Societal costs and survival of patients with biopsy-verified non-alcoholic steatohepatitis: Danish nationwide register-based study.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Studies on the societal burden of patients with biopsy-confirmed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are sparse. This study examined this question, comparing NAFLD with matched reference groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nationwide Danish healthcare registers were used to include all patients (≥18 years) diagnosed with biopsy-verified NAFLD (1997-2021). Patients were classified as having simple steatosis or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with or without cirrhosis, and all matched with liver-disease free reference groups. Healthcare costs and labour market outcomes were compared from 5 years before to 11 years after diagnosis. Patients were followed for 25 years to analyse risk of disability insurance and death. RESULTS: 3,712 patients with biopsy-verified NASH (n = 1,030), simple steatosis (n = 1,540) or cirrhosis (n = 1,142) were identified. The average total costs in the year leading up to diagnosis was 4.1-fold higher for NASH patients than the reference group (EUR 6,318), 6.2-fold higher for cirrhosis patients and 3.1-fold higher for simple steatosis patients. In NASH, outpatient hospital contacts were responsible for 49 % of the excess costs (EUR 3,121). NASH patients had statistically significantly lower income than their reference group as early as five years before diagnosis until nine years after diagnosis, and markedly higher risk of becoming disability insurance recipients (HR: 4.37; 95 % CI: 3.17-6.02) and of death (HR: 2.42; 95 % CI: 1.80-3.25). CONCLUSIONS: NASH, simple steatosis and cirrhosis are all associated with substantial costs for the individual and the society with excess healthcare costs and poorer labour market outcomes.

Burden of Disease of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Denmark - A National Register-Based Study of Individuals with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and their Closest Relatives.

Background: Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive genetic disease with a prevalence of 1 per 3,600-6,000 male births. Individuals with DMD are typically diagnosed at age 4-7 years; median survival is 30 years. They require multidisciplinary care, personal assistance, and often special education. Objective: The aim was to assess the burden of disease in DMD in Denmark. This includes incidence, prevalence, use of healthcare services, labour market participation, educational outcomes, and overall attributable costs due to DMD. Impact on the closest relatives (siblings and parents) was also investigated. Methods: The comprehensive Danish national health and administrative registers were used to assess the burden of disease following individuals with DMD and closest relatives from five years before, and up to 20 years after DMD diagnosis. Individuals with DMD (and relatives) from 1994-2021 were included. All outcomes were compared to matched control groups without the disease drawn from the Danish population. Results: 213 unique individuals with DMD were identified. They had lower grades in school, required more special education and more healthcare and home care compared to their control group. The extra costs of special education summed to EUR 180,900 over the course of 11 years elementary school. They had an annual average productivity loss of EUR 20,200 between the age of 18 to 30. The extra healthcare costs of DMD in the 20 years after diagnosis were estimated to EUR 1,524,000. If an individual with DMD lives to be 30, total extra costs sum to EUR 2,365,800. Conclusions: Using national register data this study presented detailed results on the burden of disease of DMD, including impact on closest relatives. With 60 additional hospital admissions and 200 extra outpatient contacts in 20 years healthcare costs, but also costs of home care and special education, increases as disease progresses.

The disease burden of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria in Denmark: Epidemiology, survival, healthcare resource utilization, costs, treatment gaps, and labor market attachment.

OBJECTIVES: To establish epidemiology, healthcare costs, and labor market attachment in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (Pt-PNH) in Denmark. METHODS: Data were from Statistics Denmark and the Danish Health Data Authority national population registers (2005-2021). Descriptive baseline statistics characterized the Pt-PNH analytic population; ordinary least squares and adjusted Cox proportional hazards regressions measured outcomes in the Pt-PNH versus Danish general population matched comparators. RESULTS: Overall PNH incidence in Denmark was n = 11 during 2007-2009, n = 25 during 2016-2018 and n = 7 during 2019-2020; prevalence increased from n = 13 in 2006 to n = 62 in 2021. Of the overall n = 85 Pt-PNH; n = 24 were treated with complement-5 inhibitors (Pt-C5i) and n = 61 not treated with C5i (Pt-nC5i). Versus respective comparators, all patients had significantly greater annual per-patient costs (from inpatient hospital admissions, outpatient contacts, PNH treatments; indirect costs from lost earnings + transfer payments; post-diagnosis for Pt-PNH and Pt-nC5i, post-treatment initiation for Pt-C5i). The Pt-C5i incurred the greatest healthcare and indirect cost differences (€709 119; €152 832, respectively) followed by the Pt-PNH (€189 323; €29 159, respectively) and Pt-nC5i (€95 548; €4713, respectively). The Pt-PNH versus comparators also had an increased hazard of death (2.71 [95% CI, 1.63 - 4.51]). CONCLUSION: Although a rare disease, PNH is associated with significant patient, healthcare system, and societal burdens in Denmark.

A retrospective, non-interventional study of breast cancer patients diagnosed with ER+/HER2 negative, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer treated with palbociclib in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: The recommended first-line treatment for advanced, ER+/HER2 negative breast cancer is a CDK 4/6 inhibitor in combination with an endocrine backbone. This study investigated the use of palbociclib, as first- or second-line therapy for advanced breast cancer patients in a real-world setting. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective, population-based study included all Danish, advanced breast cancer patients with ER+/HER2 negative disease who initiated first- or second-line treatment with palbociclib from January 1st, 2017, until December 31st, 2020. The primary outcomes were PFS and OS. RESULTS: The study included 1054 advanced breast cancer patients with a mean age of 66.8 years. Median OS was 51.7 months (95% CI, 44.9-54.6) for all patients in the first-line setting (n = 728) and median PFS was 24.3 months (95% CI, 21.7-27.8). Patients treated in second line (n = 326) had a median OS of 32.5 months (95% CI, 29.9-35.9) and a median PFS of 13.6 months (95% CI, 11.5-15.7). In first-line setting, the PFS and OS were significantly different for endocrine sensitive patients treated with AI (aromatase inhibitor) (n = 423) vs. fulvestrant (n = 158) as endocrine backbone to palbociclib (median PFS AI 31.3 months vs fulvestrant 19.9 months, p = 0.002 and median OS AI 56.9 months vs. fulvestrant 43.6 months, p = 0.001). In endocrine resistant patients (n = 145), no statistically significant difference in PFS was shown (median PFS AI 21.5 months vs. fulvestrant 12.0 months, p = 0.09), whereas OS was significantly different (median OS AI 43.5 months vs. fulvestrant 28.8 months, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: In this real-world study, treatment with palbociclib combination therapy met the standards of efficacy set by the phase III trials, PALOMA-2 and PALOMA-3, and the standards set by real-world studies in other countries. The study showed significantly different outcomes in terms of PFS and OS in endocrine sensitive patients comparing AI vs. fulvestrant as endocrine backbone to palbociclib as first-line therapy.

Improvements in Survival and Early Retirement Rates - Real-World Evidence on Danish Breast Cancer Patients 2004-2018.

Background: Historically, Denmark has had poor survival for cancer patients relative to other western countries with comparable health-care systems. In this study, we examine the long-term cancer impact of a nationwide reform addressing all cancer diagnostics, implemented in 2006. The analyses include patients diagnosed with breast cancer and their spouses (informal caregivers). Patients and their spouses diagnosed before and after the reform were compared. Focus is on the potential impact on overall survival, early retirement, sick leave, unemployment as well as earnings (income). Methods: In a nationwide retrospective cohort study utilizing the Danish National Patient Register we identified 77,474 breast cancer patients between 1st January 2002 and 31st December 2018. Data was merged with the National Cancer Register, the Central Person Register, the Education Register, the DREAM Register and the Income Register using citizens' personal identification number. Spouses of cancer patients were identified through the Central Person Register. Propensity score matching was applied to match populations before and after the reform. Analyses on matched as well as unmatched populations were performed. Results: In a matched sample, risk of mortality was reduced by 15% for breast cancer patients diagnosed after the reform. Moreover, there was a 15% reduced risk of early retirement. The patients diagnosed after the reform had reduced income three to five years after diagnosis relative to those diagnosed before the reform, likely due to survival bias and labor market conditions. In an unmatched sample of patients diagnosed two years before or after the reform, mortality was reduced by 7%. Conclusion: Implementation of the nationwide cancer reform together with advancement in new cancer treatments had a positive impact on survival and reduced risk of early retirement. The results from this study are reassuring that relevant health-care reforms improve cancer outcome.

Cost-effectiveness of 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Denmark compared with PPV23.

BACKGROUND: A new 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV20) provides protection against 20 pneumococcal serotypes. The vaccine has the potential to decrease the impact of pneumococcal diseases in society and to increase health among vulnerable persons. AIM: This study investigates the cost-effectiveness of vaccinating Danish adults in different age groups and risk of pneumococcal disease with PCV20 compared to the 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPV23) - either as PCV20 compared to PPV23 or as PPV23 followed by PCV20 compared to PPV23. METHODS: A Markov model adapted to the Danish setting was developed to estimate clinical outcomes and costs of vaccinating the Danish population in specific age and risk groups. The model used a restricted societal perspective and estimated outcomes and costs using a lifetime time horizon. To estimate the clinical outcomes and costs, inputs on vaccine effectiveness and waning were retrieved from other studies whereas data on risk groups, coverage and costs were based on real-world data. RESULTS: The results showed that in all scenarios the incidence and mortality of pneumococcal disease were reduced when vaccinating with PCV20, resulting in lower costs. For the vaccine target group of adults aged ≥18 years at moderate or high risk and all adults aged ≥65 years both in the case of PPV23+PCV20 compared to PPV23 and in case of PCV20 compared to PPV23 vaccination with PCV20 was found to be a dominant strategy gaining 1,350 or 5,821 quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), respectively, and reducing total costs by 60 or 396 million EUR, respectively, as compared to PPV23 vaccination alone. Similar results of dominant PCV20 strategy were found for other age and risk group comparisons. Both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the results being robust to changes in input parameters and applied assumptions. LIMITATIONS: Like other modelling studies, this analysis has limitations such as lack of detailed data for some inputs. CONCLUSION: Vaccination with PCV20 reduced the incidence and mortality of pneumococcal diseases in Danish adults compared to PPV23. This reduction has the potential to reduce the financial burden related to managing diseases while also increasing public health.

Direct Versus Video Laryngoscopy in a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services Setting: A Retrospective Comparison.

OBJECTIVE: Since the introduction of video laryngoscopy (VL) as a technique for orotracheal intubation, its use has become widespread among prehospital providers. However, little information is available about the efficacy and success of VL compared with direct laryngoscopy (DL) in the helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) setting. The objective of this study was to investigate whether VL or DL increased successful first-pass orotracheal intubations and overall intubation success by HEMS providers. DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was performed on adults intubated by a HEMS program from January 2015 to July 2017. All orotracheal intubations with at least 1 attempt were included. Excluded were emergent cricothyrotomies, nonintubated patients, and those intubated before HEMS care. RESULTS: DL accounted for 21 intubations, whereas VL was used for 150 intubations. Nineteen of 21 (90.5%) DL intubations were successful on first pass, whereas 127 of 150 (84.7%) VL intubations were successful on first pass. The overall success rate was 90.5% for DL and 92.7% for VL. For both first-pass and overall success rates, the differences between modalities were not statistically significant. DL and VL had nearly identical complication rates, with hypoxia being the primary complication in both groups. CONCLUSION: No statistically significant difference was found in the first-pass rate, the overall success rate, or complications between DL and VL.

Health economic evaluation of introducing a PPSV23-based vaccination programme to adults aged 65 and above, and an extension to the 60-64 age group in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: To estimate the health economic consequences of the recently introduced PPSV23 vaccination programme for persons aged 65+ in Denmark and of a potential extension of the programme to include persons aged 60-64 years. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A Markov model was adapted to the Danish healthcare setting to simulate the epidemiological and economic burden of invasive pneumococcal disease and non-bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia using information from published sources and Danish databases. RESULTS: We found that the recent introduction of an age-based vaccination programme offering PPSV23 vaccination to the population of persons aged 65+ in Denmark will lead to a societal gain of EUR 72.0 million and prevent 19,707 cases of pneumococcal disease and 1,308 deaths per 1 million persons during the five-year study period.Similarly, we estimate that extending the programme to include persons aged 60-64 will lead to a gain of EUR 14.6 million per 1 million persons and prevent an additional 6,223 cases of pneumococcal disease and 185 deaths. CONCLUSION: The recent introduction of the age-based vaccination programme offering PPSV23 vaccination to all persons aged 65+ in Denmark is cost-effective. This is also the case if the programme is extended to include persons aged 60-64.

The cost burden of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis depending on biologic treatment status - a Danish register-based study.

BACKGROUND: Patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease may be treated with biologics, depending on several medical and non-medical factors. This study investigated healthcare costs and production values of patients treated with biologics. METHODS: This national register study included patients diagnosed with Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) between 2003 and 2015, identified in the Danish National Patient Register (DNPR). Average annual healthcare costs and production values were compared for patients receiving biologic treatment or not, and for patients initiating biologic treatment within a year after diagnosis or at a later stage. Cost estimates and production values were based on charges, fees and average gross wages. RESULTS: Twenty-six point one percent CD patients and ten point seven percent of UC patients were treated with biologics at some point in the study period. Of these, 46.4 and 45.5 % of patients initiated biologic treatment within the first year after diagnosis. CD and UC patients treated with biologics had higher average annual healthcare costs after diagnosis compared to patients not treated with biologics. CD patients receiving biologics early had lower production values both ten years before and eight years after treatment initiation, compared to patients receiving treatment later. UC patients receiving biologics early had lower average annual production values the first year after treatment initiation compared to UC patients receiving treatment later. CONCLUSIONS: CD and UC patients receiving biologic treatment had higher average annual healthcare costs and lower average annual production values, compared to patients not receiving biologic treatment. The main healthcare costs drivers were outpatient visit costs and admission costs.

Costs of electronic health vs. standard care management of inflammatory bowel disease across three years of follow-up-a Danish register-based study.

BACKGROUND: Costs of using eHealth in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management has only been assessed for short follow-up periods. The primary aim was to compare the direct costs of eHealth (cases) relative to standard care (matched controls) for IBD during three years of follow-up. METHODS: The study design was a retrospective, registry-based follow-up study of patients diagnosed with IBD two years prior, and three years subsequent, to their enrolment in eHealth. Cases were matched 1:4 with controls receiving standard care based on diagnosis, gender, biologics (yes/no) and age (+/- 5 years). RESULTS: We identified 116 cases (76 (66%) with ulcerative colitis (UC) and 40 (34%) with Crohn's disease (CD)) and matched them with 433 controls. IBD-related outpatient costs were only significantly higher for cases in the year of their inclusion in eHealth (€2,949 vs. €1,621 per patient, p =.01). Mean IBD-related admission costs tended to fall after enrolment in eHealth, with mean admission costs per patient at year 3 of follow-up of €74 for cases and €383 for controls (p = .02). Linear extrapolation of the reduction in costs beyond year 3 after enrolment in eHealth revealed that eHealth would be cost neutral or saving, relative to standard care, from year 4. CONCLUSION: IBD-related outpatient costs in both groups were similar and only significantly higher for cases in the year of their enrolment in eHealth, with admission costs typically falling after a patient's inclusion in eHealth. Estimation revealed eHealth to be cost neutral or saving from year 4.

Increased use of biologics in the era of TNF-α inhibitors did not reduce surgical rate but prolonged the time from diagnosis to first time intestinal resection among patients with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis - a Danish register-based study from 2003-2016.

BACKGROUND: During the last decade, a significant increase in the use of biologic medicine has occurred, accounting for the greatest healthcare expenditure, among inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence of and time to first intestinal resection surgery in a Danish nationwide cohort of Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) patients, stratified on biologic treatment status. METHODS: This retrospective population-based study included IBD patients diagnosed between 2003 and 2015 identified in the Danish National Patient Registry (NPR). The frequency of first-time surgery with intestinal resection and time to surgery was analysed among CD and UC patients between 2003 and 2016. RESULTS: A total of 2328 CD and 2128 UC patients underwent surgery between 2003 and 2016 (23% and 10% of all incident CD and UC patients, respectively). Up until 2008, the frequency of surgery gradually declined for both patient groups and an increase in the frequency of patients receiving biological treatment was observed. Subsequently, the frequency of surgery for both CD and UC patients remained stable despite a steady increase in biologic treatment use. CONCLUSIONS: The registered increase in the fraction of patients on biologic treatment (mostly TNF-α inhibitors) did not result in changes in the rates of major surgeries with intestinal resection in CD and UC patients.

Occurrence, mortality and cost of brain disorders in Denmark: a population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the occurrence of brain disorders (ie, neurological and mental disorders) in Denmark and mortality and cost of illness among affected persons. DESIGN: Matched cohort study. SETTING: We obtained routinely collected registry data on all Danish residents during 1995-2015. PARTICIPANTS: We identified all persons alive on 1 January 2015 with a diagnosis of 25 specific brain disorders (prevalent cohort) and all persons with an incident diagnosis during 2011-2015 (incident cohort). Each person was matched on age and sex with 10 persons from the general population without the brain disorder of interest. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence and incidence of hospital-diagnosed brain disorders, 1-year absolute and relative mortality, and attributable direct and indirect costs of illness compared with the corresponding matched cohorts. RESULTS: We identified 1 075 081 persons with at least one prevalent brain disorder (any brain disorder) on 1 January 2015, corresponding to 18.9% of the Danish population. The incidence rate of any brain disorder during 2011-2015 was 1349 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI 1345 to 1353). One-year mortality after diagnosis was increased in persons with any brain disorder (HR 4.7, 95% CI 4.7 to 4.8) and in persons in every group of specific brain disorders compared with the matched cohort from the general population. The total attributable direct costs of brain disorders in 2015 were €5.2 billion and total attributable indirect costs were €11.2 billion. Traumatic brain injury, stress-related disorders, depression and stroke were the most common brain disorders. Attributable costs were highest for depression, dementia, stress-related disorders and stroke. CONCLUSIONS: One in five Danish residents alive on 1 January 2015 had been diagnosed with at least one brain disorder, and mortality was five times higher in persons with any diagnosed brain disorder than in the general population. We found high attributable direct and indirect costs of brain disorders.

Total costs of treating venous thromboembolism: implication of different cost perspectives in a Danish setting.

Aim: Optimal use of scarce resources is a focus in the healthcare sector, as resources devoted to health care are limited. Costs and health economic analyses can help guide decision-making concerning treatments. One important factor is the choice of cost perspective that can range from a focus on narrow drug budget costs to broader economic perspectives. In the case of treatment with oral anticoagulants in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE), encompassing deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, the aim of this cost analysis was to illustrate the differences in costs when applying different cost perspectives.Methods: In a cost analysis, pairwise comparisons of average costs of 6 months standard treatment with either a low molecular weight heparin parenteral anticoagulant (LMWH) and a Vitamin K Antagonist (VKA) versus one of the non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants [NOACs; dabigatran etexilate, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban) used in daily clinical practice in Denmark for VTE patients were carried out. Each analysis included the results from five different cost analyses with increasingly broader cost perspectives going from the narrowest "drug cost only" perspective to the broadest "societal" perspective.Results: Focusing on "drug costs only", LMWH/VKA was associated with the lowest costs compared to all NOACs. However, including the economic impact of preventing recurrent VTE and limit bleedings, apixaban and rivaroxaban resulted in slightly lower health care costs than LMWH/VKA. When applying the "societal perspective", the total costs saved with apixaban and rivaroxaban compared to LMWH/VKA further increased, with apixaban having the lowest total costs.Conclusions: The present study's case of oral anticoagulants in VTE treatment illustrated the importance of the cost perspective in the choice of therapy. If decision-making were based on drug costs only, instead of applying a health care sector or societal cost perspective, suboptimal decisions may be likely.

Costs of subcutaneous and intravenous administration of trastuzumab for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.

AIM: Trastuzumab is available in an intravenous (iv.) and a subcutaneous (sc.) formulation. The objective of this study was to estimate the costs of administration of iv. and sc. trastuzumab treatment. MATERIALS & METHODS: Via interviews, we identified all the activities associated with iv. and sc. administration. The outcome was time estimates. To estimate the administration costs, the time estimates were valued by average gross wages. RESULTS: The iv. administration takes longer time as infusion time is longer (25 or 85 min). The iv. administration is associated with higher cost for 17 cycles; €971 (€1858 vs €887). CONCLUSION: sc. administration is associated with lower administration costs. Switching patients from iv. to sc. would make it possible to treat more patients without increasing the personnel resources.

Cost of illness of atrial fibrillation: a nationwide study of societal impact.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of atrial fibrillation is increasing rapidly; however, to date, population-based data are lacking on the attributable cost of illness of atrial fibrillation from a societal perspective, including both direct and indirect costs. METHODS: The study was an incidence-based cost-of-illness study based on national registries covering the entire population of Denmark. We identified all patients with a first-time hospital diagnosis of atrial fibrillation between 2001 and 2012. For every atrial fibrillation patient, we identified three age- and sex-matched controls from the general population. Both the total and the attributable costs of atrial fibrillation were estimated based on individual level information on hospital care (in- and out-patient contacts), primary sector care, use of prescription drugs and productivity loss. RESULTS: Average 3-year societal costs per patient attributable to atrial fibrillation were estimated to be €20,403-26,544 during the study period. The costs were highest during the first year after diagnosis of atrial fibrillation. Admission costs constituted the largest cost component, whereas primary sector costs and medicine costs only constituted minor components. The attributable costs were more than two-fold higher among patients experiencing a stroke. The total 3-year cost attributable to atrial fibrillation in Denmark was estimated to be €219-295 million. CONCLUSIONS: The societal costs attributable to atrial fibrillation are significant. Reducing the need for hospitalizations, in particular from stroke, is a key factor in controlling the costs.

Incidence and cost of hypoglycemic events requiring medical assistance in a hospital setting in Denmark.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to estimate the incidence and hospital costs associated with hypoglycemic episodes (HEs) requiring hospital admission or emergency room (ER) visits in Denmark. MATERIALS & METHODS: This study analyzed data from the National Patient Registry. Data on HE-related hospital admissions or ER visits occurring between 2008 and 2011 were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: There were 1906 hospital admissions and 803 ER visits in 2008 compared with 1646 hospital admissions and 547 ER visits in 2011, corresponding to a decrease in incidence from 10.6 to 7.1. The estimated annual total hospital costs ranged from €3.0 million in 2008 to €2.3 million in 2011. CONCLUSION: HEs represent a major burden for the Danish healthcare system.

Cost-minimization analysis of sublingual immunotherapy versus subcutaneous immunotherapy for house dust mite respiratory allergic disease in Denmark.

Objectives Currently, patients with persistent moderate-to-severe house dust mite (HDM) allergic rhinitis despite use of symptom-relieving medication can be offered subcutaneously administered allergy immunotherapy (SQ SCIT; Alutard SQ) as standard care of treatment in Denmark. Recently, a HDM sublingually administered allergy immunotherapy tablet (SQ SLIT-tablet; ACARIZAX) has been developed for at-home treatment. The purpose of this analysis is to compare the costs related to treatment and administration of SQ SLIT-tablet and SQ SCIT. Methods Assuming equal efficacy between ther SQ SLIT-tablet and SQ SCIT, the cost-minimization analysis was the most appropriate for the comparison. According to guidelines and Summary of Product Characteristics, the treatment duration of SQ SLIT-tablet is 3 years and 3-5 years for SQ SCIT. The courses of treatment vary among patients and, therefore, the costs of treatment have been calculated for an average patient with HDM respiratory allergic disease (RAD) receiving either SQ SLIT-tablet or SQ SCIT. All costs associated with allergy immunotherapy were collected, i.e., cost of medication, administration and treatment setting, and discounted according to Danish guidelines. Comprehensive univariate sensitivity analyses were carried out. Results The treatment costs for an average patient with HDM RAD are €3094 for SQ SLIT-tablet and €3799 for SQ SCIT; however, when adding indirect costs to the calculations the total costs of the treatments are €3697 and €6717 for SQ SLIT-tablet and SQ SCIT, respectively. Therefore, if 2500 patients with HDM RAD were treated with SQ SLIT-tablet instead of SQ SCIT, it would elicit a saving to the healthcare system of ∼€1.8 million. The conclusion was robust to any changes in the sensitivity analysis. Conclusion With regards to the cost of treating Danish patients with HDM RAD, it is clearly cost-saving to treat patients with SQ SLIT-tablet compared to SQ SCIT.

Revisiting the cost-effectiveness of universal HPV-vaccination in Denmark accounting for all potentially vaccine preventable HPV-related diseases in males and females.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the consequences of a national immunization program with HPV vaccine for both boys and girls in Denmark, including the prophylactic effects on all potentially vaccine preventable HPV-associated diseases in male and female. METHODS: The study focussed on the quadrivalent vaccine which protects against HPV type 6, 11, 16 and 18, and the vaccine's protection against genital warts, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, cervical cancer, anogenital cancer (anal, penile, vaginal and vulvar cancer) and head and neck cancer (oral cavity, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancer) were included in the analyses. In general, the analysis was performed in two phases. First, an agent-based transmission model that described the HPV transmission without and with HPV vaccination was applied. Second, an analysis of the incremental costs and effects was performed. The model did not include naturally-acquired immunity to HPV in the simulations. RESULTS: In the base case result (i.e. vaccination of girls only, 85% vaccination rate, private market price at € 123 per dose ex. VAT) an ICER of 3583 €/QALY (3-dose regime) is estimated when all HPV-related diseases are taken into account. Vaccination of girls & boys vs. vaccination of girls only an ICER of 28,031 €/QALY (2-dose regime) and 41,636 €/QALY (3-dose regime) is estimated. CONCLUSIONS: Extension of the current HPV programme in Denmark to include boys and girls is a cost effective preventive intervention that would lead to a faster prevention of cancers, cancer precursors and genital warts in men and women.

Cost-of-illness of patients with contact dermatitis in Denmark.

BACKGROUND: Contact dermatitis is a frequent occupational and non-occupational skin disease. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of contact dermatitis on labour market affiliation and societal costs in terms of healthcare costs and production loss. METHODS: A total of 21 441 patients patch tested either in hospital departments or at dermatological clinics in the period 2004-2009 were included in the study. The analyses were stratified by children (age 0-15 years), occupational contact dermatitis (age 16-65 years), and non-occupational dermatitis (age ≥ 16 years). Controls were selected from a 30% random sample of the population. Individual encrypted data were retrieved on healthcare utilization, socio-demographics, education, labour market affiliation and transfer payments from public registers in Denmark for cases and controls. RESULTS: Attributable healthcare costs for 4 years prior to patch testing (1 year for children) and the year after patch testing were €959 for children, €724 for occupational contact dermatitis, and €1794 for non-occupational dermatitis. Productivity costs for the same period were €10 722 for occupational contact dermatitis and €3074 for non-occupational contact dermatitis. CONCLUSIONS: The main findings of this study were that there were statistically significant attributable healthcare costs for both children and adults, and statistically significant productivity loss for adults.

Effects on costs of frontline diagnostic evaluation in patients suspected of angina: coronary computed tomography angiography vs. conventional ischaemia testing.

AIMS: The aim of this study was to investigate in patients with stable angina the effects on costs of frontline diagnostics by exercise-stress testing (ex-test) vs. coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA). METHODS AND RESULTS: In two coronary units at Lillebaelt Hospital, Denmark, 498 patients were identified in whom either ex-test (n = 247) or CTA (n = 251) were applied as the frontline diagnostic strategy in symptomatic patients with a low-intermediate pre-test probability of coronary artery disease (CAD). During 12 months of follow-up, death, myocardial infarction and costs associated with downstream diagnostic utilization (DTU), treatment, ambulatory visits, and hospitalizations were registered. There was no difference between cohorts in demographic characteristics or the pre-test probability of significant CAD. The mean (SD) age was 56 (11) years; 52% were men; and 96% were at low-intermediate pre-test probability of CAD. All serious cardiac events (n = 3) during follow-up occurred in patients with a negative ex-test result. Mean costs per patient associated with DTU, ambulatory visits, and cardiovascular medication were significantly higher in the ex-test than in the CTA group. The mean (SD) total costs per patient at the end of the follow-up were 14% lower in the CTA group than in the ex-test group, € 1510 (3474) vs. €1777 (3746) (P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: Diagnostic assessment of symptomatic patients with a low-intermediate probability of CAD by CTA incurred lower costs when compared with the ex-test. These findings need confirmation in future prospective trials.