Cost-minimization analysis of teledermatology versus conventional care in the Brazilian National Health System.

Aims: Cost-minimization analysis (CMA) comparing the teledermatology service of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil with the provision of conventional care, from the societal perspective. Patients & methods: All costs related to direct patient care were considered in calculation of outpatient costs. The evaluation was performed using the parameters avoided referrals and profile of hospitalizations. The economic analysis was developed through a decision tree. Results: Totally, 40% of 79,411 tests performed could be managed in primary care, avoiding commuting and expanding the patients' access. The CMA showed the teledermatology service had a cost per patient of US$196.04, and the conventional care of US$245.66. Conclusion: In this scenario, teledermatology proved to be a cost-saving alternative to conventional care, reducing commuting costs.

Lay abstract Diagnosis and treatment of skin diseases through teledermatology avoid patient referrals, improves accessibility to specialized care, as well as the skin care provided by physicians. This study compared the costs of the teledermatology service of the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil with the costs of the provision of conventional care, to check which of them was more efficient. All costs related to direct patient care were considered in the calculation of costs. Totally, 40% of 79,411 dermatological tests performed could be locally managed in primary care, avoiding commuting, and expanding the patients' access to care. The teledermatology service had a cost per patient of US$196.04, compared with the cost of conventional care of US$245.66. In this evaluation, teledermatology proved to be cheaper than conventional care, reducing commuting costs.

Effectiveness and safety of anti-TNF therapy for ankylosing spondylitis: a real-world study.

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of anti-TNF drugs for ankylosing spondylitis. Materials & methods: A prospective cohort study was performed at a pharmacy in the Brazilian Public Health System. Effectiveness by Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, functionality by Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index, quality of life by European Quality of Life Five-Dimensions and safety was assessed at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. Results: About 160 patients started the treatment with adalimumab, etanercept or infliximab. There was a statistically significant improvement in disease activity, functionality and quality of life at 6 and 12 months (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This real-world study has shown that anti-TNF drugs are effective and well tolerated for ankylosing spondylitis patients.

Influence of pharmaceutical services organization on the availability of essential medicines in a public health system.

Objective: To evaluate the influence of organizational structure and technical-management activities on the availability of essential medicines in the primary healthcare. Materials & methods: Cross-sectional, exploratory and evaluative study. The availability was evaluated according to parameters established by the WHO. Results: The average availability of standardized essential medicines was 83.3 and 73.3% for medicines purchased centrally by the Brazilian government. Among the therapeutic groups evaluated, the lowest average availability were for the tuberculostatics (24.1%) and psychotropic/special control medicines (30.3%). Conclusion: The availability of essential medicines was positively influenced by the presence of the pharmacist and by the computerized system deployed, and negatively associated with essential medicines purchased centrally by the federal government, especially in the smaller municipalities.

Indicator of access to medicines in relation to the multiple dimensions of access.

Aim: Creation of a single indicator of access to medicines. Methods: Data collection was performed with individuals who obtained their medication from either public and/or private pharmacies. A Likert scale was used to measure the importance and satisfaction in relation to various access dimensions. Results: A total of 580 individuals were interviewed. Overall, participants attributed very similar importance scores to the dimensions of access to medicines. The results of the mean score of each dimension showed a statistically significant difference according to the type of pharmacy that the participant visited. Conclusion: This developed indicator will enable a review of access to medicines, making comparisons possible as well as improving decision making about public policies in the field of Pharmaceutical Services.

Epidemiological profile of patients on renal replacement therapy in Brazil, 2000-2004.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients under renal replacement therapies, identifying risk factors for death. METHODS: This is a non-concurrent cohort study of data for 90,356 patients in the National Renal Replacement Therapies Database. A deterministic-probabilistic linkage was performed using the Authorization System for High Complexity/Cost Procedures and the Mortality Information System databases. All patients who started dialysis between 1/1/2000 and 12/31/2004 were included and followed until death or the end of 2004. Age, sex, region of residence, primary renal disease and causes of death were analyzed. A proportional hazards model was used to identify factors associated with risk of death. RESULTS: The prevalence of patients under renal replacement therapies increased an average of 5.5%, while incidence remained stable during the period. Hemodialysis was the predominant initial modality (89%). The patients were majority male with mean age 53 years, residents of the Southeast region and presented unknown causes as the main cause of chronic renal disease, followed by hypertension, diabetes and glomerulonephritis. Of these patients, 42% progressed to death and 7% underwent kidney transplantation. The patients on peritoneal dialysis were older and had higher prevalence of diabetes. The death rate varied from 7% among transplanted patients to 45% among non-transplanted patients. In the final Cox proportional hazards model, the risk of mortality was associated with increasing age, female sex, having diabetes, living in the North and Northeast region, peritoneal dialysis as a first modality and not having renal transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increased prevalence of patients on renal therapy in Brazil. Increased risk of death was associated with advanced age, diabetes, the female sex, residents of the North and Northeast region and lack of renal transplant.