The cost of total hip replacement: a multicentric TDABC comparison in Brazil / O custo da artroplastia de quadril: uma comparação multicêntrica TDABC no Brasil

Objective: Monitoring costs is critical in searching for a more effective healthcare system. This study aimed to comprehend the care pathway and measure the costs associated with hip replacement surgeries in different hospitals in Brazil. Methods: The time-driven activity-based costing method was applied for cost data collection and analyses. Data on 62 patients were retrieved from five public hospitals. A descriptive cost analysis was followed by a comprehensive analysis of the variability in each hospital's care process, leading to suggestions for cost-saving opportunities along with the surgical care pathway. As a final analysis, the cost of surgical treatment was contrasted with the national reimbursement fee. Results: The mean cost per patient of the total sample was $5,784 (MIN-MAX $2,525.9-$9,557.8). Pre- and post-surgery hospitalization periods demonstrated the highest variability in length of time and resource consumption among centers. Compared to the national best practice fee, the average cost per inpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA) pathway from all six hospitals was approximately 7x the national reimbursement. Conclusion: The application of the TDABC allowed us to identify differences in the surgical care pathway among hospitals, which could be explored in further studies aimed at designing a benchmark surgical pathway. Differences in how the treatment is delivered to patients also justified the high-cost variability among centers.

Objetivo: O custo do monitoramento é um elemento-chave na busca contínua por um sistema de saúde mais eficaz. O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender a trajetória assistencial e mensurar os custos associados às cirurgias de artroplastia do quadril em diferentes hospitais do Brasil. Métodos: O método de custeio baseado em atividades orientado pelo tempo foi aplicado para a coleta e análise de dados de custos. Os dados de 62 pacientes foram recuperados de cinco hospitais públicos. Uma análise descritiva de custos foi seguida por uma análise abrangente da variabilidade no processo de atendimento de cada hospital, levando a sugestões de oportunidades de redução de custos junto com a via de atendimento cirúrgico. Como análise final, o custo do tratamento cirúrgico foi contrastado com o valor de reembolso nacional. Resultados: O custo médio por paciente da amostra total foi de $ 5.784 (MIN-MAX $ 2.525,9-$ 9.557,8). Os períodos de internação pré e pós-operatórios demonstraram a maior variabilidade no tempo e no consumo de recursos entre os centros. Em comparação com o reembolso nacional de melhores práticas, o custo médio por cirurgia de prótese de quadril de paciente internado de todos os seis hospitais foi de aproximadamente 7x o reembolso nacional. Conclusão: A aplicação do TDABC nos permitiu identificar diferenças na via de atendimento cirúrgico entre hospitais, o que poderia ser explorado em estudos futuros que visem projetar uma via cirúrgica de referência. As diferenças na forma como o tratamento está sendo entregue aos pacientes também contribuíram para justificar a alta variabilidade dos custos entre os centros.

Guidelines for Utility Measurement for Economic Analysis: The Brazilian Policy.

INTRODUCTION: Health-related quality of life is expressed in utilities, also referred to as utility estimates or parameters. Considerations about the source and type of utility values are especially important in a modeling context, where the lack of transparency, including the lack of a hierarchy for utility data sources, is a major issue to any estimation and can potentially compromise model reliability. OBJECTIVES: This document aims to present the first version of the Brazilian guidelines for utility measurement to support economic analysis. METHODS: A virtual workshop and a modified Delphi panel with 10 health technology specialists followed a rapid evaluation of 110 technical documents and indexed publications. The recommendations are based on the proposition that has received the most votes, although contentious issues are addressed in the suggestion or discussion. The rationale for the final decision is included in the text. RESULTS: The consensus includes 50 recommendations with the following topics: Transparency and Reliability, Model Design, Conditions Under Which Generic Questionnaires Are Not Sensible or Valid, Utility Evidence Hierarchy, Utility Data Searching, Modeling Utility Values, Extrapolating Quality Adjusted Life-Years for Models With Lifetime Horizons, Caregiver Utility, Utility Data Synthesis, Quality/Certainty of the Evidence, and Utility Estimates in End-of-Life Conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The goal of this project is to create unified national standards for using utility metrics in economic analysis in Brazil. This set of recommendations is not obligatory, but it is meant to serve as a guide and lead to the development of better and more transparent economic models in the country.

Time-driven activity-based costing as a strategy to increase efficiency: An analyses of interventional coronary procedures.

Monitoring the costs is one of the key components underlying value-based health care. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-saving opportunities of interventional coronary procedures (ICPs). Data from 90 patients submitted to elective ICP were evaluated in five Brazilian hospitals. Time-driven activity-based costing, that guides the cost estimates using the time consumed and the capacity cost rates per resource as the data input, was used to assess costs and the time spent over the care pathway. Descriptive cost analyses were followed by a labour cost-saving estimate potentially achieved by the redesign of the ICP pathway. The mean cost per patient varied from $807 to $2639. The length of the procedure phase per patient was similar among the hospitals, while the post-procedure phase presented the highest variation in length. The highest direct cost saving opportunities are concentrated in the procedure phase. By comparing the benchmark service with the most expensive one, it was estimated that redesigning physician practices could decrease 51% of the procedure cost. This application is pioneered in Brazil and demonstrates how detailed cost information can contribute to driving health care management to value by identifying cost-saving opportunities.

The use of micro-costing in an economic analysis of allogeneic HSCT in Brazil / O uso do microcusteio na análise econômica do TCTH alogênico no Brasil

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi estimar os custos do tratamento do transplante de células--tronco hematopoéticas (TCTH) em um centro de referência no Brasil. Métodos: A população do estudo foi composta por pacientes provenientes da lista de TCTH do Sistema Único de Saúde submetidos ao TCTH em um hospital do sul do Brasil, entre 2016 e 2019. A avaliação de custos foi realizada por meio de um estudo de microcusteio, baseado no Time-Driven Activity-based Costing (TDABC) adaptado para estudos econômicos em saúde e incluiu as seguintes etapas: definição da questão de pesquisa, coleta de dados estruturada e análise estatística dos resultados. Resultados: O custo total do TCTH foi de $ 155.110 ($ 92.794 ­ $ 249.146 USD). O TCTH de doador não aparentado compatível foi mais caro do que o TCTH de doador aparentado compatível. Os principais fatores de custo envolvem complicações pós-transplante, principalmente a ocorrência de infecções. Em relação à composição dos custos, exames e procedimentos representam o maior custo em TCTH (45%). Conclusão: Essas estimativas podem ser aplicáveis a novas avaliações de custo-efetividade do TCTH e ajudar os gestores na tomada de decisão em saúde, especialmente em países de média renda

Objective: The objective of this study was to estimate treatment costs of Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at a reference center in Brazil. Methods: The study population consisted of patients from the Unified Health System HSCT who underwent HSCT in southern Brazil between 2016 and 2019. Costs were measured using a micro-costing approach, based on Time-Driven Activity-based Costing (TDABC) adapted for economic studies in health and included the following steps: definition of the research question, structured data collection, and statistical analysis of results. Results: The total cost of HSCT was $155,110 ($92,794 ­ $249,146 USD). Matched unrelated donor HSCT was more expensive than matched related donor HSCT. The major cost factors involve post- -transplant complications, mainly the occurrence of infections. Concerning cost composition, exams and procedures represent the largest expense in HSCT (45%). Conclusion: These estimates could be applicable to further evaluations for HSCT cost-effectiveness and help healthcare decision-makers in middle-income countries

Subjective global nutritional assessment: applicability in children and adolescents with malignant tumors

Introduction: This study investigated the applicability of the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) tool to evaluate the nutritional status of pediatric cancer patients. Methods: This was a multicenter, observational cohort study of infants, children, and adolescents diagnosed with malignant tumors. Participants were evaluated at the moment they were diagnosed with a malignant tumor (EV1) and at the third month of treatment (EV2). Objective data were collected and the SGNA questionnaire was applied. Correlation between the methods was performed using the Kendall test. Results: We evaluated 216 patients at EV1 and 172 patients at EV2. During EV1, 7% of patients presented with some degree of malnutrition, according to objective measures, and 35.7% according to the SGNA. During EV2, they presented 6.4% and 26.8%, respectively. The SGNA showed ability to diagnose more malnutrition than objective indicators and the agreement found between both methods was moderate and weak. We observed a significant correlation between the SGNA and the nutritional indicators (p = <0.002), thus proving its efficacy in assessing nutritional status. Conclusion: The SGNA was applicable for evaluating the nutritional status of children and adolescents diagnosed with malignant tumors, and effective in tracking malnutrition prevalence when compared to objective nutritional assessment methods. (AU)

Development and validation of a questionnaire for the assessment of the knowledge, management and reporting ADR in paediatrics by healthcare teams (QUESA-P).

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to develop and validate a new instrument called Questionnaire for the assessment of the knowledge, management and reporting ADR in Paediatrics by Healthcare teams (QUESA-P). DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Teams of healthcare professionals (HCP) that lead with pharmacological therapy in Paediatrician's sector (Paediatric-HCP) in seven public hospitals in Brazil. OUTCOME: An assessment of the knowledge and current management of ADR in Paediatric-HCP. METHODS: We developed and validated QUESA-P, using a standardised procedure which included item development and psychometric prevalidation using Cronbach's Alpha, item-total correlation and test-retest validity for internal consistency and reliability. External criterion was used as criterion validation (the instrument was applied to the focus group expert vs focus group team of Paediatric-HCP in hospitals). The focus group of experts who participated in psychometrics was asked to respond to the QUESA-P twice in order to assess test-retest reliability. The content validity of the initial questionnaire was assessed by the Delphi method and pilot test. Subsequently, we made minor revisions and finalized the QUESA-P RESULTS: Selection of domains and facets were based on literature review made in duplicate by authors. Content validity was done by trial of different examiners (panellists, n=16), conducting analysis through Delphi method (three rounds). The QUESA-P was constructed with three domains. The intraclass correlations (0.80) and the Cronbach's alpha coefficient (0.82), indicated adequate test-retest reliability and internal consistency for each domain. The application of the QUESA to 61 Paediatric-HCP in hospital resulted in lower mean score of 42.1 ± 3.4 in all domains when compared with expert teams (n= 46) 48.2 ± 3.7 (p <0.001) indicating that the instrument is valid to discriminate QUESA experts and Paediatric-HCP. CONCLUSION: The selected domains can be used to check weaknesses in the identification, management and reporting of suspected ADR by Paediatric-HCP in Brazil.

An 8-step framework for implementing time-driven activity-based costing in healthcare studies.

Micro-costing studies still deserving for methods orientation that contribute to achieve a patient-specific resource use level of analysis. Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) is often employed by health organizations in micro-costing studies with that objective. However, the literature shows many deviations in the implementation of TDABC, which might compromise the accuracy of the results obtained. One reason for that can be attributed to the non-existence of a step-by-step orientation to conduct cost analytics with the TDABC specific for micro-costing studies in healthcare. This article aimed at exploring the literature and practical cases to propose an eight-step framework to apply TDABC in micro-costing studies for health care organizations. The 8-step TDABC framework is presented and detailed exploring online spreadsheets already coded to demonstrate data structure and math formula building. A list of analyses that can be performed is suggested, including an explanation about the information that each analysis can provide to increase the organization capability to orient decision making. The case study developed show that actual micro-costing of health care processes can be achieved with the 8-step TDABC framework and its use in future researches can contribute to increase the number of studies that achieve high-quality level in cost information, and consequently, in health resource evaluation.

Estudos de Microcusteio aplicados a avaliações econômicas em saúde: uma proposta metodológica para o Brasil / Microcosting methods applied to health economic assessment: a Brazilian methods guideline

Objetivo: No cenário da avaliação de tecnologias em saúde (ATS), as estimativas de custos são um fator crítico no desenvolvimento das avaliações econômicas completas, especialmente pelo uso de diferentes metodologias de custeio. A fim de contribuir com a acurácia dos dados de custos usados nessas análises, este artigo sugere recomendações para apuração de custos em saúde no Brasil. Métodos: Reuniram-se pesquisadores de ATS de diferentes expertises e centros de pesquisa do Brasil, e ao longo de dois anos foram conduzidas revisões da literatura nacional e internacional e discussões sobre as formas de abordar a temática. Três simpósios foram realizados reunindo os pesquisadores com o propósito de alcançar o consenso entre os autores sobre as melhores recomendações para a realização de estudos de Microcusteio. Resultados: Consolidou-se em forma de uma recomendação este artigo que representa uma versão compacta da diretriz completa a ser publicada pela Rede Brasileira de Avaliação de Tecnologias em Saúde. A metodologia de Microcusteio é considerada como padrão-ouro para a identificação dos custos em saúde. Os métodos de definição do estudo, coleta e análise de dados apresentados são descritos de modo a permitir uma valoração dos custos validada e homogênea, principalmente para o uso dessa informação em avaliações econômicas de saúde. Conclusão: Essa recomendação tem o propósito de aumentar a acurácia das estimativas dos custos de saúde no nosso meio e homogeneizar a comunicação entre estudos conduzidos por diferentes grupos de pesquisa. Por fim, é esperado que a utilização dessas recomendações contribua para que as decisões baseadas em dados econômicos sejam mais acuradas e equânimes quando da incorporação de tecnologias no país.

Objective: In the context of health technology assessment (HTA), cost estimates are a critical factor in the development of economic evaluations, especially through the use of different costing methodologies. In order to contribute to the accuracy of the cost data used in these analyzes, this article suggests recommendations to develop health cost analysis in Brazil. Methods: HTA researchers with heterogeneous background and from different Brazilian research centers were engaged on the development of this health cost analysis recommendation over two years. Reviews of national and international literature and discussions on how to approach the theme were conducted. Three symposia were held bringing together the researchers with the purpose of reaching consensus among the authors on the best recommendations for micro-accounting studies. Results: This article was consolidated as a recommendation, which represents a compact version of the complete guideline that will be published by the Brazilian Health Technology Assessment Network (REBRATS). The Microcosting methodology is considered as a gold standard for the analysis of health costs. Methods to define the study, to perform data collection and analysis are described in order to allow a validated and homogeneous cost evaluation, mainly for the use of this information in economic health assessments. Conclusion: This recommendation is intended to increase the health cost estimated accuracy in our country and to homogenize the communication between studies conducted by different research groups. Finally, it is expected that the use of these recommendations will contribute to make decisions based on economic data more accurate and equitable when incorporating health technologies in the country.

Identification, Review, and Use of Health State Utilities in Cost-Effectiveness Models: An ISPOR Good Practices for Outcomes Research Task Force Report.

Cost-effectiveness models that present results in terms of cost per quality-adjusted life-year for health technologies are used to inform policy decisions in many parts of the world. Health state utilities (HSUs) are required to calculate the quality-adjusted life-years. Even when clinical studies assessing the effectiveness of health technologies collect data on HSUs to populate a cost-effectiveness model, which rarely happens, analysts typically need to identify at least some additional HSUs from alternative sources. When possible, HSUs are identified by a systematic review of the literature, but, again, this rarely happens. In 2014, ISPOR established a Good Practices for Outcome Research Task Force to address the use of HSUs in cost-effectiveness models. This task force report provides recommendations for researchers who identify, review, and synthesize HSUs for use in cost-effectiveness models; analysts who use the results in models; and reviewers who critically appraise the suitability and validity of the HSUs selected for use in models. The associated Minimum Reporting Standards of Systematic Review of Utilities for Cost-Effectiveness checklist created by the task force provides criteria to judge the appropriateness of the HSUs selected for use in cost-effectiveness models and is suitable for use in different international settings.

The cost of a disease targeted for elimination in Brazil: the case of schistosomiasis mansoni.

BACKGROUND: Schistosomiasis mansoni is a poverty-related parasitic infection that has a variety of clinical manifestations. We consider the disability and deaths caused by schistosomiasis unacceptable for a tool-ready disease. Its condition in Brazil warrants an analysis that will enable better understanding of the local health losses and contribute to the complex decision-making process. OBJECTIVE: This study estimates the cost of schistosomiasis in Brazil in 2015. METHODS: We conducted a cost of illness study of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil in 2015 based on a prevalence approach and from a societal perspective. The study included 26,499 schistosomiasis carriers, 397 hepatosplenic cases, 48 cases with the neurological form, 284 hospitalisations, and 11,368.26 years of life lost (YLL) of which 5,187 years are attributable to economically active age groups. RESULTS: The total cost of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil was estimated to be US$ 41,7million in 2015 with 94.61% of this being indirect costs. CONCLUSIONS: The economic burden of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil is high and results in the loss of productivity. Its persistence in Brazil is a challenge to public health and requires inter-sectorial interventions in areas such as indoor water supply, basic sanitation, and education.

The cost of a disease targeted for elimination in Brazil: the case of schistosomiasis mansoni

BACKGROUND Schistosomiasis mansoni is a poverty-related parasitic infection that has a variety of clinical manifestations. We consider the disability and deaths caused by schistosomiasis unacceptable for a tool-ready disease. Its condition in Brazil warrants an analysis that will enable better understanding of the local health losses and contribute to the complex decision-making process. OBJECTIVE This study estimates the cost of schistosomiasis in Brazil in 2015. METHODS We conducted a cost of illness study of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil in 2015 based on a prevalence approach and from a societal perspective. The study included 26,499 schistosomiasis carriers, 397 hepatosplenic cases, 48 cases with the neurological form, 284 hospitalisations, and 11,368.26 years of life lost (YLL) of which 5,187 years are attributable to economically active age groups. RESULTS The total cost of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil was estimated to be US$ 41,7million in 2015 with 94.61% of this being indirect costs. CONCLUSIONS The economic burden of schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil is high and results in the loss of productivity. Its persistence in Brazil is a challenge to public health and requires inter-sectorial interventions in areas such as indoor water supply, basic sanitation, and education.

Qualidade de vida pós-unidades de terapia intensiva: protocolo de estudo de coorte multicêntrico para avaliação de desfechos em longo prazo em sobreviventes de internação em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras / Quality of life after intensive care unit: a multicenter cohort study protocol for assessment of long-term outcomes among intensive care survivors in Brazil

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de incapacidades físicas, cognitivas e psiquiátricas, fatores associados e sua relação com qualidade de vida em pacientes sobreviventes de internação em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras. Métodos: Um estudo de coorte prospectivo multicêntrico está sendo conduzido em dez unidades de terapia intensiva adulto clínico-cirúrgicas representativas das cinco regiões geopolíticas do Brasil. Pacientes com idade ≥ 18 anos que receberam alta das unidades de terapia intensiva participantes e permaneceram internados na unidade de terapia intensiva por 72 horas ou mais, nos casos de internação clínica ou cirúrgica de urgência, e por 120 horas ou mais, nos casos de internação cirúrgica eletiva, serão incluídos de forma consecutiva. Estes pacientes serão seguidos por 1 ano, por meio de entrevistas telefônicas estruturadas 3, 6 e 12 meses pós-alta da unidade de terapia intensiva. Dependência funcional, disfunção cognitiva, sintomas de ansiedade e depressão, sintomas de estresse pós-traumático, qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, re-hospitalizações e mortalidade em longo prazo serão avaliados como desfechos. Discussão: O presente estudo tem o potencial de contribuir para o conhecimento a respeito da prevalência e dos fatores associados à síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos na população de pacientes adultos sobreviventes de internação em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras. Ademais, a associação entre síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde poderá ser estabelecida.

ABSTRACT Objective: To establish the prevalence of physical, cognitive and psychiatric disabilities, associated factors and their relationship with the qualities of life of intensive care survivors in Brazil. Methods: A prospective multicenter cohort study is currently being conducted at 10 adult medical-surgical intensive care units representative of the 5 Brazilian geopolitical regions. Patients aged ≥ 18 years who are discharged from the participating intensive care units and stay 72 hours or more in the intensive care unit for medical or emergency surgery admissions or 120 hours or more for elective surgery admissions are consecutively included. Patients are followed up for a period of one year by means of structured telephone interviews conducted at 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge from the intensive care unit. The outcomes are functional dependence, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety and depression symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, health-related quality of life, rehospitalization and long-term mortality. Discussion: The present study has the potential to contribute to current knowledge of the prevalence and factors associated with postintensive care syndrome among adult intensive care survivors in Brazil. In addition, an association might be established between postintensive care syndrome and health-related quality of life.

Quality of life and quality-adjusted life years of chronic schistosomiasis mansoni patients in Brazil in 2015.

Background: Measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) have been used to express the impact of neglected diseases and to generate indicators for health economic assessments. Schistosomiasis mansoni is a neglected disease with various clinical manifestations, including severe repercussions, caused by parasitic worms. Here we describe the quality of life of chronic schistosomiasis mansoni patients and estimate the quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with chronic schistosomiasis mansoni in Brazil in 2015. Methods: A HRQoL study was carried out using the three-level European Quality of Life 5-Dimensions (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire in 147 chronic schistosomiasis mansoni patients at an outpatient monitoring facility of an endemic state for schistosomiasis. Results: Losses in HRQoL were observed in all five dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L. Patients >60 y and 40-49 y of age reported the highest frequencies of problems. The average utility index was 0.71, and the median index was significantly lower among female patients and patients with comorbidities (0.68; p<0.05) compared with the entire sample. Approximately 26.7 QALYs were estimated for the study population and 31.2 QALYs for the chronic schistosomiasis mansoni patients in Brazil. Conclusions: The advanced forms of schistosomiasis mansoni, even during treatment, contribute to important health losses in the population dealing with the disease.

Electronic Version of the EQ-5D Quality-of-Life Questionnaire: Adaptation to a Brazilian Population Sample.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the measurement equivalence of the original paper version of an adapted tablet version of the EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D). METHODS: A randomly selected sample of 509 individuals aged 18 to 64 years from the general population responded to the EQ-5D at two time points separated by a minimum interval of 24 hours and were allocated to one of the following groups: test-retest group (tablet-tablet) or crossover group (paper-tablet and tablet-paper). Agreement between methods was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and the κ coefficient. RESULTS: In the crossover group, the following ICC values were obtained: 0.76 (confidence interval [CI] 0.58-0.89) for EQ-5D scores and 0.77 (CI 0.68-0.84) for visual analogue scale in subjects responding first to the tablet version; 0.83 (CI 0.75-0.89) for EQ-5D scores and 0.75 (CI 0.67-0.85) for visual analogue scale in subjects responding first to the paper version. In the test-retest group, the ICC was 0.85 (CI 0.73-0.91) for EQ-5D scores and 0.79 (CI 0.66-0.87) for visual analogue scale. The κ values were higher than 0.69 in this group. The internal consistencies of the paper and tablet methods were similar. CONCLUSIONS: The paper and tablet versions of the EQ-5D are equivalent. Test-retest and crossover agreement was high and the acceptability of the methods was similar among individuals.

Quality of life after intensive care unit: a multicenter cohort study protocol for assessment of long-term outcomes among intensive care survivors in Brazil. / Qualidade de vida pós-unidades de terapia intensiva: protocolo de estudo de coorte multicêntrico para avaliação de desfechos em longo prazo em sobreviventes de internação em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras.

OBJECTIVE: To establish the prevalence of physical, cognitive and psychiatric disabilities, associated factors and their relationship with the qualities of life of intensive care survivors in Brazil. METHODS: A prospective multicenter cohort study is currently being conducted at 10 adult medical-surgical intensive care units representative of the 5 Brazilian geopolitical regions. Patients aged ≥ 18 years who are discharged from the participating intensive care units and stay 72 hours or more in the intensive care unit for medical or emergency surgery admissions or 120 hours or more for elective surgery admissions are consecutively included. Patients are followed up for a period of one year by means of structured telephone interviews conducted at 3, 6 and 12 months after discharge from the intensive care unit. The outcomes are functional dependence, cognitive dysfunction, anxiety and depression symptoms, posttraumatic stress symptoms, health-related quality of life, rehospitalization and long-term mortality. DISCUSSION: The present study has the potential to contribute to current knowledge of the prevalence and factors associated with postintensive care syndrome among adult intensive care survivors in Brazil. In addition, an association might be established between postintensive care syndrome and health-related quality of life.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a prevalência de incapacidades físicas, cognitivas e psiquiátricas, fatores associados e sua relação com qualidade de vida em pacientes sobreviventes de internação em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras. MÉTODOS: Um estudo de coorte prospectivo multicêntrico está sendo conduzido em dez unidades de terapia intensiva adulto clínico-cirúrgicas representativas das cinco regiões geopolíticas do Brasil. Pacientes com idade ≥ 18 anos que receberam alta das unidades de terapia intensiva participantes e permaneceram internados na unidade de terapia intensiva por 72 horas ou mais, nos casos de internação clínica ou cirúrgica de urgência, e por 120 horas ou mais, nos casos de internação cirúrgica eletiva, serão incluídos de forma consecutiva. Estes pacientes serão seguidos por 1 ano, por meio de entrevistas telefônicas estruturadas 3, 6 e 12 meses pós-alta da unidade de terapia intensiva. Dependência funcional, disfunção cognitiva, sintomas de ansiedade e depressão, sintomas de estresse pós-traumático, qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde, re-hospitalizações e mortalidade em longo prazo serão avaliados como desfechos. DISCUSSÃO: O presente estudo tem o potencial de contribuir para o conhecimento a respeito da prevalência e dos fatores associados à síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos na população de pacientes adultos sobreviventes de internação em unidades de terapia intensiva brasileiras. Ademais, a associação entre síndrome pós-cuidados intensivos e qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde poderá ser estabelecida.

Avaliação Nutricional Subjetiva Global: aplicabilidade em crianças e adolescentes com neoplasia maligna - resultados preliminares / Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment: applicability in children and adolescents with malignant neoplasm ­ preliminary results

Introdução: Crianças e adolescentes com câncer apresentam alterações provenientes tanto da patologia quanto do tratamento que podem refletir no estado nutricional (EN) ao diagnóstico e ao longo do tratamento. O objetivo primário do estudo foi avaliar a aplicabilidade do instrumento Avaliação Nutricional Subjetiva Global (ANSG) na avaliação do Estado Nutricional (EN) de pacientes oncológicos pediátricos. Métodos: Estudo de coorte observacional e descritivo com lactentes, crianças e adolescentes diagnosticados com neoplasia maligna. Os participantes do estudo foram avaliados ao diagnóstico (AV1) e ao terceiro mês de tratamento (AV2). Dados objetivos foram aferidos e o instrumento ANSG foi aplicado. O teste de Kendall foi utilizado para analisar a correlação entre os métodos. Resultados: Realizadas 42 avaliações ao diagnóstico e 26 ao terceiro mês de tratamento. Observou-se predominância de pacientes bem nutridos nos dois momentos da avaliação. Na AV1, 7,2% dos pacientes foram identificados com algum grau de desnutrição conforme indicadores objetivos e 38,1% de acordo com o ANSG. Na AV2, houve redução na prevalência de pacientes desnutridos. O método ANSG mostrou correlação significativa com os indicadores nutricionais peso-para-idade e estaturapara- idade e foi eficaz no rastreamento de desnutrição. Conclusão: A ANSG é um instrumento útil na identificação de risco nutricional e pode ser utilizado na prática clínica assistencial, em conjunto com outros métodos de avaliação nutricional. O monitoramento do EN da população oncológica pediátrica é fundamental, a fim de intervir de maneira adequada. (AU)

from both the pathology itself and the treatment, which can reflect on their nutritional status (NS) at diagnosis and throughout the treatment. The primary objective of the study was to assess the applicability of the Subjective Global Nutritional Assessment (SGNA) tool to assess the NS of pediatric oncology patients. Methods: This was a descriptive, observational cohort study including infants, children and adolescents diagnosed with malignant neoplasia. Participants were assessed at diagnosis (NA1) and in the third month of treatment (NA2). Objective data were measured and the SGNA tool was applied. The Kendall test was used in order to analyze the correlation between the methods. Results: A total of 42 assessments were performed at diagnosis and 26 in the third month of treatment. A prevalence of well-nourished patients was observed in the two assessment moments. During NA1, 7.2% of the patients presented some degree of malnutrition according to objective indicators and 38.1%, according to SGNA. During NA2, there was a reduction in the prevalence of malnourished patients. The SGNA method showed a significant correlation with weightfor- age and height-for-age nutritional indicators and was efficient to trace malnutrition. Conclusion: The SGNA is a useful tool for the identification of nutritional risk and may be used in the clinical practice in combination with other nutritional assessment methods. The monitoring of the NS of pediatric patients who have cancer is vital in order to ensure adequate intervention. (AU)

Diretriz metodológica para estudos de avaliação econômica de tecnologias em saúde no Brasil / Methodological guidelines for economic evaluation studies of health technologies in Brazil

Objetivos: Resumir os principais pontos da Diretriz de Avaliação Econômica em Saúde (AES) do Ministério da Saúde. Métodos: As diretrizes para AES no Brasil foram desenvolvidas por intermédio de múltiplas rodadas de trabalho iterativas por grupo multidisciplinar de especialistas em economia da saúde e foram submetidas à consulta pública. Resultados: O problema deve ser definido por meio de uma questão de pesquisa estruturada. O estudo pode ser baseado em dados primários ou em modelagem, em que o primeiro aumenta a validade interna dos resultados e o segundo, a capacidade de generalização do estudo. Quando o trabalho for baseado em modelagem e focado em doença crônica, o modelo de Markov pode ser usualmente empregado, quando não houver necessidades que apontem para simulação de eventos discretos (como competição dos indivíduos por recursos escassos) ou modelos de transmissão dinâmica (em vacinação e/ou doenças infecciosas com alta transmissão entre indivíduos). O horizonte temporal preferencial é o de tempo de vida, e a taxa de desconto padrão é de 5% para custo e efetividade. Os custos devem representar a perspectiva do Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), podendo ser estimados por macrocusteio ou microcusteio. Sempre que possível, os resultados devem ser apresentados no formato de custo por ano de vida salvo ajustado para qualidade, para facilitar comparações com outros estudos. Análises de sensibilidade devem ser extensamente empregadas, de forma a avaliar o impacto da incerteza nos resultados produzidos. Conclusões: Espera-se que, com a padronização da metodologia proposta na Diretriz, a produção de AES no país tenha incremento na sua qualidade e reprodutibilidade.

Objectives: To summarize the main points from the Brazilian's Ministry of Health Economic Evaluations (HEE) guideline. Methods: The guideline was developed through multiple rounds of iterative work, conducted by a multidisciplinary team of specialists in health economics, and where submitted to public consultation. Results: The decision problem should be defined through a structured research question. The study can be either primary data or model-based; in the first case, there is greater internal validity, while the second generates a superior generalizability. When the study is model-based and focused on a chronic disease, a Markov model can be usually employed, except for situations that points towards the need of a discrete event simulation (such as competition of individuals for scarce resources) or a dynamic transition model (for example, vaccination models and infectious diseases with high transmission rates between individuals). The preferred time horizon is the lifetime one, and the default discount rate is 5% for both costs and effectiveness. Costs should represent the Unified Health System (SUS) perspective and can be estimated through either gross-costing or micro-costing. Results should be presented as costs per quality adjusted life years (QALYs) whenever possible, to facilitate comparison with other studies. Sensitivity analyses should be widely employed, in order to evaluate the impact of uncertainty in the results produced by the model. Conclusions: It is expected that, with the standardization proposed in this guideline, the HEE production in Brazil has gains in quality and reproducibility.

Cost-utility analysis of methylphenidate treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD in Brazil

Objective: To perform a cost-utility analysis on the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with methylphenidate immediate-release (MPH-IR) in children and adolescents from Brazil. Method: A Markov model was constructed to compare MPH-IR vs. no treatment. A 24-week naturalistic study was conducted to collect transition probabilities and utility data. Effectiveness was expressed as quality-adjusted life-years (QALY), and costs reported in 2014 international dollars (I$). The perspective was the Brazilian Unified Health System as payer, and the time horizon was 6 years. Results: Of 171 patients, 73 provided information at baseline, and 56 at week 24. Considering the MPH-IR monthly cost of I$ 38, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of treatment was I$ 9,103/QALY for children and I$ 11,883/QALY for adolescents. In two-way sensitivity analysis, considering one Gross National Product per capita (I$ 11,530) as willingness-to-pay, a cost of no-treatment lower than I$ 45/month would render MPH-IR a cost-saving strategy. Discussion: MPH-IR treatment of children and adolescents is cost-effective for ADHD patients from the Brazilian public health system perspective. Both patients and the healthcare system might benefit from such a strategy. Trial registration number: NCT01705613.

Cost-utility analysis of methylphenidate treatment for children and adolescents with ADHD in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a cost-utility analysis on the treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with methylphenidate immediate-release (MPH-IR) in children and adolescents from Brazil. METHOD: A Markov model was constructed to compare MPH-IR vs. no treatment. A 24-week naturalistic study was conducted to collect transition probabilities and utility data. Effectiveness was expressed as quality-adjusted life-years (QALY), and costs reported in 2014 international dollars (I$). The perspective was the Brazilian Unified Health System as payer, and the time horizon was 6 years. RESULTS: Of 171 patients, 73 provided information at baseline, and 56 at week 24. Considering the MPH-IR monthly cost of I$ 38, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of treatment was I$ 9,103/QALY for children and I$ 11,883/QALY for adolescents. In two-way sensitivity analysis, considering one Gross National Product per capita (I$ 11,530) as willingness-to-pay, a cost of no-treatment lower than I$ 45/month would render MPH-IR a cost-saving strategy. DISCUSSION: MPH-IR treatment of children and adolescents is cost-effective for ADHD patients from the Brazilian public health system perspective. Both patients and the healthcare system might benefit from such a strategy. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT01705613.