Decision tree model for early use of semi-elemental formula versus standard polymeric formula in critically ill Malaysian patients: A cost-effectiveness study.

BACKGROUND: Prevention of enteral feeding interruption (EFI) improves clinical outcomes of critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients. This leads to shorter ICU stays and thereby lowers healthcare costs. This study compared the cost of early use of semi-elemental formula (SEF) in ICU vs standard polymeric formula (SPF) under the Ministry of Health (MOH) system in Malaysia. METHODS: A decision tree model was developed based on literature and expert inputs. An epidemiological projection model was then added to the decision tree to calculate the target population size. The budget impact of adapting the different enteral nutrition (EN) formulas was calculated by multiplying the population size with the costs of the formula and ICU length of stay (LOS). A one-way sensitivity analysis (OWSA) was conducted to examine the effect each input parameter has on the calculated output. RESULTS: Replacing SPF with SEF would lower ICU cost by MYR 1059 (USD 216) per patient. The additional cost of increased LOS due to EFI was MYR 5460 (USD 1114) per patient. If the MOH replaces SPF with SEF for ICU patients with high EFI risk (estimated 7981 patients in 2022), an annual net cost reduction of MYR 8.4 million (USD 1.7 million) could potentially be realized in the MOH system. The cost-reduction finding of replacing SPF with SEF remained unchanged despite the input uncertainties assessed via OWSA. CONCLUSION: Early use of SEF in ICU patients with high EFI risk could potentially lower the cost of ICU care for the MOH system in Malaysia.

A Meal Replacement Program for the Treatment of Obesity: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis from the Swiss Payer's Perspective.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a disease associated with high direct medical costs and high indirect costs resulting from productivity loss. The high prevalence of obesity generates the need for payers to identify cost-effective weight loss approaches. Among various weight management techniques, the OPTI (Optifast®) program is a clinically recognised total meal replacement diet that can lead to significant weight loss and reduction in complications. This study's objective is to assess OPTI program's cost-effectiveness in Switzerland in comparison to "no intervention" and pharmacotherapy. METHODS: An event-driven decision-analytic model was used to estimate the payer's cost savings through the reimbursement of OPTI program over a 1-year period as well as a lifetime in Switzerland. The analysis was performed on a broad population of people with obesity with a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30 kg/m2 following the OPTI program vs two comparators (liraglutide and "no intervention"). The model incorporated a higher risk of complications due to an increased BMI and their related healthcare costs. Data sources included published literature, clinical trials, official Swiss price/tariff lists and national population statistics. The primary perspective was that of a Swiss payer. Scenario analyses - for example, for patients with existing complications (such as myocardial infarction, stroke, type 2 diabetes mellitus) or severe obesity - were conducted to test the robustness of the results. RESULTS: The OPTI program results in cost savings of CHF 20,886 (€ 18,724) and CHF 15,382 (€ 13,790) per person compared with "no intervention" and liraglutide 3 mg, respectively. In addition, OPTI program led to 1.133 and 0.734 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained respectively against its comparators. Scenario analyses showed similar outcomes with cost savings and QALYs gained. CONCLUSION: OPTI program is a dominant strategy compared to "no intervention" and liraglutide 3 mg as it leads to both cost savings and QALY gain. Therefore, reimbursing the OPTI program for patients with obesity would be cost-effective for Swiss payers.

Health-Related Quality of Life in Weight Loss Interventions: Results from the OPTIWIN Trial.

Obesity is highly prevalent and associated with several adverse outcomes including health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), work productivity, and activity impairment. The objective of this study is to examine group differences in HRQoL and labor-related health outcomes among participants in the OPTIWIN program, which compared the effectiveness of two intensive behavioral weight loss interventions. Participants (n = 273) were randomized to OPTIFAST®(OP) or food-based (FB) dietary interventions for 52 weeks. HRQoL and labor-related health outcomes were measured at baseline, week 26, and week 52, using two questionnaires. At baseline, there were no differences between groups on the Impact of Weight on Quality-of-Life Questionnaire (IWQOL-Lite). At week 26, the OP group had statistically significant differences towards better HRQoL for Physical Function, Self-Esteem, and the total score compared with the FB group. At week 52, the OP group showed better HRQoL in the total score (p = 0.0012) and in all but one domain. Moreover, the adjusted change-from-baseline normalized total score at week 52 was -5.9 points (p = 0.0001). Finally, the mean IWQOL-Lite normalized score showed that HRQoL improves by 0.4442 units (p < 0.0001) per kg lost, and that greater weight reduction was positively associated with better HRQoL. No statistically significant group differences were found with the Work Productivity and Activity Impairment (General Health) (WPAI-GH) Questionnaire. HRQoL improves with highly intensive, well-structured weight loss interventions. Greater weight loss lead to larger improvements. The lack of negative effect on productivity and activity suggests that these interventions may be compatible with an active work lifestyle.

A two-step procedure to generate utilities for the Infant health-related Quality of life Instrument (IQI).

BACKGROUND: Because of a lack of preference-based health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments suitable for infants aged 0-12 months, we previously developed the Infant QoL Instrument (IQI). The present study aimed to generate an algorithm to estimate utilities for the IQI. METHODS: Via an online survey, respondents from the general population and primary caregivers from China-Hong Kong, the UK, and the USA were presented 10 discrete choice scenarios based on the IQI classification system. An additional sample of respondents from the general population were also asked if they considered the examined health states to be worse than death. Coefficients for the IQI item levels were obtained with a conditional logit model based on the responses of the primary caregivers for IQI states only. These coefficients were then normalized using the rank-ordered logit model based on the responses from the general population who assessed "death" as a choice option. In this way, the values were rescaled from full health (1.0) to death (0.0), and consequently, they became suitable for the computation of quality-adjusted life years. RESULTS: The total sample consisted of 1409 members of the general population and 1229 primary caregivers. Results indicated that, out of the 7 IQI items ("sleeping," "feeding," "breathing," "stooling/poo," "mood," "skin," and "interaction"), "breathing" had the highest impact on the HRQoL of infants. Moreover, except for "stooling," all item levels were statistically significant. The general population sample considered none of the health states as worse than death. The utility value for the worst health state was 0.015 (State 4444444). CONCLUSIONS: The IQI is the first generic instrument to assess overall HRQoL in 0-1-year-old infants by providing values and utilities. Using discrete choice experiments, we demonstrated that it is possible to derive utilities of infant health states. The next step will be to collect IQI values in a clinical population of infants and to compare these values with those of other instruments.

Milk Powder Fortified with Potassium and Phytosterols to Decrease the Risk of Cardiovascular Events among the Adult Population in Malaysia: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis.

This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of the consumption of a milk powder product fortified with potassium (+1050.28 mg/day) and phytosterols (+1200 mg/day) to lower systolic blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, respectively, and, therefore, the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke among the 35-75-year-old population in Malaysia. A Markov model was created against a do-nothing option, from a governmental perspective, and with a time horizon of 40 years. Different data sources, encompassing clinical studies, practice guidelines, grey literature, and statistical yearbooks, were used. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of uncertainty on the base case estimates. With an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio equal to international dollars (int$) 22,518.03 per quality-adjusted life-years gained, the intervention can be classified as very cost-effective. If adopted nationwide, it would help prevent at least 13,400 MIs, 30,500 strokes, and more than 10,600 and 17,100 MI- and stroke-related deaths. The discounted cost savings generated for the health care system by those who consume the fortified milk powder would amount to int$8.1 per person, corresponding to 0.7% of the total yearly health expenditure per capita. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the results. Together with other preventive interventions, the consumption of milk powder fortified with potassium and phytosterols represents a cost-effective strategy to attenuate the rapid increase in cardiovascular burden in Malaysia.

Valuing Health Status in the First Year of Life: The Infant Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument.

OBJECTIVES: Efforts to evaluate HRQoL and calculate quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for infants less than 12 months of age are hampered by the lack of preference-based HRQoL instruments for this group. To fill this gap, we developed the Infant Quality of life Instrument (IQI), which is administered through a mobile application. This article explains how weights were derived for the 4 levels of each health item. METHODS: The IQI includes 7 health items: sleeping, feeding, breathing, stooling/poo, mood, skin, and interaction. In an online survey, respondents from the general population (n = 1409) and primary caregivers (n = 1229) from China, the United Kingdom, and the United States were presented with 10 discrete choice scenarios. Coefficients for the item levels were obtained with a conditional logit model. RESULTS: The highest coefficients were found for sleeping, feeding, and breathing. All coefficients for these items were negative and logically ordered, meaning that more extreme levels were less preferred. Stooling, mood, skin, and interaction showed some irregularities in the ordering of coefficients. Results for caregivers and the general population were about the same. CONCLUSIONS: The IQI is the first generic instrument to assess overall HRQoL in infants up to 1 year of age. It is short and easy to administer through a mobile application. We demonstrated how to derive values for infant health states with a discrete choice methodology. Our next step will be to normalize these values into utilities ranging from 0 (dead) to 1 (best health state) and to collect IQI values in a clinical population.

Short-term health and economic burden of gestational diabetes mellitus in Mexico: A modeling study.

AIM: To estimate the annual burden of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Mexico. METHODS: A model was built to conduct estimates from a healthcare system perspective, namely, the incremental costs of GDM pregnancy compared with non-GDM pregnancy from the first trimester until childbirth. The model used probabilities from the literature and surveys, and costs obtained from the Ministry of Health and national healthcare institutions. Scenario analyses were performed to estimate the GDM burden at different levels of incidence. RESULTS: Although a non-GDM pregnancy cost on average USD 1880.6 (low risk was USD 1043.9 and high risk was USD 1673.5), a pregnancy with GDM cost USD 2934.9. Therefore, the total additional cost was USD 1576.2 per case. Given the considerable variability of the GDM incidence in Mexico, the total burden could range from USD 86.8 to USD 827.4 million per year. CONCLUSIONS: GDM is one of the most frequent complications of pregnancy, but research has been insufficient regarding its epidemiological and economic burden in Latin America. This paper shows that the GDM economic burden in Mexico is substantial despite only accounting for short-term medical costs. Further research to assess the GDM incidence and evaluate its long-term consequences from a broader societal perspective in Mexico is recommended.

The impact of food reformulation on nutrient intakes and health, a systematic review of modelling studies.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy diet is a risk factor for adverse health outcomes. Reformulation of processed foods has the potential to improve population diet, but evidence of its impact is limited. The purpose of this review was to explore the impact of reformulation on nutrient intakes, health outcomes and quality of life; and to evaluate the quality of modelling studies on reformulation interventions. METHODS: A systematic review of peer-reviewed articles published between January 2000 and December 2017 was performed using MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane, and the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination of the University of York. Additional studies were identified through informal searches on Google and specialized websites. Only simulation studies modelling the impact of food reformulation on nutrient intakes and health outcomes were included. Included articles were independently extracted by 2 reviewers using a standardized, pre-piloted data form, including a self-developed tool to assess study quality. RESULTS: A total of 33 studies met the selected inclusion criteria, with 20, 5 and 3 studies addressing sodium, sugar and fats reformulation respectively, and 5 studies addressing multiple nutrients. Evidence on the positive effects of reformulation on consumption and health was stronger for sodium interventions, less conclusive for sugar and fats. Study features were highly heterogeneous including differences in methods, the type of policy implemented, the extent of the reformulation, and the spectrum of targeted foods and nutrients. Nonetheless, partial between-study comparisons show a consistent relationship between percentages reformulated and reductions in individual consumption. Positive results are also shown for health outcomes and quality of life measures, although comparisons across studies are limited by the heterogeneity in model features and reporting. Study quality was often compromised by short time-horizons, disregard of uncertainty and time dependencies, and lack of model validation. CONCLUSIONS: Reformulation models highlight relevant improvements in diets and population health. While models are valuable tools to evaluate reformulation interventions, comparisons are limited by non-homogeneous designs and assumptions. The use of validated models and extensive scenario analyses would improve models' credibility, providing useful insights for policy-makers. REVIEW REGISTRATION: A research protocol was registered within the PROSPERO database (ID number CRD42017057341).

Correction to: The impact of food reformulation on nutrient intakes and health, a systematic review of modelling studies.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40795-018-0263-6.].

A descriptive system for the Infant health-related Quality of life Instrument (IQI): Measuring health with a mobile app.

BACKGROUND: The assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is important for health outcomes research, disease modeling studies and comparisons of different healthcare interventions. Yet, only a few tools are available to assess HRQoL in 0-1-year-old infants. Furthermore, there is a need for an instrument able to assess HRQoL with a single, standardized, overall score in the first year of life. Here we described the development of the Infant health-related Quality of life Instrument (IQI), a generic, preference-based instrument that can be administered through a mobile application for assessing HRQoL in 0-1-year-old infants. METHODS: A multi-step development process began by extracting candidate health concepts from relevant measures identified by two literature searches. Next, three panels, with experts from Asia, Europe, New Zealand and United States of America, and two surveys, with primary caregivers in New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom, evaluated the relevance of the candidate health concepts, organized them into attributes based on their similarities, explored alternative attributes and generated response scales. Additional interviews assessed the cross-cultural interpretability, parents' understanding of health attributes, and the usability of the mobile application. RESULTS: The final list of 7 health attributes included in the IQI consisted of sleeping, feeding, breathing, stooling/poo, mood, skin, and interaction. The users' experiences with the mobile application were generally positive. CONCLUSIONS: The IQI is the first generic, preference-based, instrument designed to assess overall HRQoL in 0-1-year old infants. It is short and easy-to-administer through a mobile application. Moreover, close attention was paid to the opinions of the infants' primary caregivers during the instrument and mobile application development process.

Screening and management of gestational diabetes in Mexico: results from a survey of multilocation, multi-health care institution practitioners.

PURPOSE: To identify the most common practices implemented for the screening and treatment of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to estimate the GDM clinician-reported proportion as a proxy of the incidence in Mexico. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred fifty-seven physicians in four major cities were asked about their practices regarding GDM screening, treatment, clinical exams, and health care staff involved in case of GDM diagnosis, as well as the percentage of women with GDM they care for. Data management and statistical analyses were done with Stata 13. RESULTS: The overall GDM clinician-reported proportion was 23.7%. Regional differences were expected and consistent with the data on the epidemiology of the obesity in the country. The most common screening test was the oral glucose tolerance test 75 g one step (46.6% of total cases). Diet and exercise were sufficient to treat GDM in 40.6% of cases; the rest of the sample relied on some form of medication, especially oral hypoglycemic agents (63.0% of cases), insulin (22.0%), or a combination of these (13.0%). To educate women on how to measure glycemia and eventually take medications, an average of 2-3 hours were necessary. The three most common prenatal screening tests were the "no stress", the "Doppler ultrasound", and the "biophysical profile", respectively, taken at least once by 70%, 60%, and 45% of women. Among women who were prescribed insulin, only 37% managed to keep the initial prescribed dose during the whole pregnancy. CONCLUSION: The survey confirmed the expected incidence and gave interesting results on the treatment of GDM. The current Mexican guidelines seem to have been partially implemented in practice, and a coherent national strategy for GDM is still missing. More studies are encouraged to investigate this topic, with the aim to better understand the importance of the monetary cost of GDM, which is currently underestimated.

The short-term economic burden of gestational diabetes mellitus in Italy.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is rising in all developed countries. This study aimed at assessing the short-term economic burden of GDM from the Italian healthcare system perspective. METHODS: A model was built over the last pregnancy trimester (i.e., from the 28th gestational week until childbirth included). The National Hospital Discharge Database (2014) was accessed to estimate delivery outcome probabilities and inpatient costs in GDM and normal pregnancies (i.e., euglycemia). International Classification of Disease-9th Revision-Clinical Modification (ICD9-CM) diagnostic codes and Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) codes were used to identify GDM cases and different types of delivery (i.e., vaginal or cesarean) within the database. Neonatal outcomes probabilities were estimated from the literature and included macrosomia, hypoglycemia, hyperbilirubinemia, shoulder dystocia, respiratory distress, and brachial plexus injury. Additional data sources such as regional documents, official price and tariff lists, national statistics and expert opinion were used to populate the model. The average cost per case was calculated at national level to estimate the annual economic burden of GDM. One-way sensitivity analyses and Monte Carlo simulations were performed to quantify the uncertainty around base case results. RESULTS: The amount of pregnancies complicated by GDM in Italy was assessed at 54,783 in 2014 using a prevalence rate of 10.9%. The antenatal outpatient cost per case was estimated at €43.7 in normal pregnancies compared to €370.6 in GDM patients, which is equivalent to a weighted sum of insulin- (14%; €1034.6) and diet- (86%; €262.5) treated women's costs. Inpatient delivery costs were assessed at €1601.6 and €1150.3 for euglycemic women and their infants, and at €1835.0 and €1407.7 for GDM women and their infants, respectively. Thus, the overall cost per case difference between GDM and normal pregnancies was equal to €817.8 (+ 29.2%), resulting in an economic burden of about €44.8 million in 2014 at national level. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis yielded a cost per case difference ranging between €464.9 and €1164.8 in 80% of simulations. CONCLUSIONS: The economic burden of GDM in Italy is substantial even accounting for short-term medical costs only. Future research also addressing long-term consequences from a broader societal perspective is recommended.

The short-term health and economic burden of gestational diabetes mellitus in China: a modelling study.

OBJECTIVES: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with a higher risk for adverse health outcomes during pregnancy and delivery for both mothers and babies. This study aims to assess the short-term health and economic burden of GDM in China in 2015. DESIGN: Using TreeAge Pro, an analytical decision model was built to estimate the incremental costs and quality-of-life loss due to GDM, in comparison with pregnancy without GDM from the 28th gestational week until and including childbirth. The model was populated with probabilities and costs based on current literature, clinical guidelines, price lists and expert interviews. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the results. PARTICIPANTS: Chinese population who gave birth in 2015. RESULTS: On average, the cost of a pregnancy with GDM was ¥6677.37 (in 2015 international $1929.87) more (+95%) than a pregnancy without GDM, due to additional expenses during both the pregnancy and delivery: ¥4421.49 for GDM diagnosis and treatment, ¥1340.94 (+26%) for the mother's complications and ¥914.94 (+52%) for neonatal complications. In China, 16.5 million babies were born in 2015. Given a GDM prevalence of 17.5%, the number of pregnancies affected by GDM was estimated at 2.90 million in 2015. Therefore, the annual societal economic burden of GDM was estimated to be ¥19.36 billion (international $5.59 billion). Sensitivity analyses were used to confirm the robustness of the results. Incremental health losses were estimated to be approximately 260 000 quality-adjusted life years. CONCLUSION: In China, the GDM economic burden is significant, even in the short-term perspective and deserves more attention and awareness. Our findings indicate a clear need to implement GDM prevention and treatment strategies at a national level in order to reduce the economic and health burden at both the population and individual levels.

Cost-effectiveness of milk powder fortified with potassium to decrease blood pressure and prevent cardiovascular events among the adult population in China: a Markov model.

OBJECTIVE: To model the long-term cost-effectiveness of consuming milk powder fortified with potassium to decrease systolic blood pressure (SBP) and prevent cardiovascular events. DESIGN: A best case scenario analysis using a Markov model was conducted. PARTICIPANTS: 8.67% of 50-79 year olds who regularly consume milk in China, including individuals with and without a prior diagnosis of hypertension. INTERVENTION: The model simulated the potential impact of a daily intake of two servings of milk powder fortified with potassium (+700 mg/day) vs the consumption of a milk powder without potassium fortification, assuming a market price equal to 0.99 international dollars (intl$; the consumption of a milk powder without potassium fortification, assuming a market price equal to intl$0.99 for the latter and to intl$1.12 for the first (+13.13%). Both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted to test the robustness of the results. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Estimates of the incidence of cardiovascular events and subsequent mortality in China were derived from the literature as well as the effect of increasing potassium intake on blood pressure. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used to determine the cost-effectiveness of a milk powder fortified with potassium taking into consideration the direct medical costs associated with the cardiovascular events, loss of working days and health utilities impact. RESULTS: With an ICER equal to int$4711.56 per QALY (quality-adjusted life year) in the best case scenario and assuming 100% compliance, the daily consumption of a milk powder fortified with potassium shown to be a cost-effective approach to decrease SBP and reduce cardiovascular events in China. Healthcare savings due to prevention would amount to intl$8.41 billion. Sensitivity analyses showed the robustness of the results. CONCLUSION: Together with other preventive interventions, the consumption of a milk powder fortified with potassium could represent a cost-effective strategy to attenuate the rapid rise in cardiovascular burden among the 50-79 year olds who regularly consume milk in China.

Healthcare interventions for the prevention and control of gestational diabetes mellitus in China: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) is a type of diabetes which occurs during pregnancy. Women with GDM are at greater risk of complications during pregnancy and delivery, while babies born from mothers with GDM are at greater risk of post-natal complications. Using the most updated diagnosis criteria, the GDM prevalence is estimated at 9.3-25.5% worldwide and 9.3-18.9% in China. Our objective was to identify healthcare interventions aimed at GDM prevention and control in China. METHODS: A best-evidence synthesis was performed based on a systematic search of literature published between 1997 and October 2015 in PubMed, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and Wan-fang databases using keywords "Gestational Diabetes Mellitus", "GDM", "Intervention" "Medical Intervention" "Early Medical Intervention", "Dietary Intervention", "Exercise Intervention", "Lifestyle Intervention", "Therapy", "Treatment" and "China". Inclusion criteria were studies conducted in China, reporting GDM healthcare interventions, and published in either Chinese or English. Two reviewers independently assessed eligibility and quality of the studies and extracted the data. Treatment efficacy was examined with weighted pooled odds ratio (OR) meta-analyses. RESULTS: The search resulted in 5961 articles (published in 276 different Chinese language journals and 6 English language journals), of which 802 were included in this synthesis. While 39.4% (n = 316) failed to report the GDM diagnostic criteria used, the remaining studies classified GDM with various international (n = 5) or Chinese (n = 7) diagnostic standards. Treatment interventions were categorized into 6 types: dietary (18.6%), exercise (1.6%), medication (20.7%), health education (9.0%), psychological (2.6%) and combination (47.4%). No interventions aimed at GDM prevention were identified. Meta-analyses demonstrated a statistically significant overall benefit of GDM treatment strategies in reducing the odds of maternal and infant adverse outcomes (ORs range 0.20-0.34, 95% CI 0.17-0.49, P < 0.05 for all). Dietary, western medication, and combined interventions were the most effective inteventions. CONCLUSIONS: An increasing number of healthcare interventions were found in China aimed at controlling GDM while no interventions were intended for GDM prevention. Well-designed clinical trials are needed to determine the comparative and cost effectiveness of GDM prevention and treatment strategies.