Cost-Effectiveness of Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy for Chinese Patients.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) is the most popular bariatric surgery procedure in China. However, its cost-effectiveness in Chinese patients is currently unknown. OBJECTIVES: This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of LSG vs no surgery in Chinese patients with severe and complex obesity, taking into account both healthcare expenses and the potential improvement in health-related quality of life (HRQoL). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted, encompassing 135 Chinese patients who underwent LSG between January 3, 2022 and December 29, 2022, at a major bariatric center. The study evaluated the cost-effectiveness from a healthcare service perspective, employing the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) for quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained. The analyses compared LSG with the alternative of not undergoing surgery over a 1-year period, using actual data, and extended to a lifetime horizon by projecting costs and utilities at an annual discount rate of 3.0%. Subgroup analyses were undertaken to explore cost-effectiveness variations across different sex, age and BMI categories, and diabetes status, employing a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). To ensure the reliability of the findings, one-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were executed. RESULTS: The results indicated that 1-year post-LSG, patients achieved an average total weight loss (TWL) of (32.7 ± 7.3)% and an excess weight loss (EWL) of (97.8 ± 23.1)%. The ICER for LSG compared to no surgery over a lifetime was $4,327/QALY, significantly below the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold for Chinese patients with severe and complex obesity. From a lifetime perspective, LSG proved to be cost-effective for all sex and age groups, across all BMI categories, and for both patients with and without diabetes. Notably, it was more cost-effective for younger patients, patients with higher BMI, and patients with diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: LSG is a highly cost-effective intervention for managing obesity in Chinese patients, delivering substantial benefits in terms of HRQoL improvement at a low cost. Its cost-effectiveness is particularly pronounced among younger individuals, those with higher BMI, and patients with diabetes.

Effect of multi-disciplinary team care program on quality of life, anxiety, and depression in hepatocellular carcinoma patients after surgery: A randomized, controlled study.

Objective: Multi-disciplinary team (MDT) collaboration enables hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients to achieve better survival through precise diagnosis and individualized treatment. This study aimed to further investigate the effect of MDT care program (MDT-CP) on quality of life (QoL), anxiety and depression in HCC patients after surgery. Methods: Totally, 150 postoperative HCC patients were enrolled and randomized in a 1:1 ratio into the MDT-CP group (N = 76) to receive MDT care for 6 months and the normal care program (N-CP) group (N = 74) to receive routine care for 6 months. Results: Quality of Life Questionnaire-Core 30 (QLQ-C30) global health status score at 1 month (M1), M3 and M6, QLQ-C30 functions score at M3 and M6 elevated while QLQ-C30 symptom score at M1 and M3 decreased in MDT-CP group compared with N-CP group (all P < 0.05). In addition, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)-Anxiety score at M3 and M6, anxiety occurrence rate at M6, anxiety degree at M6, were all reduced in MDT-CP group compared with N-CP group (all P < 0.05). HADS-Depression score at M6, and depression occurrence rate at M3, were both lessened in MDT-CP group compared to N-CP group (both P < 0.05), while there was no distinction of depression degree at any time points between groups. Conclusion: MDT-CP improves QoL, relieves anxiety and depression to a certain extent in HCC patients after surgery.

A randomized clinical trial of comprehensive education and care program compared to basic care for reducing anxiety and depression and improving quality of life and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent surgery.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of comprehensive education and care (CEC) program on anxiety, depression, quality of life, and survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who underwent surgical resection.Totally 136 patients with HCC who underwent hepatectomy were randomly assigned to CEC group and control group as 1:1 ratio. CEC group received health education, psychological nursing, caring activity, and telephone condolence, whereas control group received basic health education and rehabilitation for 12 months. Anxiety and depression were assessed by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS); quality of life was evaluated using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (QLQ-C30).HADS-Anxiety (HADS-A) score was decreased at 9 month (M9) and M12, and reduction in HADS-A score (M12-M0) was greater in CEC group compared with control group. At M12, percentage of anxiety patients was less, but anxiety severity was similar in CEC group compared with control group. HADS-Depression (HADS-D) score was decreased at M12, and reduction in HADS-D score (M12-M0) was greater in CEC group compared with control group. At M12, percentage of depression patients were less but depression severity was similar in CEC group compared with control group. In addition, QLQ-C30 global health status and functional score was increased at M12, and score improvement (M12-M0) was greater in CEC group compared with control group. In addition, overall survival was longer in CEC group compared with control group.CEC relieves anxiety and depression, improves quality of life, and prolongs survival in patients with HCC underwent surgical resection.