Analysis of the Direct Cost of Medical and Surgical Care for Testicular Cancer in Early and Advanced Stages in a Third Level Medical Facility of the Mexican Social Security Institute.

BACKGROUND: The testicular cancer prevails in the third decade of life, the care cost increases with higher staging of the disease. OBJECTIVE: Compare the direct costs of medical and surgical attention for testicular cancer in early and advanced stages in a Third Level Medical Facility. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Process study, direct costs of medical attention are evaluated. Number of laboratory studies, imaging studies, and medical and surgical treatment were analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 early stages and group 2 advanced stages. Mann Whitney U test was used for the difference between groups. RESULTS: There were 10 patients in each group, Group 1: 8 (80%) seminomas and 2 (20%) non-seminoma, Group 2: 4 (40%) seminomas and 6 (60%) non-seminomas. The average cost of care in Group 2 is higher than in Group 1, $288,827.90 and $145,911.70 Mexican pesos respectively (p=0.00578). CONCLUSIONS: The direct cost of medical attention is higher in the advanced stages compared to the early stages.

Analysis of the Direct Cost of Medical and Surgical Care for Testicular Cancer in Early and Advanced Stages in a Third Level Medical Facility of the Mexican Social Security Institute

Background: The testicular cancer prevails in the third decade of life, the care cost increases with higher staging of the disease. Objective: Compare the direct costs of medical and surgical attention for testicular cancer in early and advanced stages in a Third Level Medical Facility. Material and Methods: Process study, direct costs of medical attention are evaluated. Number of laboratory studies, imaging studies, and medical and surgical treatment were analyzed. The patients were divided into 2 groups: group 1 early stages and group 2 advanced stages. Mann Whitney U test was used for the difference between groups. Results: There were 10 patients in each group, Group 1: 8 (80%) seminomas and 2 (20%) non-seminoma, Group 2: 4 (40%) seminomas and 6 (60%) non-seminomas. The average cost of care in Group 2 is higher than in Group 1, 288,827.90 and 145,911.70 Mexican pesos respectively (p=0.00578). Conclusions: The direct cost of medical attention is higher in the advanced stages compared to the early stages (AU)

Objetivo: Comparar los costes directos de atenciónmédica y quirúrgica del cáncer testicular en etapa tempranay avanzada en un hospital de tercer nivel.Material y Métodos: Estudio de proceso, se evalúancostes directos de atención médica. Se analizaron númerode estudios de laboratorio, gabinete y tratamiento médico yquirúrgico. Los pacientes se dividieron en 2 grupos: grupo1 estadios tempranos y grupo 2 estadios avanzados. Se utilizó la prueba de U de Mann Whitney para diferencia entregrupos.Resultados: Fueron 10 pacientes en cada grupo,Grupo 1: 8 (80%) seminomas y 2 (20%) no seminomas,Grupo 2: 4 (40%) seminomas y 6 (60%) no seminomas. Elcoste promedio de atención en el Grupo 2 es mayor que enel Grupo 1, $288,827.90 y $145,911.70 pesos mexicanosrespectivamente (p=0.00578).Conclusiones: El coste directo de atención médica esmayor en los estadios avanzados comparado con los estadios tempranos. (AU)

A cost-minimization analysis of measures against metallic dental restorations for head and neck radiotherapy.

The aim of this study was to compare the estimated public medical care cost of measures to address metallic dental restorations (MDRs) for head and neck radiotherapy using high-energy mega-voltage X-rays. This was considered a first step to clarify which MDR measure was more cost-effective. We estimated the medical care cost of radiotherapy for two representative MDR measures: (i) with MDR removal or (ii) without MDR removal (non-MDR removal) using magnetic resonance imaging and a spacer. A total of 5520 patients received head and neck radiation therapy in 2018. The mean number of MDRs per person was 4.1 dental crowns and 1.3 dental bridges. The mean cost per person was estimated to be 121 720 yen for MDR removal and 54 940 yen for non-MDR removal. Therefore, the difference in total public medical care cost between MDR removal and non-MDR removal was estimated to be 303 268 800 yen. Our results suggested that non-MDR removal would be more cost-effective than MDR removal for head and neck radiotherapy. In the future, a national survey and cost-effectiveness analysis via a multicenter study are necessary; these investigations should include various outcomes such as the rate of local control, status of oral mucositis, frequency of hospital visits and efforts of the medical professionals.

Impaired activity of daily living is a risk factor for high medical cost in patients of non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding.

BACKGROUND: Non-variceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding (NVUGIB) is still a common and life-threatening disease, thus it would have a big impact on medical care cost. However, little is known about risk factors for increased medical care cost in NVUGIB patients. AIM: The purpose of the study was to clarify predictor of requiring high medical care cost in NVUGIB patients. Patients who underwent endoscopic hemostasis due to NVUGIB between April 2012 and March 2015 were included in this retrospective study. We analyzed the association between patients' background including activity of daily livings (ADL) and high medical care cost using logistic regression model. Medical care cost was calculated in reference to the "Diagnosis Procedure Combination" which is diagnosis-dominant case-mix system in Japan. The cutoff value of high medical care cost was defined as its first quartile. ADL was assessed according to Katz-6 score. We defined impaired ADL patient who revealed Katz-6 score more than 1. RESULTS: A total of 128 consecutive patients were included in this study. Median medical care cost was 5323 USD (IQR 3661-8172 USD). There were 13 patients (10%) in impaired ADL group. In univariate analysis, age and impaired ADL before admission revealed significant association with high cost. Of these, impaired ADL was an only independent risk factor [odds ratio 15.3 (95% CI 2.49-183)] in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Impairment in ADL before admission was an independent predictor for high medical care cost with NVUGIB patients.

Analysis of the relation between health statistics and eating habits in Japanese prefectures using fuzzy robust regression model.

In recent years, the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare is working to improve citizen׳s lifestyle and social environment to improve their health. This is because of the following reasons. Diseases related to lifestyle such as malignant neoplasms, heart disease, and cerebrovascular disease account for about 60% of the deaths in 2013. In addition, 32% of all medical expenditures are made on lifestyle-related disease. Lifestyle-related diseases can be prevented by daily exercise, a well-balanced diet, and not smoking. This ministry is promoting measures such as dietary education, physical activity, and exercise. Improvement of diet is the easiest way to reduce the occurrence of lifestyle-related diseases. Thus, in this paper, we analyze the relation between health and diet using our fuzzy robust regression model.

Effects of Visiting Nursing Services in Long-term Care Insurance on Utilization of Health Care

PURPOSE: This is a comparative study using secondary data from the Korean national long term care (LTC) insurance. METHODS: Visiting nursing (VN) service users (n=666) and non-users (n=4,375) were extracted and compared in terms of medical expenditures, length of hospitalization, and annual number of ambulatory care visits to investigate effects of VN services in LTC. RESULTS: Total health care expenditures were compared between the two groups and it was found that VN service users spent about $ 1700 than non-users for their medical costs between 2009 and 2011. The average length of in-hospital stay for VN service users was 19.4 days shorter than that of non-users. However, using VN services did not significantly influence the annual number of ambulatory care visits. CONCLUSION: The study has found that VN services are effective ways of providing community-based LTC services. We recommend LTC policy makers to further utilize VN services to deliver cost effective health care services.

Increasing ambulatory surgery potential by non-medicalized accommodation: matched comparison of the 2011 national hospital activity data to 66 local stays.

INTRODUCTION: Several policy and cultural factors still hinder the development of ambulatory surgery (AS) in France. Our surgery unit developed a day-surgery approach with extension of a non-medicalized post-operative stay in a hotel-like structure within the hospital, called an "ambulotel". The present study aims to evaluate the potential of this approach in increasing the possibilities of ambulatory surgery by comparing our stays to those of a nationwide database. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We matched 66 patients according to seven criteria in our one-day ambulotel program to the 2011 DRG national database and then compared their characteristics. RESULTS: Of the 10,428 patients in the database with one-night stays in a traditional surgery unit, more than half (52%) would probably have been eligible for ambulatory surgery with a potential theoretical savings estimated at €12,806,568. CONCLUSION: This estimated amount of savings represents a major medical and economic issue. The savings could contribute to increased ambulatory surgery activity in France by creating new dedicated Ambulatory Units, pooling conventional beds, or using night accommodation in non-hospital nursing homes, for example.

Medical care costs incurred by patients with smoking-related non-small cell lung cancer treated at the National Cancer Institute of Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a public health problem in Mexico and worldwide; its economic impact on developing countries has not been well documented. The aim of this study was to assess the direct medical costs attributable to smoking incurred by lung cancer patients treated at the National Cancer Institute of Mexico (INCan). METHODS: The study was conducted at INCan in 2009. We carried out a cost of illness (COI) methodology, using data derived from an expert panel consensus and from medical chart review. A panel of experts developed a diagnostic-therapeutic guide that combined the hospital patient pathways and the infrastructure, human resources, technology, and services provided by the medical units at INCan. Cost estimates in Mexican pesos were adjusted by inflation and converted into US Dollars using the 2013 FIX exchange rate for foreign transactions (1 USD = 13.06 Mexican pesos). RESULTS: A 297 incident cases diagnosed with any type of lung cancer were analyzed. According to clinical stage, the costs per patient were 13,456; 35,648; 106,186; and 144,555 USD, for lung cancer stages I, II, III, and IV respectively. The weighted average annual cost/patient was and 139,801 USD and the average annual cost/patient that was attributable to smoking was 92,269 USD. This cost was independent of the clinical stage, with stage IV representing 96% of the annual cost. The total annual cost of smoking-related lung cancer at INCan was 19,969,781 USD. CONCLUSIONS: The medical care costs of lung cancer attributable to smoking represent a high cost both for INCan and the Mexican health sector. These costs could be reduced if all provisions established in the Framework Convention of Tobacco Control of the World Health Organization were implemented in Mexico.

A longitudinal study about the effect of practicing Yan Xin Qigong on medical care cost with medical claims data.

We use 7-year longitudinal medical claims data and statistical models to study the relationship between practicing Yan Xin Qigong (YXQG), a traditional advanced Chinese Qigong that has been integrated with modern science and technology, and practitioners' medical care utilization and the associated costs. We find that for the sampled practitioners, their average monthly medical visits and the associated costs are significantly lower after practicing YXQG. After controlling for other factors, the longer of practicing YXQG, the more likely there was a fall in average medical visits and medical costs. The main findings are robust to various estimation methods.

A study on the practice variations according to physician characteristics / 예방의학회지

It is well known that a physician's personal characteristic affects his practice pattern. Furthermore, a physician's specialty has powerful influences on his practice pattern. However, despite the fact specialization has received the most attention for its influence on physician's service behavior, few studies have been conducted on the variations of contents and volume of physician's services. This study has intended to identify factors influencing the practice variations according to various physician characteristics. There are some other evidences that medical care providers are different in using of health services and resources in Korea. Four physician characteristics were selected for the analysis, two demographical factors, age and sex, and two practice factors, place of practice and medical specialty. Also, three indicators of service amount(total amount of insurance claim bill, number of visits per case, number of prescriptions per case) were selected. From the pool of insurance claims for ambulatory care received by the Korean National Federation of Medical Insurance(NFMI), 84,898 cases were randomly sampled. In the meantime using physician database of NFMI, 613 general practitioners(GP), 107 regular family physicians(FP), 483 'grandfather' family physicians(GFP), and 1,157 specialist practitioners(SP) were randomly sampled. Their different practice contents were compared concerning the specialty, age groups, sex, and practice sites(urban-rural). Specialist physicians tend to provide more costly care than do generalists. General practitioners and family physicians usually make fewer following visits and prescriptions. Age is also the important factor in determining the amount of services, which is highest at the physician's age group of 40's. Female doctors and urban practitioners use much more resources than their counterparts respectively. Research findings suggest that physician's characteristics particularly the specialty can affect practice patterns and resource utilizations. Other characteristics such as age and sex are not controllable but physician's specialty is relatively easily controllable during the entire phases of policy implementation. This is all the more true in the individual's initial decision of his specialty. Specialization therefore should receive policymaker's attention for its potential influence on medical care utilization and health care expenditure.