Coste-efectividad del desfibrilador automático implantable para la prevención primaria de la muerte súbita cardiaca / Cost-effectiveness of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death

Introducción y objetivos: El desfibrilador automático implantable (DAI) es una alternativa coste-efectiva para la prevención secundaria de la muerte súbita cardiaca, pero sigue habiendo dudas sobre su eficiencia en prevención primaria, sobre todo en pacientes con cardiopatía no isquémica.Métodos: Análisis de coste-utilidad del DAI más tratamiento médico convencional frente a tratamiento médico convencional para la prevención primaria de arritmias cardiacas desde la perspectiva del Sistema Nacional de Salud. Se simuló el curso de la enfermedad mediante modelos de Markov en pacientes con y sin cardiopatía isquémica. Los parámetros del modelo se basaron en los resultados obtenidos mediante metanálisis de los ensayos clínicos publicados entre 1996 y 2018 en los que se comparaba el DAI con el tratamiento médico convencional, los resultados de seguridad del ensayo DANISH y el análisis de la práctica clínica habitual en un hospital terciario.Resultados: Se estimó un beneficio del DAI sobre la muerte por cualquier causa con HR = 0,70 (IC95%, 0,58-0,85) en cardiopatía isquémica y HR = 0,79 (IC95%, 0,66-0,96) en no isquémica. La razón de coste-efectividad incremental estimada mediante análisis probabilístico fue de 19.171 euros/año de vida ajustado por calidad (AVAC) en pacientes con cardiopatía isquémica, 31.084 euros/AVAC en pacientes con miocardiopatía dilatada no isquémica y 23.230 euros/AVAC en los menores de 68 años.Conclusiones: La eficiencia del DAI monocameral ha mejorado en la última década y este resulta coste-efectivo para los pacientes con disfunción ventricular izquierda de origen isquémico o no isquémico menores de 68 años considerando una disposición a pagar 25.000 euros/AVAC. En pacientes no isquémicos mayores, la razón de coste-efectividad incremental estimada se sitúa alrededor de los 30.000 euros/AVAC (AU)

Introduction and objective: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) are a cost-effective alternative for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death, but their efficiency in primary prevention, especially among patients with nonischemic heart disease, is still uncertain.Methods: We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of ICD plus conventional medical treatment (CMT) vs CMT for primary prevention of cardiac arrhythmias from the perspective of the national health service. We simulated the course of the disease by using Markov models in patients with ischemic and nonischemic heart disease. The parameters of the model were based on the results obtained from a meta-analysis of clinical trials published between 1996 and 2018 comparing ICD plus CMT vs CMT, the safety results of the DANISH trial, and analysis of real-world clinical practice in a tertiary hospital.Results: We estimated that ICD reduced the likelihood of all-cause death in patients with ischemic heart disease (HR, 0.70; 95%CI, 0.58-0.85) and in those with nonischemic heart disease (HR, 0.79; 95%CI, 0.66–0.96). The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) estimated with probabilistic analysis was €19 171/quality adjusted life year (QALY) in patients with ischemic heart disease and €31 084/QALY in those with nonischemic dilated myocardiopathy overall and €23 230/QALY in patients younger than 68 years.Conclusions: The efficiency of single-lead ICD systems has improved in the last decade, and these devices are cost-effective in patients with ischemic and nonischemic left ventricular dysfunction younger than 68 years, assuming willingness to pay as €25 000/QALY. For older nonischemic patients, the ICER was around €30 000/QALY (AU)

Association between low empathy and high burnout among primary care physicians and nurses in Lleida, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Burnout is a growing problem among healthcare professionals and may be mitigated and even prevented by measures designed to promote empathy and resilience. OBJECTIVES: We studied the association between burnout and empathy in primary care practitioners in Lleida, Spain and investigated possible differences according to age, sex, profession, and place of practice (urban versus rural). METHODS: All general practitioners (GPs) and family nurses in the health district of Lleida (population 366 000) were asked by email to anonymously complete the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (JSPE) between May and July 2014. Tool consistency was evaluated by Cronbach's α, the association between empathy and burnout by Spearman's correlation coefficient, and the association between burnout and empathy and sociodemographic variables by the χ2 test. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-six GPs and 131 nurses (52.7% response rate) from six urban and 16 rural practices participated (78.3% women); 33.3% of respondents had low empathy, while 3.7% had high burnout. The MBI and JSPE were correlated (P < .001) and low burnout was associated with high empathy (P < .05). Age and sex had no influence on burnout or empathy. CONCLUSION: Although burnout was relatively uncommon in our sample, it was associated with low levels of empathy. This finding and our observation of lower empathy levels in rural settings require further investigation. [Box: see text].

Factores asociados a recibir la vacunación antigripal en profesionales de atención primaria / Factors associated with influenza immunization in primary care health workers

Objetivo: Conocer la cobertura vacunal antigripal en profesionales de atención primaria y determinar los factores asociados a la vacunación (temporada 2013-2014). Métodos: Estudio transversal realizado a 287 profesionales que cumplimentaron un cuestionario que incluía preguntas sobre conocimientos, creencias y actitudes frente la gripe y la vacunación. Se determinó la cobertura y aquellas variables asociadas a recibir la vacunación, utilizando modelos de regresión logística no condicional. Resultados: La participación fue del 47,2%. La cobertura vacunal fue del 60,3%; fue mayor en los profesionales > 55 años de edad, mujeres y pediatras. Factores asociados a recibirla fueron la percepción de que la vacunación protege la propia salud (odds ratio ajustada [ORa]: 11,1; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC95%]: 3,41-35,9) y de que es efectiva (ORa: 7,5; IC95%: 0,9-59,3). No se halló asociación entre la vacunación y el conocimiento sobre la gripe y la vacunación, pero sí para prescribirla en gestantes, en > 65 años y en inmunodeprimidos. Conclusiones: Se recomienda diseñar estrategias para aumentar la cobertura, basadas en cambiar actitudes negativas frente a la vacunación (AU)

Objective: To identify the influenza vaccination coverage in healthcare workers in primary care and to determine the factors associated with vaccination (2013-2014 season). Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 287 healthcare workers who completed a questionnaire that included questions about knowledge, beliefs and attitudes to influenza and vaccination. We estimated the vaccine coverage and identified the variables associated with vaccination of healthcare workers by using non-conditional logistic regression models. Results: The participation rate was 47.2%. Vaccination coverage was 60.3% and was higher in workers older than 55 years, women and pediatricians. The factors associated with healthcare worker vaccination were the perception that vaccination confers protection (aOR: 11.1; 95%CI: 3.41-35.9) and the perception that it is effective (aOR: 7.5; 95%CI: 0.9-59.3). No association was found between receiving the vaccine and knowledge of influenza or vaccination. However, an association was found with prescribing vaccination to pregnant women, to persons older than 65 years, and to immunosuppressed individuals. Conclusions: Strategies should be designed to increase coverage, based on changing negative attitudes of healthcare workers to vaccination (AU)