[Economic evaluation of haemodialysis. Analysis of cost components based on patient-specific data]. / Evaluación económica de la hemodiálisis. Análisis de los componentes del coste basado en datos individuales.

BACKGROUND: Hemodialysis (HD) cost analysis provides information about the economic impact of the disease on the community. Its knowledge is crucial to adequate and optimize health resources. Our aim was to study sanitary and non-sanitary direct costs of HD, based on patients individual data. Furthermore, the effect of sociocultural factors and comorbidity on costs was evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective and observational study of prevalence costs produced during one year of HD therapy. All patients from North Health District of Tenerife province (Canary Islands, Spain) included for at least 3 months on HD were considered for the study. Sociodemographic parameters and comorbidity data were collected from a generic individual survey and reviewing database records. Direct sanitary and non-sanitary costs were organized in 6 categories: HD sessions, medication costs, hospitalization costs (evaluated by Diagnosis-Related Groups classification system), outpatient care (including consultation and complementary studies); healthcare material and patient transportation. RESULTS: Finally, 161 patients were included (63 +/- 16 years, 63% males, 38% diabetics). Of note, the proportions of sociocultural deprivation was high among this population (75-85% did not complete first school and had non-qualified jobs). Mean cost of global therapy was 43,070 +/- 13,932 euro. Proportional allocation of costs was as follow: HD sesion 51%, pharmacy 27%, hospitalization 17%, transportation 3% and ambulatory care 2%. There was no association between sociocultural profile, comorbidity and therapy cost. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study of HD costs, itemized by components of expenses, based in individual data and introducing GRD model for hospitalization cost. The highest expenses corresponded to HD sessions and medication (79%), both very homogeneous to this patient population. The saving in economic terms should be, fundamentally, the prevention of CKD.

Assessment of bevacizumab quality and stability in repackaged syringes for clinical use.

OBJECTIVES: Among measures taken to optimise financial resources, the off-label use of bevacizumab (Avastin) in the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) involves its repackaging from higher volume dosage forms. This use requires studies to analyse the viability of the repackaged preparations to ensure their quality, safety and efficacy. Our aim was to assess the structural stability and particle size of bevacizumab after it was repackaged from the original glass vials and stored in plastic syringes. METHODS: High performance liquid chromatography by size exclusion (HPLC-SE) was used to quantify the bevacizumab and determine its degradation products after stress stability testing, with a particle size counter employed after repackaging and subsequent storage. RESULTS: The syringes stored for 3 days at 4°C maintained the area of the main chromatographic peak above 100±10% of its initial value, and the observed particle size is the same as at baseline (20 nm) but with a double distribution towards larger sizes. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows how the repackaging of Avastin in plastic syringes permits their use for 3 days if stored under normal refrigeration. In this way, hospital pharmacy services can help optimise health resources without compromising the pharmaceutical standards of the drug.

Therapeutic effects of hidrosmin on chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was carried out to assess the effectiveness of a new synthetic bioflavonoid, hidrosmin, in patients with chronic venous insufficiency of the lower limbs. Fifty-seven patients, showing varicose veins and ankle swelling and suffering from local pain and heaviness of the legs, were allocated at random to receive treatment for 45 days with 1 capsule 3-times daily of either 200 mg hidrosmin (30 patients) or placebo (27 patients). Pain and heavy legs were assessed using rating scales; swelling was assessed by a photographic method. The results showed that hidrosmin produced a significant clinical improvement in all of the parameters evaluated; compared with placebo, there was a marked reduction in the main subjective symptoms accompanied by a 10% reduction in swelling. Apart from 1 patient who complained of epigastric pain, there were no reports of adverse events during the study period.