Cost-effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in schizophrenia

Background: Various studies have reported that a decision-tree analysis is useful to evaluate different treatment strategies in real clinical practice. Objective: The main aim of this study was to research the clinical decisions regarding the treatment of patients who were diagnosed with schizophrenia. Method: Cost-effectiveness study of three different interventions to treat patients with schizophrenia were studied. Interventions were divided into the following categories: a) day hospital (psycho-educational treatment+psychiatric consultation+psychopharmacological treatment); b) therapy adherence clinic (psychopharmacological treatment with depot antipsychotic medication+psychiatric consultation); c) outpatient psychiatric care (psychopharmacological treatment+psychiatric consultation). For this purpose decision tree model was designed and three outcomes were measured (therapeutic compliance, non-compliance and rehospitalization). TreeAge software was used in order to estimate outcome probabilities and sensitivity analysis, distribution Beta for probabilities and Gamma for cost of interventions. Results: The probability of therapeutic compliance and average semestral cost of therapy adherence clinic, outpatient psychiatric care and day hospital are 0.594, 0.284, 2.393, and mean cost intervention US$ 2145.6, US$ 700.2 and US$ 1412.1 respectively (IC95%), according to Montecarlo analysis. Conclusions: According to the results, the clinical decision to treat patients in therapy adherence clinic improved therapeutic compliance, but the cost of treatment was higher. There were extra costs and risks to society and patient that are associated with therapeutic non-compliance. It is less expensive for the health care system to provide the patients outpatient psychiatric care, but perhaps in the long-term outpatient psychiatric care is more costly for the patient, their family, and society. According to the many important limitations of this study, further studies are needed to reject/confirm these strategies to be included in real clinical practice

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Efectividad y eficiencia de la vía clínica rápida (fast-track) en prótesis total de rodilla y cadera (PTR y PTC): 11 años de experiencia. Validación de la vía clínica. Análisis de la estancia hospitalaria, tasa de revisiones y coste en un hospital público español / Effectiveness and efficiency of the fast-track protocol in total hip and knee arthroplasty (THA and TKA): 11 years of experience. validation of the protocol, analysis of hospital stay, rate of revision surgery and cost in a Spanish public hospital

Objetivo. a) Valorar la efectividad de la implementación del fast-track en PTR-PTC; y b) evaluar la eficiencia en la estancia hospitalaria, las cirugías de revisión y los costes. Material y métodos. Estudio observacional en 2 tiempos: 1) Estudio prospectivo con 200 pacientes (PTR=100, PTC=100) en 2005-2007. Se analizó la edad, el sexo, la estancia hospitalaria, la escala visual analógica (EVA), el balance articular (BA) de rodilla, las complicaciones y la rehabilitación tras el alta. 2) Estudio prospectivo a 3.094 PTR y 1.664 PTC, desde el 2005-2015. Se analizó la estancia hospitalaria, el porcentaje de cirugías de revisión y el ahorro estimado. Resultados. En la validación en PTR el 68% (n=68) eran mujeres y el 32% (n=32) varones. La edad media fue de 71 años y la estancia hospitalaria de 6 días. La EVA preoperatoria/6 meses/año/2 años disminuyó progresivamente (7; 1,8; 1,4 y 1,2). El BA al alta/mes/2 años mejoró progresivamente (82°, 90° y 93°). Complicaciones 3% (n=3; fractura postraumática y 2 inestabilidades). Rehabilitación ambulatoria 8% (n=8). En la validación en PTC el 48% (n=48) eran mujeres y el 52% (n=52) varones, con una edad media de 70 años. La estancia hospitalaria fue de 5 días. Hubo complicaciones en 3 pacientes (3%) (fractura, luxación y TVP). Rehabilitación ambulatoria 3% (n=3). En PTR la estancia media (11 años) fue 5,96 días, las revisiones 5,96% y el ahorro estimado (2013-2015) 117.776 euros. En PTC la estancia media (11 años) fue 6,24 días, las revisiones 10,62% y el ahorro estimado (2013-2015) 116.316 euros. Conclusiones. La implantación/seguimiento del protocolo fast-track en PTR-PTC disminuye el dolor, las complicaciones, la rehabilitación ambulatoria, la estancia hospitalaria, la tasa de revisiones y los costes (AU)

Objective. a) To validate the effectiveness of the implementation of a fast-track protocol for TKA-THA; b) to evaluate efficiency in reducing length of stay, hospital costs and revision surgeries. Material and methods. A two-phase observational study was performed: 1) A prospective study in 200 patients (100 TKA and 100 THA) between 2005 and 2007. Age, sex, length of stay, visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, knee range of movement (ROM), complications and post-discharge rehabilitation were analyzed. 2) A prospective study was conducted in 3094 TKA and 1664 THA patients between 2005 and 2011. Length of stay, revision surgery and estimated savings were analyzed. Results. In the TKA evaluation, 68% of the patients were female (n=68) and 32% were male (n=32). The mean age was 71 years. Length of stay was 6 days. Pain diminished progressively at discharge/6 months/1 year/2 years (7; 1.8; 1.4 and 1.2), respectively. The ROM progressively increased at discharge/1 month/2 years (82°, 90° and 93°), respectively. The complications rate was 3% (n=3) (fracture and instability). Ambulatory rehabilitation was provided in 8% (n=8). In the THA evaluation, 48% of the patients were female (n=48) and 52% were male (n=52). The mean age was 70 years. Length of stay was 5 days. The complications rate was 3% (n=3) (fracture, dislocation and deep vein thrombosis). Ambulatory rehabilitation was provided in 3% (n=3). In TKA (11 years), the length of stay was 5.96 days, revision surgeries were carried out in 5.96%, and the cost saving in 2013-2015 was 117,776 euros. In THA (11 years), the length of stay was 6.24 days, revision surgeries were performed in 10.62%, and the cost saving in 2013-2015 was 116,316 euros. Conclusions. The implementation/follow-up of the fast-track protocol in THA-TKA was effective in decreasing pain, complications, ambulatory rehabilitation, length of stay, the rate of revision surgery, and costs (AU)

Cuestiones controvertidas en evaluación económica (III): Intervenciones sanitarias en tres situaciones especiales: Enfermedades raras, tratamientos al final de la vida y externalidades en las evaluaciones / Controversial Issues in Economic Evaluation (III): Health Care Interventions in Special Situations

El desarrollo de la evaluación económica de intervenciones sanitarias se ha convertido en una herramienta de apoyo en la toma decisiones sobre financiación pública y fijación de precios de nuevas intervenciones sanitarias. La aplicación cada vez más extensiva de estas técnicas ha llevado a la identificación de situaciones particulares en las que, por diversas razones, podría ser razonable tener en cuenta consideraciones especiales a la hora de aplicar los principios generales de evaluación. En este artículo, que cierra una serie de tres, debatiremos, empleando la técnica Metaplan, sobre la evaluación económica en tres situaciones especiales: las enfermedades raras y los tratamientos al final de la vida, así como la consideración de las externalidades en las evaluaciones, apuntando finalmente algunas líneas de investigación futuras para resolver los principales problemas identificados en estos ámbitos (AU)

The development of the economic evaluation of health care interventions has become a support tool in making decisions on pricing and reimbursement of new health interventions. The increasingly extensive application of these techniques has led to the identification of particular situations in which, for various reasons, it may be reasonable to take into account special considerations when applying the general principles of economic evaluation. In this article, which closes a series of three, we will discuss, using the Metaplan technique, about the economic evaluation of health interventions in special situations such as rare diseases and end of life treatments, as well as consideration of externalities in assessments, finally pointing out some research areas to solve the main problems identified in these fields (AU)

El uso de abatacept en artritis reumatoide: revisión de la evidencia y recomendaciones / Abatacept use in rheumatoid arthritis: evidence review and recommendations

Objetivo. Revisar la evidencia clínica sobre abatacept y emitir recomendaciones con objeto de aclarar su uso en Reumatología. Método. Un panel de expertos reumatólogos resumió de forma objetiva las pruebas existentes sobre el mecanismo de acción, modo de uso, eficacia y seguridad de abatacept y emitió recomendaciones de uso en situaciones concretas, previa revisión de la bibliografía. Se estableció el nivel de evidencia de las pruebas y el grado de apoyo de dichos datos a las recomendaciones emitidas. Resultados. El documento presenta 21 enunciados resumen de la evidencia encontrada o recomendaciones sobre abatacept (14 enunciados y 9 recomendaciones). El nivel de evidencia es superior a 2b según la escala de Oxford del Centro de Medicina Basada en la Evidencia en 14 ocasiones. El grado de apoyo de las recomendaciones es A en 2 recomendaciones, C en una y D en el resto. Se consideró importante realizar recomendaciones precisamente en los aspectos con menor grado de evidencia. Conclusiones. Se trata de un documento práctico como complemento a la información en ficha técnica (AU)

Objective: To review the clinical evidence on abatacept and to formulate recommendations in order to clear up points related to its use in rheumatology. Method: An expert panel of rheumatologists objectively summarized the evidence on the mechanism of action, practicalities, effectiveness and safety of abatacept, and formulated recommendations following a literature review. The level of evidence and degree of recommendation was established. Results: The document presents 21 statements focused on evidence or recommendations on abatacept (14 evidence summaries and 9 recommendations). The level of evidence was 2b or higher according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine scale on 14 occasions. The degree of the recommendation was A in two recommendations, C in one, and D in the rest. It was considered important to make recommendations on aspects with lower levels of evidence. Conclusions: This is a practical document to supplement the summary of product characteristics (AU)

Evaluación económica de la terapia de resincronización cardiaca / Economic assessment of cardiac resynchronization therapy

Introducción y objetivos. La terapia de resincronización cardiaca es un tratamiento de eficacia demostrada para la insuficiencia cardiaca y reduce el número de hospitalizaciones y la mortalidad por progresión de la insuficiencia y total. El objetivo de nuestro trabajo es determinar la eficiencia de la terapia de resincronización cardiaca comparada con la terapia farmacológica mediante una evaluación económica adaptada a nuestro entorno sanitario. Métodos. Se realiza la adaptación al ámbito sanitario español de un modelo previamente existente. Las fuentes de efectividad utilizadas son revisiones sistemáticas de la literatura publicadas. Los costes de las distintas intervenciones se determinan de acuerdo con diversas fuentes de datos españolas. Se utiliza la perspectiva del sistema sanitario; como horizonte temporal, el resto de vida de los pacientes, y como variables de resultado, años de vida y años de vida ajustados por calidad (AVAC). Resultados. El tratamiento farmacológico, la resincronización y resincronización + desfibrilador alcanzaron 2,11, 2,8 y 3,19 AVAC, a un coste de 11.722, 31.629 y 52.592 euros respectivamente. Cada AVAC obtenido con resincronización frente a medicación requiere el uso de 28.612 euros de recursos adicionales. De modo análogo, la resincronización con desfibrilador cuesta 53.547 euros/ AVAC respecto a la resincronización sin desfibrilador. Conclusiones. La terapia de resincronización cardiaca sin desfibrilador puede ser una opción de tratamiento coste-efectiva para el grupo de pacientes adecuadamente seleccionados, comparada con la terapia farmacológica óptima. Este resultado es sensible por la incertidumbre en numerosas variables del modelo (AU)

Introduction and objectives. Cardiac resynchronization devices have been shown to be effective in treating heart failure. They reduce overall mortality, heart failure mortality and hospitalizations due to heart failure. The aim of this study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with that of optimal drug therapy (ODT) by carrying out an economic assessment in the Spanish healthcare setting. Methods. An existing model was adapted for use in the Spanish healthcare setting. The effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy was determined from published systematic reviews. The costs of the various interventions were determined using a range of Spanish data sources. The model adopted the perspective of the public health system and the time horizon considered was the remainder of the patient’s life. The outcome variables were life-years gained and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained. Results. Overall, ODT, CRT and CRT with a defibrillator resulted in gains of 2.11, 2.8 and 3.19 QALYs, respectively, at a cost of € 11,722, € 31,629 and € 52,592, respectively. Consequently, each QALY gained with CRT relative to ODT involved the consumption of € 28,612 of additional resources. Similarly, the use of CRT with a defibrillator cost an additional € 53,547 per QALY relative to CRT without a defibrillator. Conclusions. The use of CRT without a defibrillator could be a cost-effective alternative to ODT for treating heart failure in a carefully selected group of patients. The study results were sensitive to uncertainties in many of the variables used in the model (AU)

Análisis económico del intervencionismo en el ictus agudo / Financial analysis of intraarterial procedures in acute stroke

Introducción. El determinante más importante del coste del ictus es el estado de discapacidad, por lo que cualquier intervención en fase aguda que reduzca la discapacidad será probablemente coste-efectiva. El presente análisis es el primer estudio de coste-beneficio del intervencionismo en fase aguda del ictus. Métodos. Se ha realizado un estudio de casos y controles de costes de los pacientes con ictus agudo tratados mediante intervencionismo en el Hospital Virgen del Rocío en los años 2003-2004 y posteriormente se han extrapolado los datos obtenidos al supuesto del número real de pacientes que habrían sido tratados si hubiera estado organizado el intervencionismo como atención continua. Resultados. En los años 2003-2004 se han tratado a 32 pacientes. El coste directo (material fungible + recursos humanos) por cada paciente tratado fue de 10.502 euros y el ahorro global en estancia hospitalaria más rehabilitación resultó de 11.069 euros por paciente, resultando, por tanto, en un ahorro neto de 567 euros por paciente. Sin embargo, si el intervencionismo hubiese estado organizado de forma continua se habrían tratado a 92 pacientes, resultando la evaluación económica más favorable con un ahorro de 5.792 euros por cada paciente tratado. Conclusiones. El tratamiento intervencionista ha demostrado ser coste-efectivo, ya que el gasto derivado del material y los recursos humanos necesarios es superado con creces por el ahorro en tiempos de hospitalización y rehabilitación que se deriva de la reducción de la discapacidad de los pacientes

Introduction. Since the most decisive factor related to the cost of stroke is disability, any acute phase intervention to reduce disability will probably be cost-effective. The present acute stroke phase analysis is the first cost-benefit study on intraarterial procedures in acute stroke phase. Method. Case-control study focusing on the cost of stroke including acute stroke patients subjected to interventionism in Hospital Virgen del Rocío in 2003-2004 was conducted. The data obtained was subsequently extrapolated to the number of patients who would have been treated if intraarterial procedures could be performed on a 24 hour-day basis. Results. 32 patients were treated in 2003-2004. Direct cost (devices and human resources) of each treated patient was 10,502 euros and global saving in hospital stay and rehabilitation was 11,069 euros, resulting in 567 euros net saving per patient. Nevertheless, 92 patients would have been treated if intraarterial procedures could have been performed on a 24 hour-day basis, resulting in better financial results with 5,792 saving for each treated patient. Conclusions. Intracraneal procedures in acute stroke has been shown to be cost-effective since cost of material and human resources is greatly exceeded by the saving in hospitalization and rehabilitation as a result of reduction in patient disability

Relationship between stressful life events and pain in young adults age 20-34

Pain (including headache, neckache, backache, chest pain, abdominal pain or pain in the limbs) that is not managed properly in young adults results in decreased productivity and poor work attendance. Multiple diagnostic and therapeutic interventions can cost the health care system excessively and can lead to iatrogenic disease. Negative reactions in caregivers can ensue and overall, individuals can be left with a sense of hopelessness for recovery. Mental and physicaal health are inextricably linked. Neglect of the psychosocial components in the sea-i-rch for the etiology and management of physical pain at the primary level may be reducing the opportunity for speedy recovery. This study was done to determine the relationship between recent and remote stressful life events and the development of pain. A case-control study was conducted among adults age 20-34 years attending one private, one government and one university clinic in Kingston, Jamaica. 46 cases with pain and 70 controls who were pain-free were chosen. The findings suggest no relation between the actual number of life events and pain but there is a clear association between the perception of a negative impact of a series of life changes on the development of physical pain. The findings also show that of overriding significance in the development of pain is the perceived lack of social support available to the patient. A significant relationship was also found between the perception of a tumultuous childhood and pain although no relationship was found between specific remote childhood stressors and pain. This study highlights the need for greater attention to the integration of mental health and primary care beginning with the training of health workers and education at policy level, service delivery level and of the public.(Au)