A general health economics review of the hidden costs involved in discharging coeliac patients from hospital-based specialty clinics to community-based management.

Aim: The aim of this work was to highlight the impact and hidden costs incurred by the NHS in supporting this management process. Background: Coeliac disease (CD) is a common auto-immune condition which affects around 1% of the general population. In 2005 there was a drive by the government to discharge patients with CD from specialist hospital follow up to community-based management to improve cost efficiency. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 1317 CD patients collected from a local coeliac database created between 2005 and 2016. Results: During these 12 years, CD patients accounted for 1965 hospital admissions with a total 5716 days spent within the hospital setting. There were 33150 adult and paediatric OPAs attended equating to 25.17 per coeliac patient, or 2.29 per person per year. The cost to the CCG totalled £5,167,396. A total of 527 lower GI procedures were undertaken with findings of microscopic colitis, melanosis coli, inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer. 420 (29%) of the coeliac cohort were found to have IDA with just 4% (17/420) receiving an intravenous (IV) iron infusion. Conclusion: It would appear that the government's attempts to reduce the cost of CD care within the NHS was not particularly effective, from a financial, or patient care perspective. A hospital-based, specialist nurse led, virtual management system (with consultant over-view) may prove to be a more efficient compromise, to help reduce down waiting times and costs, whilst still providing coeliac patients with the specialist and holistic input they require and deserve.

Systematic review: Interventions for alcohol use disorder in patients with cirrhosis or alcohol-associated hepatitis.

BACKGROUND: Alcohol use is the most important factor in determining the prognosis of patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis and alcohol-associated hepatitis. AIM: To conduct a systematic review of interventions for alcohol use disorder specific to patients with cirrhosis or alcohol-associated hepatitis. METHODS: We searched five databases between inception and November 2022. The primary outcomes were abstinence, hepatic decompensation and mortality. We included randomised and non-randomised studies. Risk of bias was assessed using validated tools. Where possible, meta-analysis was performed. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria including six randomised trials and 17 non-randomised studies of interventions. These included 104,298 patients with a mean/median age range from 44 to 65, of whom 75% were male. Interventions included psychological therapy, pharmacological therapies, specialist clinics, patient education and low alcohol drinks. Baclofen was the only intervention to demonstrate a statistically significant impact on the primary outcomes in a randomised trial (abstinence OR: 6.3, 95% CI: 2.4-16.1). Three non-randomised studies reported reductions in episodes of hepatic decompensation that were significant in multivariate models. This was in response to psychological therapy, use of any pharmacotherapy, and use of any treatment. A meta-analysis of non-randomised studies that examined the impact of psychological therapies revealed statistically non-significant improvements in abstinence (4 studies, OR: 1.87, 95% CI: 0.38-9.23) and mortality (4 studies, OR: 0.47, 95% CI: 0.12-1.77). CONCLUSIONS: Baclofen is the only intervention with randomised trial evidence for significant benefit in patients with cirrhosis. Non-randomised studies also point to non-pharmaceutical interventions possibly improving clinical outcomes.