Rabies vaccination strategies in the Netherlands in 2018: a cost evaluation.

BackgroundThe risk of contracting rabies is low for travellers. However, the number of Dutch travellers potentially exposed abroad following an animal-associated injury and needing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) has increased, resulting in increased costs.AimHere, we evaluated the costs and the cost-effectiveness of different pre- and post-exposure interventions in the Netherlands, taking into account the 2018 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations for the prevention of rabies.MethodsA decision tree-based economic model was constructed. We calculated and compared the cost of different WHO pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) recommendations, intramuscular vs intradermal vaccination and PEP subsequent to increased vaccination coverage in risk groups. We estimated cost-effectiveness, expressed as incremental costs per rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) administration averted, using a societal perspective. Statistical uncertainty regarding number of travellers and vaccination coverage was assessed.ResultsTotal costs at the national level were highest using previous WHO recommendations from 2012, estimated at EUR 15.4 million annually. Intradermal vaccinations in combination with the current recommendations led to the lowest costs, estimated at EUR 10.3 million. Higher vaccination uptake resulted in higher overall costs. The incremental costs per RIG administration averted varied from EUR 21,300-46,800.ConclusionsThe change in rabies PrEP and PEP recommendations in 2018 reduced total costs. Strategies with increased pre-travel vaccination uptake led to fewer RIG administrations and fewer vaccinations after exposure but also to higher total costs. Although larger scale intradermal administration of rabies vaccine can reduce total costs of PrEP and can positively influence vaccination uptake, it remains a costly intervention.

A social cost-benefit analysis of two One Health interventions to prevent toxoplasmosis.

In the Netherlands, toxoplasmosis ranks second in disease burden among foodborne pathogens with an estimated health loss of 1,900 Disability Adjusted Life Years and a cost-of-illness estimated at €45 million annually. Therefore, effective and preferably cost-effective preventive interventions are warranted. Freezing meat intended for raw or undercooked consumption and improving biosecurity in pig farms are promising interventions to prevent Toxoplasma gondii infections in humans. Putting these interventions into practice would expectedly reduce the number of infections; however, the net benefits for society are unknown. Stakeholders bearing the costs for these interventions will not necessary coincide with the ones having the benefits. We performed a Social Cost-Benefit Analysis to evaluate the net value of two potential interventions for the Dutch society. We assessed the costs and benefits of the two interventions and compared them with the current practice of education, especially during pregnancy. A 'minimum scenario' and a 'maximum scenario' was assumed, using input parameters with least benefits to society and input parameters with most benefits to society, respectively. For both interventions, we performed different scenario analyses. The freezing meat intervention was far more effective than the biosecurity intervention. Despite high freezing costs, freezing two meat products: steak tartare and mutton leg yielded net social benefits in both the minimum and maximum scenario, ranging from €10.6 million to €31 million for steak tartare and €0.6 million to €1.5 million for mutton leg. The biosecurity intervention would result in net costs in all scenarios ranging from €1 million to €2.5 million, due to high intervention costs and limited benefits. From a public health perspective (i.e. reducing the burden of toxoplasmosis) and the societal perspective (i.e. a net benefit for the Dutch society) freezing steak tartare and leg of mutton is to be considered.

Incidence and economic burden of community-acquired gastroenteritis in the Netherlands: Does having children in the household make a difference?

This study aimed at estimating gastroenteritis (GE) incidence in all age groups of the Netherlands' general population, with special emphasis on the role of children in GE burden, and the associated costs. Monthly from November 2014 to November 2016, a random sample of 2000 residents in the Netherlands was invited to complete a questionnaire on household characteristics and health complaints. We calculated GE incidence rates standardized to the Dutch population and used multivariable logistic regression models to identify potential risk factors. We calculated the costs related to resources used within the healthcare sector, the resources used by patients and their families, and productivity losses (paid worktime) due to GE. The overall standardized incidence rate was 0.81 GE episodes/person-year, with the highest rate in children ≤4 years (1.96 episodes/person-year). GE was observed more often in households with children (≤17 years), especially if children attended out-of-home childcare services, and among individuals with non-native Dutch ethnic background. Less GE was observed among employed persons aged 25-64 years, compared with those unemployed, but the opposite was observed in persons ≥65 years. The average costs per GE episode was €191, resulting in €945 million annual total costs for GE in the Netherlands (€55 per inhabitant). The majority of costs (55%) were attributable to productivity losses of the ill or their caregivers. In conclusion, GE still poses a significant burden, particularly in preschool children and adults living in households with children. Similar to other industrialized countries, the major factor driving the costs due to GE was the loss of productivity. This study also provides up-to-date baseline GE incidence rates and associated societal costs to better contextualize the burden of the disease in support of policy making.

Accounting for long-term manifestations of Cryptosporidium spp infection in burden of disease and cost-of-illness estimations, the Netherlands (2013-2017).

BACKGROUND: Burden of disease (BoD) estimations are increasingly used to prioritize public health interventions. Previous Cryptosporidium BoD models accounted only for acute episodes, while there is increasing evidence of long-term manifestations. Our objective was to update Cryptosporidium BoD and cost-of-illness (COI) models and to estimate BoD and COI for the Netherlands in years 2013-2017. METHODS: We performed a scoping literature review and drew an outcome tree including long-term manifestations for which sufficient evidence was found, such as recurrent diarrhea and joint pain. We chose the Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY) metric to synthesize years of life lost due mortality (YLLs) and years lived with disability due to non-fatal outcomes (YLDs). For the costs, we adopted a societal perspective accounting for direct healthcare costs, patient costs and productivity losses. Uncertainty was managed using Latin Hypercube sampling (30,000 iterations). RESULTS: In the Netherlands in 2017, we estimated 50,000 Cryptosporidium cases (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 15,000-102,000), 7,000 GP visits, 300 hospitalizations and 3 deaths, resulting in 137 DALYs (95%UI: 54-255) and €19.2 million COI (95%UI: €7.2 million- €36.2 million). Estimates were highest for 2016 (218 DALYs and €31.1 million in COI), and lowest in 2013 (100 DALYs and €13.8 million in COI). Most of the BoD was attributable to YLD (≈80% of DALYs). The most important cost was productivity losses (≈90% of total COI). Long-term manifestations, including recurring diarrhea and joint pain, accounted for 9% of the total DALYs and 7% of the total COI. CONCLUSION: Current evidence supports the inclusion of long-term manifestations in Cryptosporidium models, which contribute close to 10% of the total DALYs and costs. This may be an underestimation, as we were conservative in our assumptions. Cryptosporidium should be considered a priority organism with respect to public health surveillance, even in industrialized countries with high hygiene standards.

Microscopic examination of Gram-stained smears for anogenital gonorrhoea in men who have sex with men is cost-effective: evidence from a modelling study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of three testing strategies with or without light microscopic Gram-stained smear (GSS) evaluation for the detection of anogenital gonorrhoea among men who have sex with men (MSM) at the Amsterdam STI clinic using a healthcare payer perspective. METHODS: Three testing strategies for MSM were compared: (1) GSS in symptomatic MSM only (currently practised strategy), (2) no GSS and (3) GSS in symptomatic and asymptomatic MSM. The three testing protocols include testing with nucleic acid amplification test to verify the GSS results in (1) and (3), or as the only test in (2). A transmission model was employed to calculate the influence of the testing strategies on the prevalence of anogenital gonorrhoea over 10 years. An economic model combined cost data on medical consultations, tests and treatment and utility data to estimate the number of epididymitis cases and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) associated with gonorrhoea. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for the testing scenarios were estimated. Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: No GSS testing compared with GSS in symptomatic MSM only (current strategy) resulted in nine extra epididymitis cases (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 2-22), 72 QALYs lost (95% UI: 59-187) and €7300 additional costs (95% UI: -€185 000 (i.e.cost-saving) to €407 000) over 10 years. GSS testing in both symptomatic and asymptomatic MSM compared with GSS in symptomatic MSM only resulted in one prevented epididymitis case (95% UI: 0-2), 1.1 QALY gained (95% UI: 0.1-3.3), €148 000 additional costs (95% UI: €86 000 to-€217 000) and an ICER of €177 000 (95% UI: €67 000-to €705 000) per QALY gained over 10 years. The results were robust in sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSIONS: GSS for symptomatic MSM only is cost-effective compared with no GSS for MSM and with GSS for both symptomatic and asymptomatic MSM.

Cost-effectiveness of screening for chronic hepatitis B and C among migrant populations in a low endemic country.

BACKGROUND: Chronic infection with hepatitis B or C virus (HBV/HCV) can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and even death. In a low endemic country as the Netherlands, migrants are a key risk group and could benefit from early diagnosis and antiviral treatment. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of screening foreign-born migrants for chronic HBV and/or HCV using a societal perspective. METHODS: The cost-effectiveness was evaluated using a Markov model. Estimates on prevalence, screening programme costs, participation and treatment uptake, transition probabilities, healthcare costs, productivity losses and utilities were derived from the literature. The cost per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALY) gained was estimated and sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: For most migrant groups with an expected high number of chronically infected cases in the Netherlands combined screening is cost-effective, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) ranging from €4,962/QALY gained for migrants originating from the Former Soviet Union and Vietnam to €9,375/QALY gained for Polish migrants. HBV and HCV screening proved to be cost-effective for migrants from countries with chronic HBV or HCV prevalence of ≥0.41% and ≥0.22%, with ICERs below the Dutch cost-effectiveness reference value of €20,000/QALY gained. Sensitivity analysis showed that treatment costs influenced the ICER for both infections. CONCLUSIONS: For most migrant populations in a low-endemic country offering combined HBV and HCV screening is cost-effective. Implementation of targeted HBV and HCV screening programmes to increase early diagnosis and treatment is important to reduce the burden of chronic hepatitis B and C among migrants.

Impact of infectious diseases on population health using incidence-based disability-adjusted life years (DALYs): results from the Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe study, European Union and European Economic Area countries, 2009 to 2013.

Background and aimsThe Burden of Communicable Diseases in Europe (BCoDE) study aimed to calculate disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 31 selected diseases in the European Union (EU) and European Economic Area (EEA). Methods: DALYs were estimated using an incidence-based and pathogen-based approach. Incidence was estimated through assessment of data availability and quality, and a correction was applied for under-estimation. Calculation of DALYs was performed with the BCoDE software toolkit without applying time discounting and age-weighting. Results: We estimated that one in 14 inhabitants experienced an infectious disease episode for a total burden of 1.38 million DALYs (95% uncertainty interval (UI): 1.25-1.5) between 2009 and 2013; 76% of which was related to the acute phase of the infection and its short-term complications. Influenza had the highest burden (30% of the total burden), followed by tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection/AIDS and invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD). Men had the highest burden measured in DALYs (60% of the total), adults 65 years of age and over had 24% and children less than 5 years of age had 11%. Age group-specific burden showed that infants (less than 1 year of age) and elderly people (80 years of age and over) experienced the highest burden. Conclusions: These results provide baseline estimates for evaluating infectious disease prevention and control strategies. The study promotes an evidence-based approach to describing population health and assessing surveillance data availability and quality, and provides information for the planning and prioritisation of limited resources in infectious disease prevention and control.

Ebola in the Netherlands, 2014-2015: costs of preparedness and response.

The recent epidemic of Ebola virus disease (EVD) resulted in countries worldwide to prepare for the possibility of having an EVD patient. In this study, we estimate the costs of Ebola preparedness and response borne by the Dutch health system. An activity-based costing method was used, in which the cost of staff time spent in preparedness and response activities was calculated based on a time-recording system and interviews with key professionals at the healthcare organizations involved. In addition, the organizations provided cost information on patient days of hospitalization, laboratory tests, personal protective equipment (PPE), as well as the additional cleaning and disinfection required. The estimated total costs averaged €12.6 million, ranging from €6.7 to €22.5 million. The main cost drivers were PPE expenditures and preparedness activities of personnel, especially those associated with ambulance services and hospitals. There were 13 possible cases clinically evaluated and one confirmed case admitted to hospital. The estimated total cost of EVD preparedness and response in the Netherlands was substantial. Future costs might be reduced and efficiency increased by designating one ambulance service for transportation and fewer hospitals for the assessment of possible patients with a highly infectious disease of high consequences.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Corneal Collagen Crosslinking for Progressive Keratoconus.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the cost effectiveness of corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) for progressive keratoconus from the healthcare payer's perspective. DESIGN: A probabilistic Markov-type model using data from published clinical trials and cohort studies. PARTICIPANTS: Two identical cohorts, each comprising 1000 virtual patients with progressive bilateral keratoconus, were modeled; one cohort underwent CXL and the other cohort received no intervention. METHODS: Both cohorts were modeled and evaluated annually over a lifetime. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), total cost, disease progression, and the probability of corneal transplantation, graft failure, or both were calculated based on data from published trials and cohort studies. These outcomes were compared between the 2 cohorts. In our base scenario, the stabilizing effect of CXL was assumed to be 10 years; however, longer durations also were analyzed. One-way sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), defined as euros per QALY. RESULTS: Assuming a 10-year effect of CXL, the ICER was €54 384/QALY ($59 822/QALY). When we adjusted the effect of CXL to a lifelong stabilizing effect, the ICER decreased to €10 149/QALY ($11 163/QALY). Other sensitivity and scenario analyses that had a relevant impact on ICER included the discount rate, visual acuity before CXL, and healthcare costs. CONCLUSIONS: Corneal collagen crosslinking for progressive keratoconus is cost effective at a willingness-to-pay threshold of 3 times the current gross domestic product (GDP) per capita. Moreover, a longer stabilizing effect of CXL increases cost effectiveness. If CXL had a stabilizing effect on keratoconus of 15 years or longer, then the ICER would be less than the 1 × GDP per capita threshold and thus very cost effective.

The cost of Lyme borreliosis.

Background: Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most frequently reported tick-borne infection in Europe and North America. The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-of-illness of LB in the Netherlands. We used available incidence estimates from 2010 for tick bite consultations and three symptomatic LB outcomes: erythema migrans (EM), disseminated LB and Lyme-related persisting symptoms. The cost was estimated using these incidences and the average cost per patient as derived from a patient questionnaire. We estimated the cost from a societal perspective, including healthcare cost, patient cost and production loss, using the friction cost method and a 4% annual discount rate. Tick bites and LB in 2010 led to a societal cost of €19.3 million (95% CI 15.6-23.4; 16.6 million population) for the Netherlands. Healthcare cost and production loss each constituted 48% of the total cost (€9.3 and €9.2 million/year), and patient cost 4% (€0.8 million/year). Of the total cost, 37% was related to disseminated LB, followed by 27% for persisting symptoms, 22% for tick bites and 14% for EM. Per outcome, for an individual case the mean cost of disseminated LB and Lyme-related persisting symptoms was both around €5700; for EM and GP consultations for tick bites this was €122 and €53. As an alternative to the friction cost method, the human capital method resulted in a total cost of €23.5 million/year. LB leads to a substantial societal cost. Further research should therefore focus on additional preventive interventions.

A Software Tool for Estimation of Burden of Infectious Diseases in Europe Using Incidence-Based Disability Adjusted Life Years.

The burden of disease framework facilitates the assessment of the health impact of diseases through the use of summary measures of population health such as Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). However, calculating, interpreting and communicating the results of studies using this methodology poses a challenge. The aim of the Burden of Communicable Disease in Europe (BCoDE) project is to summarize the impact of communicable disease in the European Union and European Economic Area Member States (EU/EEA MS). To meet this goal, a user-friendly software tool (BCoDE toolkit), was developed. This stand-alone application, written in C++, is open-access and freely available for download from the website of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). With the BCoDE toolkit, one can calculate DALYs by simply entering the age group- and sex-specific number of cases for one or more of selected sets of 32 communicable diseases (CDs) and 6 healthcare associated infections (HAIs). Disease progression models (i.e., outcome trees) for these communicable diseases were created following a thorough literature review of their disease progression pathway. The BCoDE toolkit runs Monte Carlo simulations of the input parameters and provides disease-specific results, including 95% uncertainty intervals, and permits comparisons between the different disease models entered. Results can be displayed as mean and median overall DALYs, DALYs per 100,000 population, and DALYs related to mortality vs. disability. Visualization options summarize complex epidemiological data, with the goal of improving communication and knowledge transfer for decision-making.

Cost-effectiveness of antibiotic treatment strategies for community-acquired pneumonia: results from a cluster randomized cross-over trial.

BACKGROUND: To determine the cost-effectiveness of strategies of preferred antibiotic treatment with beta-lactam/macrolide combination or fluoroquinolone monotherapy compared to beta-lactam monotherapy. METHODS: Costs and effects were estimated using data from a cluster-randomized cross-over trial of antibiotic treatment strategies, primarily from the reduced third payer perspective (i.e. hospital admission costs). Cost-minimization analysis (CMA) and cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) were performed using linear mixed models. CMA results were expressed as difference in costs per patient. CEA results were expressed as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER) showing additional costs per prevented death. RESULTS: A total of 2,283 patients were included. Crude average costs within 90 days from the reduced third payer perspective were €4,294, €4,392, and €4,002 per patient for the beta-lactam monotherapy, beta-lactam/macrolide combination, and fluoroquinolone monotherapy strategy, respectively. CMA results were €106 (95% CI €-697 to €754) for the beta-lactam/macrolide combination strategy and €-278 (95%CI €-991 to €396) for the fluoroquinolone monotherapy strategy, both compared to the beta-lactam monotherapy strategy. The ICER was not statistically significantly different between the strategies. Other perspectives yielded similar results. CONCLUSIONS: There were no significant differences in cost-effectiveness of strategies of preferred antibiotic treatment of CAP on non-ICU wards with either beta-lactam monotherapy, beta-lactam/macrolide combination therapy, or fluoroquinolone monotherapy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01660204 , on May 2nd, 2012.

The economic burden of a Salmonella Thompson outbreak caused by smoked salmon in the Netherlands, 2012-2013.

Background: In 2012, the Netherlands experienced the most extensive food-related outbreak of Salmonella ever recorded. It was caused by smoked salmon contaminated with Salmonella Thompson during processing. In total, 1149 cases of salmonellosis were laboratory confirmed and reported to RIVM. Twenty percent of cases was hospitalised and four cases were reported to be fatal. The purpose of this study was to estimate total costs of the Salmonella Thompson outbreak. Methods: Data from a case-control study were used to estimate the cost-of-illness of reported cases (i.e. healthcare costs, patient costs and production losses). Outbreak control costs were estimated based on interviews with staff from health authorities. Using the Dutch foodborne disease burden and cost-of-illness model, we estimated the number of underestimated cases and the associated cost-of-illness. Results: The estimated number of cases, including reported and underestimated cases was 21 123. Adjusted for underestimation, the total cost-of-illness would be €6.8 million (95% CI €2.5-€16.7 million) with productivity losses being the main cost driver. Adding outbreak control costs, the total outbreak costs are estimated at €7.5 million. Conclusion: In the Netherlands, measures are taken to reduce salmonella concentrations in food, but detection of contamination during food processing remains difficult. As shown, Salmonella outbreaks have the potential for a relatively high disease and economic burden for society. Early warning and close cooperation between the industry, health authorities and laboratories is essential for rapid detection, control of outbreaks, and to reduce disease and economic burden.

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.

Evolution of Costs of Inflammatory Bowel Disease over Two Years of Follow-Up.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing use of anti-TNF therapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a shift of costs has been observed with medication costs replacing hospitalization and surgery as major cost driver. We aimed to explore the evolution of IBD-related costs over two years of follow-up. METHODS AND FINDINGS: In total 1,307 Crohn's disease (CD) patients and 915 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients were prospectively followed for two years by three-monthly web-based questionnaires. Changes of healthcare costs, productivity costs and out-of-pocket costs over time were assessed using mixed model analysis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify costs drivers. In total 737 CD patients and 566 UC were included. Total costs were stable over two years of follow-up, with annual total costs of €7,835 in CD and €3,600 in UC. However, within healthcare costs, the proportion of anti-TNF therapy-related costs increased from 64% to 72% in CD (p<0.01) and from 31% to 39% in UC (p < 0.01). In contrast, the proportion of hospitalization costs decreased from 19% to 13% in CD (p<0.01), and 22% to 15% in UC (p < 0.01). Penetrating disease course predicted an increase of healthcare costs (adjusted odds ratio (adj. OR) 1.95 (95% CI 1.02-3.37) in CD and age <40 years in UC (adj. OR 4.72 (95% CI 1.61-13.86)). CONCLUSIONS: BD-related costs remained stable over two years. However, the proportion of anti-TNF-related healthcare costs increased, while hospitalization costs decreased. Factors associated with increased costs were penetrating disease course in CD and age <40 in UC.

Disease Burden of 32 Infectious Diseases in the Netherlands, 2007-2011.

BACKGROUND: Infectious disease burden estimates provided by a composite health measure give a balanced view of the true impact of a disease on a population, allowing the relative impact of diseases that differ in severity and mortality to be monitored over time. This article presents the first national disease burden estimates for a comprehensive set of 32 infectious diseases in the Netherlands. METHODS AND FINDINGS: The average annual disease burden was computed for the period 2007-2011 for selected infectious diseases in the Netherlands using the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) measure. The pathogen- and incidence-based approach was adopted to quantify the burden due to both morbidity and premature mortality associated with all short and long-term consequences of infection. Natural history models, disease progression probabilities, disability weights, and other parameters were adapted from previous research. Annual incidence was obtained from statutory notification and other surveillance systems, which was corrected for under-ascertainment and under-reporting. The highest average annual disease burden was estimated for invasive pneumococcal disease (9444 DALYs/year; 95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 8911-9961) and influenza (8670 DALYs/year; 95% UI: 8468-8874), which represents 16% and 15% of the total burden of all 32 diseases, respectively. The remaining 30 diseases ranked by number of DALYs/year from high to low were: HIV infection, legionellosis, toxoplasmosis, chlamydia, campylobacteriosis, pertussis, tuberculosis, hepatitis C infection, Q fever, norovirus infection, salmonellosis, gonorrhoea, invasive meningococcal disease, hepatitis B infection, invasive Haemophilus influenzae infection, shigellosis, listeriosis, giardiasis, hepatitis A infection, infection with STEC O157, measles, cryptosporidiosis, syphilis, rabies, variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, tetanus, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, and poliomyelitis. The very low burden for the latter five diseases can be attributed to the National Immunisation Programme. The average disease burden per individual varied from 0.2 (95% UI: 0.1-0.4) DALYs per 100 infections for giardiasis, to 5081 and 3581 (95% UI: 3540-3611) DALYs per 100 infections for rabies and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: For guiding and supporting public health policy decisions regarding the prioritisation of interventions and preventive measures, estimates of disease burden and the comparison of burden between diseases can be informative. Although the collection of disease-specific parameters and estimation of incidence is a process subject to continuous improvement, the current study established a baseline for assessing the impact of future public health initiatives.

Self-reported Health Care Utilization of Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease Correlates Perfectly with Medical Records.

BACKGROUND: Studies on the costs of health care in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are increasingly conducted through the collection of self-reported data. We aimed to assess the concordance between estimated annual costs based on self-reported health care utilization and administrative data in IBD. METHODS: Consecutive patients with Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis visiting the outpatient clinic were enrolled. Participants were asked to fill out a questionnaire on their IBD-specific health care utilization over the past year. Registered health care utilization over the same time period was extracted from medical records. Health care resources were multiplied by their unit prices to obtain costs. Cost estimates were compared, and correlation, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. RESULTS: In total, 101 patients (70 Crohn's disease, 31 ulcerative colitis) were enrolled. Mean direct health care costs were &OV0556;4758 per year according to self-reported data and &OV0556;4866 according to administrative data (r = 0.97). Hospitalizations and diagnostics were relatively underreported with a sensitivity of 75% and 88%, and a specificity of 100% and 88%, respectively. One of 7 surgical procedures was overreported, and only 1 of 25 patients did not report the use of anti-tumor necrosis factor compounds. Suffering from a flare or having a pouch predicted a decreased recall with an adjusted odds ratio of 3.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.3-9.6) and 10.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.1-107.6), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We report a high concordance between costs of self-reported health care utilization and administrative data over the past year in IBD. Self-reported health care utilization reliably measures the consumption of health care in IBD.

Design of the PROUD study: PCR faeces testing in outpatients with diarrhoea.

BACKGROUND: Infectious intestinal disease (IID) is an important cause of morbidity in developed countries and a frequent reason for general practitioner (GP) consultation. In recent years polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based techniques have gradually replaced conventional enteropathogen detection techniques like microscopy and culture in primary care patients suspected of IID. PCR features testing of multiple enteropathogens in a single faecal sample with shorter turnaround times and greater sensitivity compared to conventional techniques. However, the associated costs and benefits have not been quantified. Furthermore, primary care incidence and prevalence estimates of enteropathogens associated with IID are sparsely available and predominantly based on conventional techniques. The PROUD-study (PCR diagnostics in Outpatients with Diarrhoea) determines: 1) health (care) effects and 2) cost-effectiveness of PCR introduction in primary care patients suspected of IID; 3) occurrence of major enteropathogens in primary care patients suspected of IID. METHODS: A before-after cohort study will be performed of patients with suspected IID consulting a GP in the Utrecht General Practitioner Network (UGPN), covering the before period (2010-2011) with conventional testing and the after period (2013-2014) with PCR testing. Prospective study data on patient characteristics and primary outcome measures (i.e. healthcare use and disease outcome) will be collected from electronic patient and laboratory records in 2015 and 2016. The effect of PCR introduction is investigated by comparing the primary outcome measures and their associated healthcare costs between the conventional period and the PCR period, and is followed by a cost-effectiveness analysis. To determine the occurrence of enteropathogens associated with IID in primary care, routine care faeces samples from the year 2014 will be screened using PCR. DISCUSSION: The PROUD-study will quantify the costs and effects of the introduction of PCR techniques for enteropathogens in primary care patients suspected of IID and generate up-to-date and sensitive estimates of enteropathogen occurrence among primary care patients.

Comparison of Costs and Quality of Life in Ulcerative Colitis Patients with an Ileal Pouch-Anal Anastomosis, Ileostomy and Anti-TNFα Therapy.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: More data are warranted on the economic impact of different treatment strategies in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients. We compared the costs and quality of life of UC patients with a pouch reconstruction, an ileostomy or anti-tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα) therapy. METHODS: UC patients filled out 3-monthly questionnaires for 2 years. Differences in 3-monthly healthcare costs, productivity costs and patient costs were tested using mixed model analysis. Quality of life was assessed employing the ) and the inflammatory bowel disease questionnaire (IBDQ). RESULTS: Out of 915 UC patients, 81 (9%) had a pouch and 48 (5%) an ileostomy, and 34 (4%) were on anti-TNFα therapy. Anti-TNFα-treated patients reported high UC related-healthcare costs per 3 months (€5350). Medication use accounted for 92% of healthcare costs. UC-attributable healthcare costs were 3-fold higher in ileostomy patients compared with pouch patients (€1581 versus €407; p < 0.01). Main cost drivers in ileostomy patients were healthcare costs and ileostomy supplies (2 and 23% of healthcare costs, respectively). In pouch patients, the main cost driver was hospitalization, accounting for 50% of healthcare costs. Productivity loss did not differ between pouch and ileostomy patients (€483 versus €377; p < 0.23), but was significantly higher in anti-TNFα-treated patients (€1085). No difference was found in IBDQ scores, but pouch patients were found to have higher quality-adjusted life years than ileostomy patients and anti-TNFα-treated patients (0.90 [interquartile range 0.78-1.00] versus 0.84 [0.78-1.00] and 0.84 [0.69-1.00], respectively; p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Patients receiving anti-TNFα therapy reported the highest healthcare cost, in which medication use was the major cost driver. Ileostomy patients were three times more expensive than pouch patients due to frequent hospitalization and ileostomy supplies.