Hospitalization costs for community-acquired pneumonia in Dutch elderly: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is one of the most common infections, especially in the elderly (≥65 years). The aim of this study was to quantify hospitalization costs for CAP in different age groups and in patients with different CAP risk profiles. Secondary objectives were to assess disease severity differences between placebo and vaccine receiving participants and identify cost driving factors of CAP in hospitalized elderly in the Netherlands. METHODS: This prospective cohort study of hospitalized CAP patients was executed in parallel to the Community Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults (CAPiTA). Within the CAPiTA, a cohort of 84,496 subjects aged ≥65, all suspected CAP-episodes presenting in one of the 58 participating hospitals between September 2008 and August 2013 were included. CAP was diagnosed on clinical and radiographical criteria. Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and non-IPD-CAP episodes, regardless of the causing pathogen, were evaluated separately. Costs were calculated by multiplying recorded healthcare resources with Dutch unit cost prices for the year 2012. Multivariate regression analysis was performed to identify cost drivers. RESULTS: In the sentinel hospitals 3225 suspected CAP and IPD episodes were included, of which 1933 were radiographically confirmed by chest X-ray. Analyses were conducted on confirmed CAP episodes only. Overall mean length of hospital stay was 12.1 days, the in-hospital mortality rate was 11.26 %, and mean costs were €8301 (95 % CI: €7760-€8999). When stratified in age-categories 65-74, 75-84 and ≥85, mean hospitalization costs were €8674, €8770 and €6197, respectively (p = 0.649). IPD-CAP and non-IPD-CAP mean hospitalization costs were €13,611 and €8081, respectively. Higher CURB-65 score and individuals at medium risk for developing pneumococcal disease were significantly associated with higher costs. Being male, lower age, previous admissions, lower risk, lower urbanity and higher socio-economic status were associated with lower costs. CONCLUSIONS: Mean hospitalization costs of a CAP subject were €8301 and higher for IPD-CAP compared to non-IPD-CAP cases. Medium risk patients and higher CURB-65 scores were identified as cost driving factors.

Cost-effectiveness of adult pneumococcal conjugate vaccination in the Netherlands.

The Community-Acquired Pneumonia Immunization Trial in Adults (CAPiTA) demonstrated the efficacy of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in preventing vaccine-type community-acquired pneumonia and vaccine-type invasive pneumococcal disease in elderly subjects. We examined the cost-effectiveness of PCV13 vaccination in the Netherlands. Using a Markov-type model, incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) of PCV13 vaccination in different age- and risk-groups for pneumococcal disease were evaluated using a societal perspective. Estimates of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs, vaccine efficacy and epidemiological data were based on the CAPiTA study and other prospective studies. The base-case was PCV13 vaccination of adults aged 65-74 years compared to no vaccination, assuming no net indirect effects in base-case due to paediatric 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine use. Analyses for age- and risk-group specific vaccination strategies and for different levels of hypothetical herd effects from a paediatric PCV programme were also conducted. The ICER for base-case was €8650 per QALY (95% CI 5750-17,100). Vaccination of high-risk individuals aged 65-74 years was cost-saving and extension to medium-risk individuals aged 65-74 years yielded an ICER of €2900. Further extension to include medium- and high-risk individuals aged ≥18 years yielded an ICER of €3100.PCV13 vaccination is highly cost-effective in the Netherlands. The transferability of our results to other countries depends upon vaccination strategies already implemented in those countries.

Structural Brain Volumes of Individuals at Clinical High Risk for Psychosis: A Meta-analysis.

Background: Structural magnetic resonance imaging studies in individuals at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis have yielded conflicting results. Methods: The aims of this study were to compare intracranial and structural brain volumes and variability of CHR individuals with those of healthy control (HC) subjects and to investigate brain volume differences and variability in CHR subjects with and without transition to psychosis. The PubMed and Embase databases were searched for relevant studies published before June 1, 2020. Results: A total of 34 studies were deemed eligible, which included baseline data of 2111 CHR and 1472 HC participants. In addition, data were included for 401 CHR subjects who subsequently transitioned to psychosis and 1023 nontransitioned CHR participants. Whole-brain and left, right, and bilateral hippocampal volume were significantly smaller in CHR subjects than in HC subjects. Cerebrospinal fluid and lateral ventricle volumes were significantly larger in CHR subjects than in HC subjects. Variability was not significantly different in CHR subjects compared with HC subjects. CHR individuals with and without subsequent transition to psychosis did not show significant differences in any of the volumetric assessments or in variability. Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrates reduced whole-brain and hippocampal volumes and increased cerebrospinal fluid and lateral ventricle volumes in CHR individuals. However, no significant differences were observed in any of the volumetric assessments between CHR individuals with and without subsequent transition to psychosis. These findings suggest that although structural brain alterations are present before the onset of the disorder, they may not significantly contribute to the identification of CHR individuals at the highest risk for the development of psychosis.

The effects of the COVID-19 outbreak and measures in patients with a pre-existing psychiatric diagnosis: A cross-sectional study.

Background COVID-19 has seriously affected physical and mental health world-wide,both due to spreading of the virus and due to the socially restrictive measures most governments have enforced. Increased anxiety, stress and depressive symptoms have been widely reported in the general population. The current study investigated the effects of COVID and the restrictive measures in the Netherlands on stress, anxiety and loneliness in patients with a pre-existing psychiatric disorder. Methods 189 patients with a pre-existing psychiatric disorder treated at the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU) provided consent to participate in an electronically provided survey. Questionnaires on anxiety, depressive symptoms, worry, stress and general health were completed by 148 participants. Results All patients reported heightened distress as well as the presence of depressive symptoms and loneliness during the initial phase of the restrictive measures. Patients could be divided into two major subgroups with either psychotic disorder (n = 71) and affective disorder (n = 86). Patients with affective disorders were more affected by the outbreak and accompanying socially restrictive measures than patients with psychotic disorders. Conclusions Our findings indicate negative mental health effects of the global COVID-19 pandemic and the restrictive measures in a particularly vulnerable population, with differential effects on diagnostic groups.