Cost-effectiveness analysis of laparoscopic and open surgery in routine Swedish care for colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer has been shown in clinical trials to be effective regarding short-term outcomes and oncologically safe. Health economic analyses have been performed early in the learning curve when adoption of laparoscopic surgery was not extensive. This cost-effectiveness analysis evaluates laparoscopic versus open colorectal cancer surgery in Swedish routine care. METHODS: In this national retrospective cohort study, data were retrieved from the Swedish ColoRectal Cancer Registry. Clinical effectiveness, resource use and unit costs were derived from this and other sources with nationwide coverage. The study period was 2013 and 2014 with 1 year follow-up. Exclusion criterion comprised cT4-tumors. Clinical effectiveness was estimated in a composite endpoint of all-cause resource-consuming events in inpatient care, readmissions and deaths up to 90 days postoperatively. Up to 1 year, events predefined as related to the primary surgery were included. Costs included resource-consuming events, readmissions and sick leave and were estimated for both the society and healthcare. Multivariable regression analyses were used to adjust for differences in baseline characteristics between the groups. RESULTS: After exclusion of cT4 tumors, the cohort included 7707 patients who underwent colorectal cancer surgery: 6060 patients in the open surgery group and 1647 patients in the laparoscopic group. The mean adjusted difference in clinical effectiveness between laparoscopic and open colorectal cancer surgery was 0.23 events (95% CI 0.12 to 0.33). Mean adjusted differences in costs (open minus laparoscopic surgery) were $4504 (95% CI 2257 to 6799) and $4480 (95% CI 2739 to 6203) for the societal and the healthcare perspective respectively. In both categories, resource consuming events in inpatient care were the main driver of the results. CONCLUSION: In a national cohort, laparoscopic colorectal cancer surgery was associated with both superior outcomes for clinical effectiveness and cost versus open surgery.

Cost-of-illness of metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours in Sweden-A population-based register-linkage study.

The objective was to estimate the cost-of-illness of grades 1 and 2 metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs) in Sweden in 2013 in a population-based study including all patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2013. Data were obtained from national registers, and patients who utilised healthcare resources due to metastatic GEP-NETs in 2013 were included. The study included 478 patients (mean age 64 [SD=11] years, 51% men). The majority (80%) had small intestinal NET, 10% had pancreatic NET, and 41% had carcinoid syndrome. The total cost-of-illness was €12,189,000 in 2013, of which direct costs constituted 77% and costs from production loss constituted 22%. The largest contributor to the direct medical costs was prescription drugs (54%; primarily somatostatin analogues [91% of the total drug cost]). Production loss due to sickness absence constituted 52% of the total costs of production loss. The total annual cost per patient was €25,500. By patient group, the cost was €24,800 (95% CI €21,600-€28,100) for patients with small intestinal NET, €37,300 (95% CI €23,300-€51,300) for those with pancreatic NET and €18,600 (95% CI €12,600-€24,500) for patients with other GEP-NETs. To conclude, the total annual cost of grades 1 and 2 metastatic GEP-NETs in Sweden was €25,500 per patient and year.

Real-world treatment patterns, resource use and costs of treating uncontrolled carcinoid syndrome and carcinoid heart disease: a retrospective Swedish study.

OBJECTIVES: To quantify healthcare resource use (HRU) and costs in relation to carcinoid syndrome (CS) and carcinoid heart disease (CHD) in a real-world setting, and to provide perspective on treatment patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patient data and HRU were collected retrospectively from three Swedish healthcare registers. Adult patients diagnosed with metastatic gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) grade 1 or 2 and CS who purchased somatostatin analogs (SSAs), and experienced controlled (defined by SSAs use) and uncontrolled (defined by SSAs dose escalation) CS for ≥8 months during the study period were included. Patients diagnosed with CHD from the date of the GEP-NET diagnosis were included in the CHD study group. RESULTS: Overall, total HRU cost increased with uncontrolled CS and CHD. Total resource cost was 15,500€/patient during controlled CS (8 months), rising to 21,700€/patient during uncontrolled CS (8 months), representing an increase of ∼40% (6200€/patient). Costs/patient were driven mainly by SSA use, tumor-related medical interventions and examinations. The total mean cost/year of disease was 1100€/patient without CHD, compared to 4600€/patient with CHD, a difference of 3500€/patient. Excluding SSA cost burden, the main drivers of increased cost in CHD patients were surgical interventions and echocardiography. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a comprehensive overview of the treatment patterns and burden of uncontrolled CS symptoms and CHD using Swedish national register data. Increases in medical interventions and examinations HRU and increased SSA use suggest that SSA dose escalation alone may not effectively control the symptoms associated with uncontrolled CS, highlighting an unmet treatment need in this patient group.

Health economic analysis of costs of laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal cancer within a randomized trial (COLOR II).

BACKGROUND: Previous studies regarding the comparative costs of laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal cancer provide ambiguous conclusions, and there are no large randomized trials or long-term follow-up. METHODS: A prospective cost-minimization analysis was carried out by using data of clinical resource use from the randomized controlled trial COLOR II. Some data needed for the health economic evaluation were not collected in the clinical trial; therefore, a retrospective data collection was made for COLOR II-patients operated at the largest participating Swedish hospital (n = 105). Sick leave information was provided by the Swedish social insurance agency. Unit costs were collected from Swedish sources. The primary outcome was the difference in mean cost between laparoscopic and open surgery. RESULTS: The COLOR II-trial enrolled 1044 rectal cancer patients randomized between laparoscopic and open surgery 2:1. At the 3-year follow-up data for the clinical variables used in the analysis were available for 74-89 % of patients. Laparoscopic surgery costs the health care sector more than the open technique, both at 28 days ($1910, 95 % CI 677-3143) and 3 years ($3854, 95 % CI 1527-6182) after surgery. There were, however, no differences in long-term costs to society between laparoscopic and open surgery ($684, 95 % CI -5799 to 7166). CONCLUSIONS: Though the study found short- and long-term cost differences for the healthcare sector, there was no difference in regard to the long-term societal perspective. Future research is suggested to investigate the effects of sick leave costs using material from a greater number of patients.

EXPLORATION AND PREFERENTIAL RANKING OF PATIENT BENEFITS OF MEDICAL DEVICES: A NEW AND GENERIC INSTRUMENT FOR HEALTH ECONOMIC ASSESSMENTS.

OBJECTIVES: For medical devices, benefits other than direct clinical effects may have a large impact on the patients' well-being, but a standardized method for measuring these benefits is unavailable. The objective was to explore potential patient benefits provided by medical devices, and to assess the relative preferences of these benefits in the general Swedish population. METHODS: To identify attributes of patient benefit, healthcare personnel within a wide range of disease areas were interviewed. The generalized attributes were then validated among healthcare personnel, patient organizations, and manufacturers; in two pilot studies in the general population; and in two rounds of cognitive interviews. The general population's preferences of the attributes were measured with a usability-tested questionnaire in a final responding sample of 3,802 individuals, representative of the Swedish population. RESULTS: Twenty attributes were identified, encompassing aspects of integrity, sense of security, social participation, and convenience. When measuring the relative preferences, the response rate was 37.0 percent, and the results showed that the attributes with the highest preferences concerned reliability, reduced need for assistance, and sense of control of the illness/disability. CONCLUSIONS: A set of twenty attributes of patient benefit relevant to users of medical devices was identified and validated. A questionnaire for patient-reported assessment of the benefits provided by a medical device was developed, based on the attributes. The questionnaire, designated MedTech20, provides a generic measurement method for the evaluation of medical devices used in a wide range of diseases/disabilities.

Dose patterns among patients using low-dose buprenorphine patches.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the dose pattern of low-dose buprenorphine patches among patients in Swedish clinical practice. The clinical experts among the coauthors interpreted the results in relation to possible indications of development of tolerance and/or dependence/addiction. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a nationwide, observational study using data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. SUBJECTS: Individuals who were dispensed the low-dose buprenorphine patches continuously for more than 24 weeks during July 1, 2005 to February 28, 2011 were included. METHODS: The dose pattern was analyzed as the change in dose over time for each patient: 1) the dose at baseline compared with each of the following 8-week intervals, and 2) the dose at baseline compared with the dose during the patients' last treatment period. RESULTS: The majority of the patients were female (74%), and most were 75 years and older (69%). The median treatment duration was 260 days, and 4% and 1% of patients remained on continuous treatment for 2 and 3 years, respectively. The mean dose was 11 µg/h at baseline, and 15 µg/h during the patients' last treatment period. The average dose increased by 4 µg/h during the patients' entire treatment course. CONCLUSIONS: The average dose increased by 4 µg/h during the patients' treatment course, which lasted on an average of 260 days. From a clinical perspective, the dose increase of 4 µg/h is low and does not suggest dependence/addiction, as also supported by the low proportion of patients remaining on continuous treatment.

LAPPRO: a prospective multicentre comparative study of robot-assisted laparoscopic and retropubic radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE: This study describes the study design and procedures for a prospective, non-randomized trial comparing open retropubic and robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy regarding functional and oncological outcomes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aim was to achieve a detailed prospective registration of symptoms experienced by patients using validated questionnaires in addition to documentation of surgical details, clinical examinations, medical facts and resource use. Four patient questionnaires and six case-report forms were especially designed to collect data before, during and after surgery with a follow-up time of 2 years. The primary endpoint is urinary leakage 1 year after surgery. Secondary endpoints include erectile dysfunction, oncological outcome, quality of life and cost-effectiveness at 3, 12 and 24 months after surgery. RESULTS: The study started in September 2008 with accrual continuing to October 2011. Twelve urological departments in Sweden well established in performing radical prostatectomy are participating. Personal contact with the participating departments and patients was established to ascertain a high response rate. To reach 80% statistical power to detect a difference of 5 absolute per cent in incidence of urinary leakage, 700 men in the retropubic group and 1400 in the robotic group are needed. CONCLUSIONS: The Swedish healthcare context is well suited to performing multicentre long-term prospective clinical trials. The similar care protocols and congruent specialist training are particularly favourable. The LAPPRO trial aims to compare the two surgical techniques in aspects of short- and long-term functional and oncological outcome, cost effectiveness and quality of life, supplying new knowledge to support future decisions in treatment strategies for prostate cancer.

Treatment Patterns and Survival among Patients with Metastatic Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumours in Sweden - a Population-based Register-linkage and Medical Chart Review Study.

Background: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumours (GEP-NETs) are neoplasms derived from the endocrine system in the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas. Treatment options include surgery; pharmacological treatments like somatostatin analogues (SSA), interferon alpha, molecular targeted therapy and chemotherapy; and peptide receptor radionuclide therapy. The objective of this study was to describe treatment patterns and survival among patients with metastatic GEP-NET grade 1 or 2 in Sweden. Methods: Data was obtained via linkage of nationwide registers. Patients diagnosed with metastatic GEP-NET grade 1 or 2 in Sweden between 2005 and 2013 were included (n=811; National population). In addition, medical chart review was performed for the subpopulation diagnosed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg (n=127; Regional population). Treatment patterns, including treatment sequences, and overall survival were assessed. Results: Most patients had small intestinal NET (76%). In the regional population, 72% had grade 1 tumours; 50% had functioning tumours. The two most common first-line treatments were surgery (57%) and SSA (25%). After first-line surgery, 46% received SSA, while 40% had no further treatment. After first-line SSA, 52% received surgery, while 27% had no further treatment. Overall median survival time from date of diagnosis was 7.0 years (95% CI 6.2-not reached). Among patients with distant metastases, pancreatic NET (vs. small intestinal NET) was associated with poorer survival (HR 1.9; 95% CI 1.1-3.3), as were liver metastases (HR 3.2; 95% CI 1.5-7.0). Conclusions: First-line surgery was typically followed by SSA or no further treatment. Among patients with distant metastases, pancreatic NET or liver metastases were associated with a poorer survival.

Health Economic Analysis of Open and Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Surgery for Prostate Cancer Within the Prospective Multicentre LAPPRO Trial.

BACKGROUND: The rapid adoption of robot-assisted laparoscopy in radical prostatectomy has preceded data regarding associated costs. Qualitative evidence regarding cost outcomes is lacking. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed how costs were affected by robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) compared with open surgery. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Cost analysis was based on the dataset of the LAPPRO (Laparoscopic Prostatectomy Robot Open) clinical trial, which is a prospective controlled, nonrandomised trial of patients who underwent prostatectomy at 14 centres in Sweden between September 2008 and November 2011. Currently, data are available from a follow-up period of 24 mo. INTERVENTION: In the LAPPRO trial, RALP was compared with radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Costs per surgical technique were assessed based on resource variable data from the LAPPRO database. The calculation of average costs was based on mean values; Swedish currency was converted to purchasing power parity US dollar (PPP$). All tests were two-tailed and conducted at α=0.05 significance level. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: The cost analysis comprised 2638 men. Based on the LAPPRO trial data, RALP was associated with an increased cost/procedure of PPP$ 3837 (95% confidence interval: 2747-4928) compared with RRP. The result was sensitive to variations in caseload. Main drivers of overall cost were robotic system cost, operation time, length of stay, and sick leave. Limitations of the study include the uneven distribution between RALP and RRP regarding procedures in public/for-profit hospitals and surgeon/centre procedural volume. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the LAPPRO trial data, this study showed that RALP was associated with an increased cost compared with RRP in Swedish health care. There are many factors influencing the costs, making the absolute result dependent on the specific setting. However, by identifying the main cost drivers and/or most influential parameters, the study provides support for informed decisions and predictions. PATIENT SUMMARY: In this study, we looked at the cost outcome when performing prostatectomies by robot-assisted laparoscopic technique compared with open surgery in Sweden. We found that the robot-assisted procedure was associated with a higher mean cost.

The cost of monitoring warfarin in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation in primary care in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin is used for the prevention of stroke in chronic atrial fibrillation. The product has a narrow therapeutic index and to obtain treatment success, patients must be maintained within a given therapeutic range (International Normalised Ratio;INR). To ensure a wise allocation of health care resources, scrutiny of costs associated with various treatments is justified. The objective of this study was to estimate the health care cost of INR controls in patients on warfarin treatment with chronic atrial fibrillation in primary care in Sweden. METHODS: Data from various sources were applied in the analysis. Resource consumption was derived from two observational studies based on electronic patient records and two Delphi-panel studies performed in two and three rounds, respectively. Unit costs were taken from official databases and primary health care centres. RESULTS: The mean cost of one INR control was SEK 550. The mean costs of INR controls during the first three months, the first year and during the second year of treatment were SEK 6,811, SEK 16,244 and SEK 8,904 respectively. CONCLUSION: INR controls of patients on warfarin treatment in primary care in Sweden represent a substantial cost to the health care provider and they are particularly costly when undertaken in home care. The cost may however be off-set by the reduced incidence of stroke.

Comorbidities, treatment patterns and cost-of-illness of acromegaly in Sweden: a register-linkage population-based study.

OBJECTIVE: Acromegaly is a complex endocrine disease with multiple comorbidities. Treatment to obtain biochemical remission includes surgery, medical therapy and radiation. We aimed to describe comorbidities, treatment patterns and cost-of-illness in patients with acromegaly in Sweden. DESIGN: A nationwide population-based study. METHODS: Patients with acromegaly were identified and followed in national registers in Sweden. Longitudinal treatment patterns were assessed in patients diagnosed between July 2005 and December 2013. The cost-of-illness during 2013 was estimated from a societal perspective among patients diagnosed between 1987 and 2013. RESULTS: Among 358 patients with acromegaly (48% men, mean age at diagnosis 50.0 (s.d. 15.3) years) at least one comorbidity was reported in 81% (n = 290). The most common comorbidities were hypertension (40%, n = 142), neoplasms outside the pituitary (30%, n = 109), hypopituitarism (22%, n = 80) and diabetes mellitus (17%, n = 61). Acromegaly treatment was initiated on average 3.7 (s.d. 6.9) months after diagnosis. Among the 301 treated patients, the most common first-line treatments were surgery (60%, n = 180), somatostatin analogues (21%, n = 64) and dopamine agonists (14%, n = 41). After primary surgery, 24% (n = 44) received somatostatin analogues. The annual per-patient cost was €12 000; this was €8700 and €16 000 if diagnosed before or after July 2005, respectively. The cost-of-illness for acromegaly and its comorbidities was 77% from direct costs and 23% from production loss. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of comorbidity is high in patients with acromegaly. The most common first-line treatment in acromegalic patients was surgery followed by somatostatin analogues. The annual per-patient cost of acromegaly and its comorbidities was €12 000.

Resource consumption and management associated with monitoring of warfarin treatment in primary health care in Sweden.

BACKGROUND: Warfarin is used for the prevention and treatment of various thromboembolic complications. It is an efficacious anticoagulant, but it has a narrow therapeutic range, and regular monitoring is required to ensure therapeutic efficacy and at the same time avoid life-threatening adverse events. The objective was to assess management and resource consumption associated with patient monitoring episodes during warfarin treatment in primary health care in Sweden. METHODS: Delphi technique was used to systematically explore attitudes, demands and priorities, and to collect informed judgements related to monitoring of warfarin treatment. Two separate Delphi-panels were performed in three and two rounds, respectively, one concerning tests taken in primary health care centres, involving 34 GPs and 10 registered nurses, and one concerning tests taken in patients' homes, involving 49 district nurses. RESULTS: In the primary health care panel 10 of the 34 GPs regularly collaborated with a registered nurse. Average time for one monitoring episode was estimated to 10.1 minutes for a GP and 21.4 minutes for a nurse, when a nurse assisted a doctor. The average time for monitoring was 17.6 minutes for a GP when not assisted by a nurse. Considering all the monitoring episodes, 11.6% of patient blood samples were taken in the individual patient's home. Average time for such a monitoring episode was estimated to 88.2 minutes. Of all the visits, 8.2% were performed in vain and took on average 44.6 minutes. In both studies, approximately 20 different elements of work concerning management of patients during warfarin treatment were identified. CONCLUSION: Monitoring of patients during treatment with warfarin in primary health care in Sweden involves many elements of work, and demands large resources, especially when tests are taken in the patient's home.

A cost analysis of participation via personal attendance versus telemedicine at a head and neck oncology multidisciplinary team meeting.

Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings are used for establishing diagnosis, for tumour, node, metastasis (TNM) classification and for treatment in head and neck tumour patients in the western region of Sweden. Because of the distances, telemedicine was introduced to link the regional hospital to two of the three district general hospitals (DGHs). We evaluated the costs of presenting patients face to face (FTF) versus via telemedicine. Cost analyses were based on questionnaires completed by patients presented at the MDT meeting. A total of 39 patients were included in the FTF group and 45 patients in the telemedicine group. The cost analysis showed that FTF presentation cost SEK 2267 versus SEK 2036 by telemedicine (difference not significant). The small difference was explained by the fact that the responsible physician accompanied only six of 39 patients when presented FTF, but when presented via telemedicine the DGH physician always participated. A sensitivity analysis revealed that if the responsible physician always accompanied his/her patient for presentation FTF, the cost would be SEK 5366 per patient. This study shows that costs may be saved by carrying out MDT meetings by means of telemedicine instead of FTF.

Occurrence and quality of anticoagulant treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation in primary health care in Sweden: a retrospective study on electronic patient records.

BACKGROUND: Chronic atrial fibrillation is a prevalent cardiac disorder. The literature indicates varying proportions of those treated with anticoagulants, and varying intensity of anticoagulation. Electronic patient records are providing us with clinical data concerning management of anticoagulant treatment in real-life practice that is useful for audits. We aimed to assess warfarin treatment for chronic atrial fibrillation in primary health care with regard to prevalence, incidence, the proportion treated and the quality of anticoagulation control. METHODS: Five primary health care centres in Stockholm with a registered population of 75146 participated in a one-year retrospective study of electronic patient records up until May 2000. All patients over 18 years of age with an encounter labelled 'Atrial fibrillation' were identified, and all records of patients on warfarin treatment were manually reviewed. Main outcome measures were number of patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, number of patients on wafarin treatment, and time within the therapeutic prothrombin range. RESULTS: In total, 419 patients had chronic atrial fibrillation, giving a prevalence of 0.60% (age-adjusted 0.62%), the age group 65 years or older accounted for 91.6%, and 50.1% were women. Out of these, 50.4% (211 patients) were established on warfarin treatment for chronic atrial fibrillation (0.28% of the population), and there was a predominance of men (p = 0.02). Fifty-four patients started treatment with warfarin for chronic atrial fibrillation (0.07% of the population). Among 25 randomly selected patients on established treatment, the proportion of time within the therapeutic range was 70.2%. Among 24 randomly selected patients starting treatment, the proportion of time with therapeutic values was 54.2% and 66.9% the first and second months of treatment, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic atrial fibrillation is common among the elderly in primary health care, and about half of these patients are treated with warfarin. It appears to be under-diagnosed, and may also be under-treated. About two thirds of treatment time is spent within the therapeutic range, and further improvement of the quality of anticoagulation control with warfarin may therefore be hard to achieve.

Anticoagulant treatment in primary health care in Sweden - prevalence, incidence and treatment diagnosis: a retrospective study on electronic patient records in a registered population.

BACKGROUND: The indications for warfarin treatment in primary health care are increasing. An undertreatment with warfarin is reported in the prevention of embolic stroke in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, and can be suspected for other indications. Information on the prevalence and incidence of diseases treated with warfarin would reveal useful data for audits concerning management of anticoagulant treatment. We aimed to assess warfarin treatment in primary health care with regard to prevalence, incidence, treatment diagnosis and patient characteristics. METHODS: A one-year retrospective study of electronic patient records up to May 2000 in primary health care in Stockholm, Sweden. Five primary health care centres with a registered population of 75 146. Main outcome measures were prevalence, incidence and treatment diagnosis. RESULTS: Five hundred and seven patients, mean age 71.9 years, were on warfarin treatment. The prevalence was 0.67% (age-adjusted 0.75%), and it was significantly higher for men (0.78%) than for women (0.58%) (p = 0.01). In the age group 75-84 years the prevalence was 4.54%. The most prevalent treatment diagnosis was chronic atrial fibrillation (0.28%), which was more predominant for males (p = 0.02), followed by cerebrovascular disease (0.13%) and deep venous thrombosis (0.13%). The yearly incidence of warfarin treatment was 0.17%, with chronic atrial fibrillation as the predominant treatment diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Warfarin treatment in primary health care is prevalent among the elderly. Chronic atrial fibrillation is the main treatment diagnosis. There is a gender difference favouring men in general and chronic atrial fibrillation as the treatment diagnosis.

Impact of short periods with worsened or improved INR control on life expectancy and QALYs in patients with atrial fibrillation.

INTRODUCTION: Warfarin-treated patients with poor international normalized ratio (INR) control, measured with time in therapeutic range (TTR) or the standard deviation of transformed INR (SDTINR), have an increased risk for clinical events. To what extent only a short period with an altered INR control may influence outcomes remains unknown. This study assessed the impact of transient periods of worsened or improved INR control on life expectancy and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) among warfarin-treated patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) using both metrics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Warfarin-treated patients with AF, registered in the patient record system Journalia during years 1985-2000, were included. Information on all-cause mortality was collected from the Cause of Death Register. Hypothetical scenarios where patients were assumed to have a transiently altered INR control during 30days were modeled statistically using hazard functions, and the impact on remaining life expectancy and QALYs was assessed. RESULTS: When using SDTINR, a 70-year old man within the 20th best INR control percentile was estimated to lose 7.4days of life or 0.0100 QALYs from a 30-day long worsened INR control to that of an average 70-year old male patient. Correspondingly, 4.0days of life or 0.0059 QALYs would be gained if a 70-year old man within the 20th worst INR control percentile would have an average INR control during 30days. The magnitudes were smaller when TTR was used to determine INR control. CONCLUSIONS: Even short periods of an altered INR control is expected to have impact on life expectancy and QALYs among patients with AF.

Treatment with sorafenib and sunitinib in renal cell cancer: a Swedish register-based study.

Sorafenib and sunitinib are used for renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The objective was to study the treatment duration and time to death in Swedish RCC patients on sorafenib or sunitinib as first-line or monotherapy or as sequential therapy. Patients with an RCC diagnosis were identified in the Swedish Cancer Register. Information on treatment with sorafenib and sunitinib was collected from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register, and time of death from the Cause of Death Register. Outcome measures were duration of treatment and time to death on sorafenib or sunitinib as first-line or monotherapy and sequential therapy (sorafenib-sunitinib versus sunitinib-sorafenib). Poisson regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI). No difference was observed for sorafenib (n = 123 patients) versus sunitinib (n = 261 patients) in treatment duration (HR 1.00; CI 0.80-1.24) or risk for death (HR 1.30; CI 0.91-1.85) when used as first-line or monotherapy. The same applied for sequential therapy with sorafenib-sunitinib (n = 43 patients) versus sunitinib-sorafenib (n = 54 patients), HR 1.47 (CI 0.71-3.02) and HR 2.01 (CI 0.86-4.68), respectively. There was a difference between the two treatments in how the duration of first-line treatment influenced the duration of second-line treatment and time to death, in favor of starting with sorafenib. In conclusion, no difference was detected between sorafenib and sunitinib in the duration of treatment or time to death when used as first-line or monotherapy. The impact of the duration of first-line treatment differed between the two sequences, and the results indicated that sorafenib as first-line treatment is a favorable choice.

Opioid rotation in patients initiated on oxycodone or morphine: a register study.

PURPOSE: Strong opioids are recommended for the treatment of moderate to severe pain. However, some patients do not achieve a successful treatment outcome due to intolerable adverse events and/or inadequate analgesia, thus may benefit from switching to another opioid, a procedure known as "opioid rotation." The type of opioid at treatment initiation may influence the risk of opioid rotation and the objective of this study was to assess such rotation after treatment initiation with two alternative treatments, controlled-release (CR) oxycodone versus CR morphine in patients suffering from non-cancer pain. METHOD: The study reported here was a real-life study based on Swedish register data: the Prescribed Drug, National Patient, and Cause of Death registers. The captured data cover the entire Swedish population treated in specialist care. A statistical analysis plan was agreed and signed before data were accessed. RESULTS: Data from 50,223 cases were included in the analyses. The risk of rotation was 19% higher in patients initiating treatment with morphine compared with oxycodone (hazard ratio 1.19; 95% confidence interval 1.11-1.27; P < 0.001), after adjusting for such baseline variables that were both significantly correlated with the outcome variable (time to rotation) and significantly different between the groups; age at index date, osteoarthritis and number of pain-related drugs. CONCLUSION: Patients with non-cancer pain who initiated treatment with CR morphine had a higher risk of opioid rotation than patients initiated with CR oxycodone.

Atrial fibrillation: the cost of illness in Sweden.

AIM: To provide an estimate of the annual cost of atrial fibrillation (AF) in Sweden. METHODS: Prevalence-based cost analysis of AF in Sweden for 2007. Direct medical (hospitalizations, hospital outpatient care, primary health care, non-pharmacological interventions, pharmaceuticals, and anticoagulation monitoring) and non-medical (transportation associated with health care visits) costs of AF, direct costs of AF complications (stroke and heart failure), and indirect costs (production loss), were included. Data were based on Swedish registries, reports and databases, published literature, and an expert panel. RESULTS: There were 100,557 individuals with AF as primary or secondary diagnosis that were either hospitalized or treated in hospital outpatient care in 2007. The total cost of AF was estimated at 708 million. The major cost driver was the direct cost of complications (54%), followed by hospitalization due to AF including AF as secondary diagnosis (18%), and production loss (12%). CONCLUSION: This is a comprehensive, nation-based cost analysis of AF where relevant data were derived from national registries covering the entire Swedish population. The results showed that the annual cost of AF was high in comparison with other diseases, but likely to be underestimated as a conservative approach was applied in the analysis.

Cost-effectiveness of rivaroxaban versus heparins for prevention of venous thromboembolism after total hip or knee surgery in Sweden.

AIMS: The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of rivaroxaban versus the low-molecular-weight heparins (LMWH) enoxaparin and dalteparin for the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) after total hip replacement and total knee replacement in Sweden. METHODS: The model included acute venous thromboembolic events and long-term complications over a 5-year time horizon represented by an acute and a chronic phase with 1-year cycles. Transition probabilities were derived from the Regulation of Coagulation in Orthopaedic Surgery to Prevent Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism (RECORD) clinical trials. RESULTS: In patients undergoing total hip replacement, the incremental cost per additional quality-adjusted life-year of extended prophylaxis for 35 days with rivaroxaban versus 14 days of prophylaxis with enoxaparin or dalteparin was SEK29,400 and SEK35,400, respectively. In total knee replacement patients, 14 days of rivaroxaban dominated 14 days of LMWH as prophylaxis for VTE. CONCLUSION: The results of the economic model consistently showed that, over a 5-year period, rivaroxaban is a cost-effective alternative to 14 days of LMWH for VTE prophylaxis in Sweden.