Economic Impact of Bladder Cancer in the USA.

INTRODUCTION: Incidence and mortality for bladder cancer has changed very little over the past 20 years. Approximately 40% of patients with high-risk nonmuscle invasive bladder cancer eventually recur/progress. It is important to understand the economic impact of disease recurrence/progression in bladder cancer. Our aim was to estimate and understand the direct costs associated with the treatment of bladder cancer from the payer's perspective in the USA, in the year of 2021, including costs for both newly diagnosed bladder cancer (stages 0a-IV) and recurrent patients. METHODS: An economic model was constructed to calculate the number of patients receiving each treatment modality at every stage of disease and their respective costs. Epidemiological data were based on the CancerMPact Patient Metrics (PM) database and treatment modality data retrieved from CMP Treatment Architecture (TA), 2021 version. Resource utilization and costs were obtained from medical literature and public data sources. Only direct costs were considered. RESULTS: There were an estimated 83,532 newly diagnosed patients with bladder cancer of all stages in 2021 with a projected total cost of treatment of ~$2.6 billion. Average cost per newly diagnosed patient varied from $19,521 (stage 0a) to $169,533 (metastatic disease). Cost profile differed substantially among the stages of disease. For the 75,760 patients that were expected to have a recurrence in 2021, an additional cost of ~$3.9 billion was estimated at an average cost per patient of $52,179. The expected total cost to treat newly diagnosed and newly recurrent patients is reported in this model, with the total cost in 2021 estimated to exceed $6.5 billion. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment and resource costs increase for bladder cancer as the disease recurs/progresses. More effective treatments that can delay recurrence/progression may reduce the economic burden associated with bladder cancer.

The costs of treating bladder cancer in the USA are high, expected to have exceeded $6.5 billion in the year 2021. The average cost for newly diagnosed patients ranges from $19,521 for the earliest stage of disease to $169,533 for metastatic disease. Average costs per patient increase upon disease recurrence and more effective initial treatments to delay disease recurrence or progression may reduce the costs associated with bladder cancer.

Acceptability and consumers' willingness to pay for comprehensive medication management services in Brazil.

Aim: Comprehensive medication management (CMM) is a clinical service that aims to optimize the therapeutic results of patients at the individual level. Studies carried out in Brazil and in several parts of the world have found a positive impact of the service, mainly in the resolution of drug therapy problems and in improving clinical outcomes and patients' quality of life. This service is not widespread and its acceptability and willingness to pay were not defined by the population yet. Objective: This work aims to conduct a study with users of private health services to determine the acceptability and willingness to pay for CMM services. Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey conducted through face-to-face interviews, among residents over 18 years of age of the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Results: For this study, 563 individuals were interviewed. Most respondents were female (55.1%), had completed high school (46.8%) and were employed (62.5%). The acceptability for the service was 93,25%, and among all respondents, 37 would not accept the service even if it was free. The amount of consumers' willingness to pay for the CMM service was estimated at $17.75 (40.00 BRL). Conclusion: The research results show that most people are willing to pay for the CMM service. This study can contribute to the decision-making regarding the implementation and pricing of the service in Brazil.

Consumer willingness to pay for a hypothetical chikungunya vaccine in Brazil and the implications.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya fever is an important infectious disease transmitted by the bite of the mosquitoes. Information about consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical vaccine can help with future discussions about its possible price. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted among residents of Minas Gerais, Brazil, regarding their WTP for a hypothetical chikungunya vaccine defined by the authors as having a mean effective protection of 80%. RESULTS: We interviewed 496 individuals. Among these, 23 were excluded from the analysis. Most of the respondents were female (57.3%), had completed at least high school (90.7%), were employed (87.7%) and had private health insurance (62.6%). The median value of the WTP was US$ 31.17 (120.00 BRL) for a unique dose vaccine. The WTP showed a statistical significant correlation with monthly family income and access to private health insurance. CONCLUSION: This study can contribute to decision-making about potential prices for a chikungunya vaccine once it becomes available in Brazil. We demonstrated the relevance of the anchoring effect as a possible influence applied to the maximum value of the WTP associated with respondents' preference for a new vaccine. Finally, we encourage the development of a chikungunya virus vaccine to benefit the Brazilian population.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Cell Versus Egg-Based Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in Children and Adults in Argentina.

Background: Quadrivalent cell-based influenza vaccines (QIVc) avoid egg-adaptive mutations and can be more effective than traditional quadrivalent egg-based influenza vaccines (QIVe). This analysis compared the cost-effectiveness of QIVc and QIVe in Argentinian populations < 65 years old from the payer and societal perspectives. Methods: A static decision tree model compared the costs and health benefits of vaccination with QIVc vs. QIVe using a one-year time horizon. The relative vaccine effectiveness of QIVc vs. QIVe was assumed to be 8.1% for children and 11.4% for adults. An alternative high egg-adaptation scenario was also assessed. Model inputs were sourced from Argentina or the international literature. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results: Compared to QIVe, QIVc would prevent 17,857 general practitioner visits, 2418 complications, 816 hospitalizations, and 12 deaths per year. From the payers' perspective, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio per quality-adjusted life years gained was USD12,214 in the base case and USD2311 in the high egg-adaptation scenario. QIVc was cost-saving from the societal perspective in both scenarios. Conclusions: QIVc in Argentina would be cost-effective relative to QIVe. The potential health benefits and savings would be even higher in high egg-adaptation seasons.

Acceptability and willingness to pay for a hypothetical vaccine against SARS CoV-2 by the Brazilian consumer: a cross-sectional study and the implications.

INTRODUCTION: The new coronavirus pandemic has appreciably impacted morbidity and mortality, as well as having an economic impact worldwide. New vaccines are a potential way forward to reduce transmission rates and subsequent infection. In Brazil, vaccines are being distributed via the public sector; however, in the future, they will be available in the private market. Information about consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical vaccine against SARS CoV-2 can help future price setting discussions. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with consumers in the five regions of Brazil regarding the WTP for a hypothetical vaccine against SARS CoV-2 with a 50% efficacy. RESULTS: A total of 1402 individuals over 18 years of age who declared not having COVID-19 at the time of the survey were interviewed. The acceptability for this hypothetical vaccine was 80.7%. In addition, the amount of WTP by Brazilian consumers for a hypothetical SARS CoV-2 vaccine was estimated at US$ 22.18(120.00 BRL). CONCLUSION: This study can contribute to decision-making to inform potential pricing for a hypothetical SARS CoV-2 vaccine.

A Strategy to Improve Knowledge about Health Policies and Evidence Based Medicine for Federal Magistrates in Health Litigation.

Several countries maintain universal health coverage, which implies responsibility to organize delivery formats of healthcare services and products for citizens. In Brazil, the health system has a principle of universal access for more than 30 years, but many deficiencies remain and the country observes a day practice for those seeking judicial decisions to determine provision of healthcare.

Sixteen-Year Cohort of Liver Transplantation in the National Health System in Brazil: Analysis of Immunosuppression Maintenance Therapies.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate factors related to liver graft survival with a focus on immunosuppressive schemes based on calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus or cyclosporine). METHODOLOGY: This study was carried out through an open cohort constructed by deterministic and probabilistic matching through three databases of the SUS with assessment of liver graft survival from 2000 to 2015 in Brazil. From this first cohort, a second cohort was constructed by pairing 1: 1 to more precisely assess the effect of the immunosuppressive scheme on graft survival. The Kaplan-Meier method and was used to estimate the probability of survival. Cox's model of proportional risks was used to assess factors related to graft loss. RESULT: We found 12,687 patients in the Full cohort and 470 patients in the Matched cohort. The overall graft survival rates at 1, 5, 10, and 16 years were 72.6, 63.3, 52.8, and 45.3%, respectively. Patients younger had a longer graft survival than older ones. In the Full cohort, male patients had a higher survival rate than female ones. Therapeutic schemes based on tacrolimus were more prevalent and had a better survival rate when compared to schemes that used cyclosporine. Tacrolimus without association with antiproliferative agents or rapamycin inhibitors was the therapeutic scheme associated with greater survival rate in both cohorts (HR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.72-0.91), (HR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.30-0.85). In addition, white-skinned patients had longer survival rate in both cohorts (HR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.50-0.61 and HR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.34-0.75). On the other hand, patients who a greater time ratio without using an immunosuppressant had lower graft survival rate (HR = 6.46, 95% CI = 5.05-8.27 and HR = 6.57, 95% CI = 2.66-16.22). CONCLUSION: This 16-year cohort showed that the older age and the greater time ratio without using an immunosuppressant are risk factors for liver graft loss. White-skinned patients and tacrolimus-based regimens, especially tacrolimus without other immunosuppressants, are factors of better prognosis to the graft.

Analysis of epidemiological and economic data of hemophilia A patients in Brazil / Análise de dados epidemiológicos e econômicos de pacientes com hemofilia A no Brasil

Objective: To describe the annual medical direct costs per hemophilia A (HA) patient in the Brazilian public healthcare system (SUS) and to understand and describe the patients' hospital journey, demographical characteristics, and the procedures in the. Methods: This retrospective analysis of DataSUS databases. Data from individuals with registries of HA treatment were gathered between January 1st, 2018, and June 30th, 2021. Besides the D66 ICD-10th code (HA), were also considered the occurrence of some procedures like factor VIII dosage and by-pass therapy dispensation or administration as inclusion criteria. Exclusion criteria were occurrence of factor IX dispensation and female patients were excluded, among others. A record linkage using sociodemographic characteristics was conducted to identify unique patients. Results: Were identified 2,298 individuals underwent ambulatory and 1,018 underwent hospital treatments. The results show that most patients are from the Southeast region of the country, white and middle-aged individuals. The median cost of HA treatment per patient-year was BRL 90.36 for ambulatory care and BRL 1,015.31 for hospital care procedures. The costs were significantly higher for more severe patients and for those between 12 and 18 years old (BRL 1,974.75 and BRL 1,049.09, respectively). Conclusion: The evidence demonstrated encourages the implementation of policies aiming to improve the quality of care provided to patients with HA. Providing referral centers for hemophiliac patients is primordial for the success of the treatment and can result in efficiency.

Objetivo: Descrever os custos médicos diretos anuais por paciente com hemofilia A (HA) no sistema público de saúde brasileiro (SUS) e compreender e descrever a jornada do paciente em âmbito hospitalar, as características demográficas e os procedimentos realizados no SUS. Métodos: Análise retrospectiva das bases de dados do DataSUS. Foram coletados dados de indivíduos com registro de tratamento de HA entre 1º de janeiro de 2018 e 30 de junho de 2021. Além do código D66 CID-10 (HA), foi considerada a ocorrência de procedimentos como dosagem do fator VIII e dispensação ou administração de terapia de by-pass como critérios de inclusão. Dentre os critérios de exclusão, destacam-se a dispensação do fator IX e indivíduos do sexo feminino. Um pareamento de registros usando características sociodemográficas foi realizado para identificar pacientes únicos. Resultados: Foram identificados 2.298 indivíduos em tratamento ambulatorial e 1.018 em tratamento hospitalar. Os resultados mostraram que a maioria dos pacientes são da região Sudeste do país, brancos e de meia-idade. O custo médio do tratamento da HA por paciente-ano foi de R$ 90,36 para atendimento ambulatorial e de R$ 1.015,31 para atendimento hospitalar. Os custos foram significativamente maiores para pacientes mais graves e entre 12 e 18 anos (R$ 1.974,75 e R$ 1.049,09, respectivamente). Conclusão: As evidências demonstradas incentivam a implementação de políticas que visem melhorar a qualidade da assistência prestada aos pacientes com HA. A disponibilização de centros de referência para pacientes hemofílicos é primordial para o sucesso do tratamento e pode resultar em maior eficiência.