS

Among 3,081 eligible patients [mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 74.5 (7.1) years], the majority were females (97.4%) and white (87.8%). Treated recurrence was observed in 964 patients (31.3%). The monthly extra cost of treated recurrence was highest at the beginning of the first treated recurrence episode, with 6-year cumulative cost of $117,926. Six-year cumulative extra costs were higher for patients with distant recurrences ($168,656) than for patients with locoregional recurrences ($96,465). Median OS was 4.34 years for all treated recurrences, 1.92 years for distant recurrence, and 6.78 years for locoregional recurrence. Similar cumulative extra cost trends were observed in the subgroup with Part D coverage as in the overall population.

LIMITATIONS

This study utilizes claims data to identify treated recurrence. Due to age constraints of the dataset, results may not extrapolate to a younger population where EBC is commonly diagnosed.

CONCLUSION

EBC recurrence in this elderly population has substantial costs, particularly in patients with distant recurrences. Therapies that delay or prevent recurrence may reduce long-term costs significantly.

Rapid diagnostic tests for dengue would reduce hospitalizations, healthcare costs and antibiotic prescriptions in Spain: A cost-effectiveness analysis

BACKGROUND

Current gold standard diagnostic techniques for dengue are expensive and time-consuming. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) have been proposed as alternatives, although data about their potential impact in non-endemic areas is scarce.

METHODS

We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the costs of dengue RDTs to the current standard of care for the management of febrile returning travelers in Spain. Effectiveness was measured in terms of potential averted hospital admissions and reduction of empirical antibiotics, based on 2015-2020 dengue admissions at Hospital Clinic Barcelona (Spain).

RESULTS

Dengue RDTs were associated with 53.6% (95% CI: 33.9-72.5) reduction of hospital admissions and were estimated to save 289.08-389.31€ per traveler tested. Moreover, RDTs would have avoided the use of antibiotics in 46.4% (95% CI: 27.5-66.1) of dengue patients.

DISCUSSION

Implementation of dengue RDTs for the management of febrile travelers is a cost-saving strategy that would lead to a reduction of half of dengue admissions and a reduction of inappropriate antibiotics in Spain.

Resource use and costs of transitioning from pediatric to adult care for patients with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

The structured transition of adolescents and young adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD) from pediatric to adult care is important, but data on the time and resources required for the necessary components of the transition process and the associated costs are lacking.

METHODS

In a prospective single-center cohort study of 52 patients with pre-transplant CKD (CKD stage 1, n = 10; stage 2, n = 6; stage 3, n = 5; stage 4 and 5, 1 patient each) or kidney transplant recipients (KTR), resource use and costs were evaluated for the key elements of a structured transition pathway, including (i) assessment of patients' disease-related knowledge and needs, (ii) required education and counseling sessions, and (iii) compiling an epicrisis and a transfer appointment of the patient with the current pediatric and the future adult nephrologist.

RESULTS

Forty-four of 52 enrolled patients (84.6%) completed the transition pathway and were transferred to adult care. The mean time from the decision to start the transition process until the final transfer consultation was 514 ± 204 days. The process was significantly longer for KTR (624 ± 150 [range, 307-819] days) than for patients with pre-transplant CKD (365 ± 172 [range, 1-693] days; P < 0.0001). The cumulative costs of all counseling and education sessions performed including the transfer appointment were 763 ± 473 Euro; it was significantly higher in KTR (966 ± 457 Euro) than in patients with pre-transplant CKD (470 ± 320 Euro; P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

A structured transition pathway for patients with CKD is resource and time-consuming due to the complexity of the disease and should be sufficiently funded. A higher-resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Racial variations in complications and costs following total knee arthroplasty: a retrospective matched cohort study

INTRODUCTION

In this study, we evaluate how race corresponds to specific complications and costs following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Our hypothesis was that minority patients, comprising Black, Asian, and Hispanic patients, would have higher complication and revision rates and costs than White patients.

METHODS

Data from 2014 to 2016 were collected from a large commercial insurance database. TKA patients were assigned under Current Procedural Terminology (CPT-27447) and International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD-9-P-8154) codes. Minority patients were compared to White patients before and after matching for age, gender, and tobacco use, diabetes, and obesity comorbidities. Standardized complications, revisions, and total costs at 30 days, 90 days, and 1 year were compared between the groups using unequal variance t tests.

RESULTS

Overall, 140,601 White (92%), 10,247 Black (6.7%), 1072 Asian (0.67%), and 1725 Hispanic (1.1%) TKA patients were included. At baseline, minority patients had 7-10% longer lengths of stay (p = 0.0001) and Black and Hispanic patients had higher Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices (p = 0.0001), while Asian patients had a lower Elixhauser comorbidity index (p < 0.0001). Black patients had significantly higher complication rates and higher rates of revision (p = 0.03). Minority patients were charged 10-32% more (p < 0.0001). Following matching, all minority patients had lengths of stay 8-10% longer (p = 0.001) and Black patients had higher Charlson and Elixhauser comorbidity indices (p < 0.0001) while Asian patients had a lower Elixhauser comorbidity index (p = 0.0008). Black patients had more equal complication rates and there was no significant difference in revisions in any minority cohort. All minority cohorts had significantly higher total costs at all time points, ranging from 9 to 31% (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Compared to White patients, Black patients had significantly increased rates of complications, along with greater total costs, but not revisions. Asian and Hispanic patients, however, did not have significant differences in complications or revisions yet still had higher costs. As a result, this study corroborates our hypothesis that Black patients have higher rates of complications and costs than White patients following total knee arthroplasty and recommends efforts be taken to tackle health inequities to create more fairness in healthcare. This same hypothesis, however, was not supported when evaluating Asian and Hispanic patients, probably because of the few patients included in the database and deserves further investigation.

[Updated cost of vaccinating throughout life in Spain in 2023]

OBJECTIVE

Four modifications were introduced in the Lifetime Vaccination Schedule of the Interterritorial Council of the National Health System (CISNS) in 2023.The aim of this study was to estimate the cost of vaccinating a healthy person and people with certain risk conditions throughout life in Spain and to compare with a previous estimation from 2019.

METHODS

A descriptive study of the cost of administering the vaccines included in the Lifetime Vaccination Schedule for the year 2023 and in the schedule for risk groups was carried out.

RESULTS

The estimated cost to immunize a healthy person throughout life in 2023 is 1,541.56€ for a woman and 1,498.18€ for a men, which corresponds to an increase of 125% compared to the cost in 2019. The risk conditions with the highest cost are asplenia and complement deficiency and primary immunodeficiencies, with a cost of 3,159.82 euros and 2,566 euros respectively on average. The cost of vaccinating the whole healthy population in Spain in a year is around 565M€. Moreover, the cost of vaccinating the new-borns cohort of 2023 was estimated at 500M€.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the cost increase in 2023, immunization is still a very cheap intervention, considering the economic impact of immunopreventable diseases in the society. The relative low cost of immunization throughout life makes this health intervention useful and worthwhile.

Uptake and availability of new outpatient cancer medicines in 2010-2021 in Nordic countries - survey of competent authorities

BACKGROUND

Nordic countries excel in cancer care, but studies on uptake, costs, or managed entry agreements of cancer medicines have not been conducted recently. The aim of this study was to examine the uptake and availability of orally administered new cancer medicines in Nordic countries. Orally administered cancer medicines enable and are used in the community as part of outpatient care. Firstly, we studied the distribution, costs and adoption of managed entry agreements of these medicines, and secondly, uptake of and managed entry agreements for cancer medicines used in outpatient care that were granted marketing authorization in Europe in 2010-2021.

METHODS

An E-mail survey of competent authorities, meaning pharmaceutical service organizers, payers or other government or non-government actors developing pharmaceutical service operations, in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden in April-June 2022. The data were analysed using frequencies and percentages for descriptive analysis.

RESULTS

The distribution of cancer medicines has similarities in Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, where cancer medicines can be distributed both via hospitals or hospital pharmacies for inpatient use, and via community pharmacies for outpatient use. In Denmark, cancer medicines are predominantly distributed via publicly funded hospitals. In all countries that provided data on the costs, the costs of cancer medicines had notably gone up from 2010 to 2021. The number of reimbursable medicines out of new cancer medicines varied from 36 products in Denmark and Iceland to 51 products in Sweden, out of 67 studied products. Managed entry agreements, often with confidential discounts, were in use in all Nordic countries. The number of agreements and the cancer types for which agreements were most often made varied from three agreements made in Iceland to 35 agreements made in Finland, out of 67 studied products. Average days from authorization to reimbursement of new cancer medicines varied from an average of 416 to 895 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Nordic countries share similar characteristics but also differ in terms of the details in distribution, adopted managed entry agreements, market entry, and availability of new orally administered cancer medicines used in the outpatient care. The costs of cancer medicines have increased in all Nordic countries during the last decade. Due to differences in health care and because orally administered cancer medicines can be dispensed at community and hospital pharmacies in all studied countries other than Denmark, the number of reimbursable medicines and managed entry agreements vary between countries. However, Nordic countries show good agreement for 2010 to 2021 in entry and reimbursement decisions of novel cancer medicines.

Projected impact of population aging on non-communicable disease burden and costs in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2020-2030

BACKGROUND

The number of people aged greater than 65 years per 100 people aged 20-64 years is expected to almost double in The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) between 2020 and 2030. We therefore aimed to quantify the growing non-communicable disease (NCD) burden in KSA between 2020 and 2030, and the impact this will have on the national health budget.

METHODS

Ten priority NCDs were selected: ischemic heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease, dementia, depression, osteoarthritis, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer. Age- and sex-specific prevalence was projected for each priority NCD between 2020 and 2030. Treatment coverage rates were applied to the projected prevalence estimates to calculate the number of patients incurring treatment costs for each condition. For each priority NCD, the average cost-of-illness was estimated based on published literature. The impact of changes to our base-case model in terms of assumed disease prevalence, treatment coverage, and costs of care, coming into effect from 2023 onwards, were explored.

RESULTS

The prevalence estimates for colorectal cancer and stroke were estimated to almost double between 2020 and 2030 (97% and 88% increase, respectively). The only priority NCD prevalence projected to increase by less than 60% between 2020 and 2030 was for depression (22% increase). It is estimated that the total cost of managing priority NCDs in KSA will increase from USD 19.8 billion in 2020 to USD 32.4 billion in 2030 (an increase of USD 12.6 billion or 63%). The largest USD value increases were projected for osteoarthritis (USD 4.3 billion), diabetes (USD 2.4 billion), and dementia (USD 1.9 billion). In scenario analyses, our 2030 projection for the total cost of managing priority NCDs varied between USD 29.2 billion - USD 35.7 billion.

CONCLUSIONS

Managing the growing NCD burden in KSA's aging population will require substantial healthcare spending increases over the coming years.

Textbook outcomes after oesophagectomy: a single-centre observational study

BACKGROUND

Textbook outcomes is a composite quality assurance tool assessing the ideal perioperative and postoperative course as a unified measure. Currently, its definition and application in the context of oesophagectomy in Australia is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the textbook outcomes after oesophagectomy in a single referral centre of Australia and investigate the association between textbook outcomes and patient, tumour, and treatment characteristics.

METHODS

An observational study was retrospectively performed on patients undergoing open, laparoscopic, or hybrid oesophagectomy between January 2010 and December 2019 in a single cancer referral centre. A textbook outcome was defined as the fulfillment of 10 criteria: R0 resection, retrieval of at least 15 lymph nodes, no intraoperative complications, no postoperative complications greater than Clavien-Dindo grade III, no anastomotic leak, no readmission to the ICU, no hospital stay beyond 21 days, no mortality within 90 days, no readmission related to the surgical procedure within 30 days from admission and no reintervention related to the surgical procedure. The proportion of patients who met each criterion for textbook outcome was calculated and compared. Selected patient-related parameters (age, gender, BMI, ASA score, CCI score), tumour-related factors (tumour location, tumour histology, AJCC clinical T and N stage and treatment-related factor [neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgical approach]) were assessed. Disease recurrence and one year survival were also evaluated.

RESULTS

110 patients who underwent oesophagectomy were included. The overall textbook outcome rate was 24%. The difference in rates across the years was not statistically significant. The most achieved textbook outcome parameters were 'no mortality in 90 days' (96%) and 'R0 resection' (89%). The least frequently met textbook outcome parameter was 'no severe postoperative complications' (58%), followed by 'no hospital stays over 21 days' (61%). No significant association was found between patient, tumour and treatment characteristics and the rate of textbook outcome. Tumour recurrence rate and overall long term survival was similar between textbook outcome and non-textbook outcome groups. Patients with R0 resection, no intraoperative complication and a hospital stay less than 21 days had reduced mortality rates.

CONCLUSIONS

Textbook outcome is a clinically relevant indicator and was achieved in 24% of patients. Severe complications and a prolonged hospital stay were the key criteria that limited the achievement of a textbook outcome. These findings provide meticulous evaluation of oesophagectomy perioperative care and provide a direction for the utilisation of this concept in identifying and improving surgical and oncological care across multiple healthcare levels.

Cost analysis of the management of end-stage renal disease patients in Abuja, Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Although the treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) under Nigeria's National Health Insurance Authority is haemodialysis (HD), the cost of managing ESRD is understudied in Nigeria. Therefore, this study estimated the provider and patient direct costs of haemodialysis and managing ESRD in Abuja, Nigeria.

METHOD

The study was a cross-sectional survey from both healthcare provider and consumer perspectives. We collected data from public and private tertiary hospitals (n = 6) and ESRD patients (n = 230) receiving haemodialysis in the selected hospitals. We estimated the direct providers' costs using fixed and variable costs. Patients' direct costs included drugs, laboratory services, transportation, feeding, and comorbidities. Additionally, data on the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of patients were collected. The costs were summarized in descriptive statistics using means and percentages. A generalized linear model (gamma with log link) was used to predict the patient characteristics associated with patients' cost of haemodialysis.

RESULTS

The mean direct cost of haemodialysis was $152.20 per session (providers: $123.69; and patients: $28.51) and $23,742.96 annually (providers: $19,295.64; and patients: $4,447.32). Additionally, patients spent an average of $2,968.23 managing comorbidities. The drivers of providers' haemodialysis costs were personnel and supplies. Residing in other towns (HD:β = 0.55, ρ = 0.001; ESRD:β = 0.59, ρ = 0.004), lacking health insurance (HD:β = 0.24, ρ = 0.038), attending private health facility (HD:β = 0.46, ρ < 0.001; ESRD: β = 0.75, ρ < 0.001), and greater than six haemodialysis sessions per month (HD:β = 0.79, ρ < 0.001; ESRD: β = 0.99, ρ < 0.001) significantly increased the patient's out-of-pocket spending on haemodialysis and ESRD.

CONCLUSION

The costs of haemodialysis and managing ESRD patients are high. Providing public subsidies for dialysis and expanding social health insurance coverage for ESRD patients might reduce the costs.