Epidemiologic and Clinical Features of Mpox-Associated Deaths - United States, May 10, 2022-March 7, 2023.

As of March 7, 2023, a total of 30,235 confirmed and probable monkeypox (mpox) cases were reported in the United States,† predominantly among cisgender men§ who reported recent sexual contact with another man (1). Although most mpox cases during the current outbreak have been self-limited, cases of severe illness and death have been reported (2-4). During May 10, 2022-March 7, 2023, 38 deaths among persons with probable or confirmed mpox¶ (1.3 per 1,000 mpox cases) were reported to CDC and classified as mpox-associated (i.e., mpox was listed as a contributing or causal factor). Among the 38 mpox-associated deaths, 94.7% occurred in cisgender men (median age = 34 years); 86.8% occurred in non-Hispanic Black or African American (Black) persons. The median interval from symptom onset to death was 68 days (IQR = 50-86 days). Among 33 decedents with available information, 93.9% were immunocompromised because of HIV. Public health actions to prevent mpox deaths include integrated testing, diagnosis, and early treatment for mpox and HIV, and ensuring equitable access to both mpox and HIV prevention and treatment, such as antiretroviral therapy (ART) (5).

Are We Ready for a New Approach to Comparing Coverage and Reimbursement Policies for Medical Nutrition in Key Markets: An ISPOR Special Interest Group Report.

OBJECTIVES: Healthcare policy makers should ensure optimal patient access to medical nutrition (MN) as part of the management of nutrition-related disorders and conditions. Questions remain whether current healthcare policies reflect the clinical and economic benefits of MN. The objective of this article is to characterize coverage and reimbursement of MN, defined as food for special medical purposes/medical food for a diverse set of countries, including Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, United Kingdom, and United States. METHODS: Data sources included published literature and online sources. ISPOR's Nutrition Economics Special Interest Group developed a data collection form to guide data extraction that included reimbursement coverage, years that reimbursement policies were established, and presence of a formal health technology assessment (HTA) for MN technologies. RESULTS: Reimbursement coverage of MN technologies varied across the countries that were reviewed. All but 3 countries limited coverage to specific formulations of products, regardless of demonstrated clinical benefit. The year that reimbursement policies were established varied across countries (ranging from 1984 to 2017), and only 4 countries regularly update policies. France and Brazil are the only countries with a formal HTA process for MN technologies. CONCLUSIONS: Most countries have limited MN reimbursement, have not updated reimbursement policies, and lack HTA for MN technologies. These limitations may lead to suboptimal access to MN technologies where they are indicated to manage nutrition-related disorders and conditions, with the potential of negatively affecting patient and healthcare system outcomes.

Household tobacco smoke exposure and acrylonitrile metabolite levels in a US pediatric sample.

This study seeks to determine if members of a pediatric (<18 years) sample who have high levels of the urinary volatile organic compound (VOC) metabolite of acrylonitrile, N-Acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-l-cysteine (CYMA), are significantly more likely to be living in a household with indoor tobacco smoke exposure. A weighted logistic regression was used to compare pediatric participants in the highest quartile of CYMA levels (≥ 4.56 ng/mL) with those whose CYMA levels were not in the highest quartile. 411 pediatric participants were identified in the NHANES data for analysis. Those in the highest quartile of recorded CYMA values were more likely to be living with active indoor smokers (69.35 %) than those who were not in the highest quartile (32.72 %). Having one indoor smoker (adjusted-OR: 2.53, 95 % CI: 1.01-6.34) or 2+ indoor smokers (adjusted-OR: 4.25, 95 % CI: 1.84-9.81) were both associated with a pediatric participant having a CYMA value in the highest quartile.

Working Memory and Inadequate Micronutrient Consumption in Healthy Seniors.

Objective: To investigate whether inadequate intake of micronutrients, as defined by the Institute of Medicine's (IOM) Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) according to gender, is associated with lower working memory performance in healthy seniors. Method: 601 female and 530 male seniors (≥60 years) in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) were included. Analyses of the association between RDA micronutrient reference levels and having a memory performance score in the lowest quartile were stratified by gender. Logistic regression was used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted odds ratios for having a memory performance score in the lowest quartile for individuals with inadequate RDA levels compared to adequate RDA levels. Results: Over half of participants had inadequate intake of vitamin C, choline, and zinc. Men who had less than the RDA of choline from their food were more likely to be in the lowest memory performance quartile, while women who with inadequate B2 were more likely to be in the lowest quartile. Discussion: Inadequate intake of micronutrients was significantly associated with lower working memory performance.

Assessment of components included in published societal perspective or QALY outcome economic analyses for antiepileptic drug treatment in chronic epilepsy.

INTRODUCTION: Antiepileptic drug (AED) treatments seek to control seizures with minimal or no adverse effects, effects which can substantially impact costs and outcomes for patients, caregivers, and third party payers. The First and Second Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine recommend inclusion of a societal reference case, even in studies conducted from a healthcare sector perspective, for comparability of findings across studies. Cost and outcome evaluation components include direct medical, non-direct medical-related (e.g. patient-time and transportation costs for treatment) and non-healthcare sectors (e.g. lost productivity). AREAS COVERED: Guided by Second Panel recommendations, this review developed an overall impact inventory and detailed adverse effect impact inventory to assess the scope and methods in published economic evaluations of AED treatments for adults with chronic epilepsy. Societal perspective evaluations or evaluations that utilized quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) as an outcome were reviewed. The majority of reviewed articles were healthcare sector perspective studies, methods for estimating QALYs varied widely, and a minority considered specific AED treatment adverse effects. EXPERT COMMENTARY: Only considering a healthcare sector perspective fails to provide full information for patients on AED treatments. Using an impact inventory to guide study scope and design will facilitate full reporting of costs and benefits.

Nutrition status, bone mass density, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.

The association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) use and bone mass density (BMD) has been debated. Inadequate diet, which may occur in depressed individuals prescribed SSRIs is also associated with decreased BMD. This study seeks to determine if SSRI use in adults is associated with lower than average BMD while controlling for nutrition related variables. Further, it investigates whether there are potential interactions between micronutrients and SSRI use on BMD. Adults, 655 with an SSRI prescription ≥180 days and 12,372 non-users, were identified in the 2005-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. Survey respondents were propensity score matched on propensity to have an SSRI prescription and compared on femoral neck BMD t-scores. A sub-analysis within SSRI users was conducted to calculate the odds ratio (OR) of having a low (osteopenia or osteoporosis) BMD t-score given SSRI exposure and inadequate daily micronutrient intake. Inadequate daily micronutrient intake was common; over half of SSRI users and non-users had inadequate calcium, vitamin D, and potassium. SSRI use was associated with an absolute reduction of 0.11 in BMD t-score. Inadequate daily vitamin D intake was associated with lower BMD t-scores in both SSRI users and non-users. The interaction of SSRI use and inadequate daily intake of zinc was also associated with low BMD (OR: 1.11, 95% CI: 1.01-1.23). Patient health may be improved by nutritional education, referral to a dietitian, or by micronutrient monitoring by the prescribing physician.