Estimating the value of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors within the context of contemporary guidelines and the totality of evidence.

AIMS: To comprehensively estimate the cost-effectiveness of sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor usage in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at established clinical review points, incorporating the totality of proven health benefits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study considered the cardio- and reno-protective effects of SGLT2 inhibitors using the Cardiff type 2 diabetes model. Conventional cost-effectiveness evaluations were undertaken for eligible populations at relevant intensification points reflecting the 2022 guidelines versus the 2015 National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines; incremental cost-effectiveness ratio lifetime trajectories and timepoints for complete cost-offset were estimated for each pathway. Treatment effects, utility decrements and costs (applied additively and discounted at 3.5%) were sourced from the published literature. RESULTS: For all subpopulations on treatment pathways reflecting the NG28-2022 guidelines, SGLT2 inhibitor introduction was cost-effective, becoming cost-saving between 2 and 16 years post-initiation. Despite increases in pharmacy costs, predicted lifetime costs were lower than for pathways reflecting the NG28-2015 guidelines, driven by a reduction in heart failure hospitalization and chronic kidney disease costs. Incremental gains in quality-adjusted life years (ranging from 0.58-1.12) resulted in dominance for the updated NG28-2022 guidance in all scenarios. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that SGLT2 inhibitors have the potential to lower healthcare costs while improving health outcomes in eligible patient subpopulations.

Marketing-Stimulated Word-of-Mouth: A Channel for Growing Demand.

Marketing-stimulated word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing has been poorly understood in health care, leading to it being underappreciated and underutilized by marketers. A study of new patients to a new runner's clinic was conducted to understand how they chose the program. The importance of marketing-stimulated WOM, both individual and organizational, is documented. Marketing-stimulated WOM is an often overlooked and rarely measured channel for increasing the impact of marketing programs.