Burden of COVID-19 during the omicron predominance in Brazil: a nationwide retrospective database study.

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed significant burden on Brazil's health system. This study aimed to examine clinical characteristics, overall vaccine uptake, and to assess healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and costs associated with acute COVID-19 in Brazil during the Omicron predominant period. METHODS: A nationwide retrospective study was conducted using various Brazilian databases including, COVID-19 related databases, public health systems, and other surveillance/demographic datasets. Individuals with positive COVID-19 test results between January 1 2022 and April 30 2022, during Omicron BA.1/BA.2 wave, were identified. Patients' demographics, vaccine uptake, HCRU and corresponding costs were described by age groups. RESULTS: A total of 8,160,715 (3.80%) COVID-19 cases were identified in the study cohort, ranging from 2.43% in <5 years to 62.05% in 19-49 years. The uptake of partial (Dose 1) or full immunization (Dose 2) was less than 0.1% in children aged <5 years, whereas in individuals ≥ 19 years, it exceeded 89.78% for Dose 1 and 84.07% for Dose 2. Overall booster vaccine uptake was 38.06%, which was significantly higher among individuals aged ≥ 65 years, surpassing 74.79%. Regardless of vaccination status, 87.2% cases were symptomatic, and 1.48% were hospitalized due to acute COVID-19 (<5 years: 2.33%, 5-11 years: 0.99%, 12-18 years: 0.32%, 19-49 years: 0.40%; 50-64 years: 1.50%, 65-74 years: 5.43%, and ≥ 75 years: 17.89%). Among the hospitalized patients (n = 120,450), 32.57% were admitted to ICU, of whom 31,283 (79.75%) individuals required mechanical ventilation (MV) support. The average cost per day in normal ward and ICU without MV in public/general hospital settings was $104.36 and $302.81, respectively. While average cost per day in normal ward and ICU with MV was $75.91 and $301.22 respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study quantified the burden of COVID-19 in Brazil, suggesting substantial healthcare resources required to manage the COVID-19 pandemic.

Reply letter to "response to article by Johnna Perdrizet et al." by Gomez and colleagues.

This communication seeks to address the questions and criticisms issued by Gomez and colleagues in their letter on our original study "Cost-effectiveness analysis of replacing the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in Brazil infants." Gomez and colleagues are concerned that the assumptions used in our model may have unintended negative impacts for Brazil decision-making and we intend to clarify any potential misinterpretation of our assessment.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of replacing the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) with the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) in Brazil infants.

Brazil currently has a 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV10) pediatric national immunization program (NIP). However, in recent years, there has been significant progressive increases in pneumococcal disease attributed to serotypes 3, 6A, and 19A, which are covered by the 13-valent PCV (PCV13). We sought to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of switching from PCV10 to PCV13 for Brazilian infants from a payer perspective. A decision-analytic model was adapted to evaluate the clinical and economic outcomes of continuing PCV10 or switching to PCV13. The analysis estimated future costs ($BRL), quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and health outcomes for PCV10 and PCV13 over 5 y. Input parameters were from published sources. Future serotype dynamics were predicted using Brazilian and global historical trends. Over 5 y, PCV13 could prevent 12,342 bacteremia, 15,330 meningitis, 170,191 hospitalized pneumonia, and 25,872 otitis media cases, avert 13,709 pneumococcal disease deaths, gain 20,317 QALYs, and save 172 million direct costs compared with PCV10. The use of PCV13 in the Brazilian NIP could reduce pneumococcal disease, improve population health, and save substantial health-care costs. Results are reliable even when considering uncertainty for possible serotype dynamics with different underlying assumptions.

Impacto econômico do mieloma múltiplo no sistema privado de saúde do Brasil / The economic impact of multiple myeloma in the Brazilian private health care system

Objetivos: Avaliar o impacto econômico do mieloma múltiplo (MM) no sistema privado de saúde brasileiro. Métodos: A base de dados Orizon, uma base administrativa para fins de reembolso contendo dados de pacientes que realizaram procedimentos médicos em ambiente hospitalizar e ambulatorial, foi analisada retrospectivamente de jan./2013 a ago./2016. A base incluiu pacientes que foram diagnosticados com MM (CID-10 C90.0) durante o período de tempo mencionado e todos os procedimentos subsequentes realizados pelo paciente após o diagnóstico. Foram utilizados como critério de elegibilidade pacientes com MM tratados entre jan./2013 e jun./2015, com acompanhamento de pelo menos 365 dias, tendo pelo menos um registro durante esse período. Os desfechos foram expressos em custos médicos diretos (CMD) por paciente/ano, calculados como a soma dos gastos médicos por paciente divididos por pacientes-ano, por um período máximo de 12 meses. Os CMDs foram categorizados em exames, procedimentos, medicamentos (incluindo quimioterapia e outros tratamentos) e outros custos (materiais, gases medicinais, pacotes e taxas diversas). Foram conduzidas análises adicionais para quimioterapia e internações. Resultados: Dos 1.332 pacientes com MM, 973 atenderam ao critério de elegibilidade, sendo incluídos na análise. O CMD total foi de R$ 124.144 por paciente-ano, do qual R$ 66.757 (54%) são relacionados a medicamentos, R$ 45.474 (37%) a internações e R$ 11.912 (10%) a outros custos ambulatoriais. Um total de 3.050 internações foi identificado em 741 (76%) pacientes, com custo médio de R$ 23.151 por internação. Conclusões: O tratamento do MM representa impacto econômico significativo para operadoras de saúde. Custos de medicamentos e internações representam 90% do custo total.

Objectives: To evaluate the economic impact of multiple myeloma (MM) in the Brazilian private health care system. Methods: The Orizon database, an administrative claims database containing inpatient and outpatient data, was retrospectively analyzed from Jan/2013 to Aug/2016. The database included patients who had been diagnosed with MM (ICD-10 C90.0) during the aforementioned timeframe and all subsequent procedures performed by the patient after the diagnosis. Eligibility criteria were patients with MM (ICD-10 code C90.0) treated between Jan/2013 and Jun/2015, who were followed by at least 365 days (1 year) and had at least one claim during this period. Outcome was direct medical costs (DMC) per patient-year, calculated as the sum of the medical claims for each patient included in the analysis divided by total patient-years, for a maximum period of 12-months. DMC was categorized in exams, procedures, medications (including chemotherapy and other medications) and other cost (materials, medicinal gases, packages and others costs). Further analysis was conducted for chemotherapy and hospitalizations. Results: From 1,332 patients with MM identified in the database, 973 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. Total DMC in this population was R$ 124,144 per patient-year, from which R$ 66,757 (54%) were related to medications, R$ 45,474 (37%) to hospitalizations and R$ 11,912 (10%) to other outpatient costs. A total of 3,050 hospitalizations were identified in 741 (76%) patients, with an average cost of R$ 23,151 per hospitalization. Conclusions: Patients with MM represent a significant economic burden to private payers. Drugs and hospitalization costs accounts for 90% of the total costs.