Challenges of Health Technology Assessment in Pluralistic Healthcare Systems: An ISPOR Council Report.

Health technology assessment (HTA) has been growing in use over the past 40 years, especially in its impact on decisions regarding the reimbursement, adoption, and use of new drugs, devices, and procedures. In countries or jurisdictions with "pluralistic" healthcare systems, there are multiple payers or sectors, each of which could potentially benefit from HTA. Nevertheless, a single HTA, conducted centrally, may not meet the needs of these different actors, who may have different budgets, current standards of care, populations to serve, or decision-making processes. This article reports on the research conducted by an ISPOR Health Technology Assessment Council Working Group established to examine the specific challenges of conducting and using HTA in countries with pluralistic healthcare systems. The Group used its own knowledge and expertise, supplemented by a narrative literature review and survey of US payers, to identify existing challenges and any initiatives taken to address them. We recommend that countries with pluralistic healthcare systems establish a national focus for HTA, develop a uniform set of HTA methods guidelines, ensure that HTAs are produced in a timely fashion, facilitate the use of HTA in the local setting, and develop a framework to encourage transparency in HTA. These efforts can be enhanced by the development of good practice guidance from ISPOR or similar groups and increased training to facilitate local use of HTA.

Mapping to Estimate Health-State Utility from Non-Preference-Based Outcome Measures: An ISPOR Good Practices for Outcomes Research Task Force Report.

Economic evaluation conducted in terms of cost per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) provides information that decision makers find useful in many parts of the world. Ideally, clinical studies designed to assess the effectiveness of health technologies would include outcome measures that are directly linked to health utility to calculate QALYs. Often this does not happen, and even when it does, clinical studies may be insufficient for a cost-utility assessment. Mapping can solve this problem. It uses an additional data set to estimate the relationship between outcomes measured in clinical studies and health utility. This bridges the evidence gap between available evidence on the effect of a health technology in one metric and the requirement for decision makers to express it in a different one (QALYs). In 2014, ISPOR established a Good Practices for Outcome Research Task Force for mapping studies. This task force report provides recommendations to analysts undertaking mapping studies, those that use the results in cost-utility analysis, and those that need to critically review such studies. The recommendations cover all areas of mapping practice: the selection of data sets for the mapping estimation, model selection and performance assessment, reporting standards, and the use of results including the appropriate reflection of variability and uncertainty. This report is unique because it takes an international perspective, is comprehensive in its coverage of the aspects of mapping practice, and reflects the current state of the art.

COST-UTILITY ANALYSIS OF PRIMARY PROPHYLAXIS, COMPARED WITH ON-DEMAND TREATMENT, FOR PATIENTS WITH SEVERE HEMOPHILIA TYPE A IN COLOMBIA.

OBJECTIVES: This article presents a cost-utility analysis from the Colombian health system perspective comparing primary prophylaxis to on-demand treatment using exogenous clotting factor VIII (FVIII) for patients with severe hemophilia type A. METHODS: We developed a Markov model to estimate expected costs and outcomes (measured as quality-adjusted life-years, QALYs) for each strategy. Transition probabilities were estimated using published studies; utility weights were obtained from a sample of Colombian patients with hemophilia and costs were gathered using local data. Both deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analysis were performed to assess the robustness of results. RESULTS: The additional cost per QALY gained of primary prophylaxis compared with on-demand treatment was 105,081,022 Colombian pesos (COP) (55,204 USD), and thus not considered cost-effective according to a threshold of up to three times the current Colombian gross domestic product (GDP) per-capita. When primary prophylaxis was provided throughout life using recombinant FVIII (rFVIII), which is much costlier than FVIII, the additional cost per QALY gained reached 174,159,553 COP (91,494 USD). CONCLUSIONS: using a decision rule of up to three times the Colombian GDP per capita, primary prophylaxis (with either FVIII or rFVIII) would not be considered as cost-effective in this country. However, a final decision on providing or preventing patients from primary prophylaxis as a gold standard of care for severe hemophilia type A should also consider broader criteria than the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio results itself. Only a price reduction of exogenous FVIII of 50 percent or more would make primary prophylaxis cost-effective in this context.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of zinc supplementation for treatment of acute diarrhea in children younger than 5 years in Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of zinc supplementation for the treatment of acute diarrhea (AD) in children younger than 5 years in Colombia. METHODS: The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed from the perspective of the Colombian health system. The standard treatment with the addition of zinc was compared with the standard treatment without zinc in children younger than 5 years. The time horizon was 1 month. Effectiveness was extracted from a systematic review of literature. The specific data for Colombia were taken from local databases and observational studies. To determine the costs, a typical case was constructed by reviewing guidelines and medical records and validated by experts. To evaluate the resources consumed, Colombian tariff manuals were used. Costs were stated in Colombian pesos (COP) and US dollar (USD) for 2010. Deterministic sensitivity analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of changes in cost and effectiveness of the strategies on the results from the model. RESULTS: The results from the model indicate that zinc supplementation is a dominant strategy; it is less costly and more effective than standard treatment without zinc (reduction of $15,210 COP [8.14 USD] per child). The results are sensitive to changes in the probability of hospitalization and of persistent diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc for the treatment of AD is a highly cost-effective strategy and is recommended for inclusion in the benefit plan of the Colombian health system. This intervention is more cost-effective in children with a higher risk of persistent diarrhea and hospitalization.

Cost-utility analysis of dupilumab compared with endoscopic sinus surgery in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Evaluation in Colombia, a developing country.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) compromises respiratory function, sleep, concentration, work capacity, and quality of life, generating high costs for patients and health systems. The aim of the study was to analyze the cost utility of Dupilumab compared to endoscopic sinus surgery for patients with CRSwNP. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We developed a model-based cost-utility analysis from the perspective of the Colombian health system to compare Dupilumab vs. endoscopic nasal surgery in patients with difficult-to-treat CRSwNP. Transition probabilities were extracted from the published literature about CRSwNP, and costing was based on local tariffs. We performed probabilistic sensitivity analysis for outcomes, probabilities, and costs (10.000 Monte Carlo simulations). RESULTS: The cost of dupilumab ($ 142.919) was 7.8 times higher than nasal endoscopic sinus surgery ($ 18.347). In terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), surgery generates better results than Dupilumab: 11.78 vs. 9.05 QALYs. CONCLUSIONS: From the perspective of the health system, endoscopic sinus surgery for the management of CRSwNP is a dominant alternative in all the analyzed scenarios compared to the use of Dupilumab. From a cost-utility point of view, the use of dupilumab should be considered when the patient requires multiple surgeries or when there is a contraindication for surgery performance.

Implementing Health Technology Assessments in Latin America: Looking at the Past, Mirroring the Future. A Perspective from the ISPOR Health Technology Assessment Roundtable in Latin America.

OBJECTIVES: In the last two decades, several countries in Latin America (LA) have shown an interest in developing health technology assessments (HTAs), but the process has not been uniform and has often been challenged by the health systems characteristics and the political or economic idiosyncrasies of these countries. METHODS: This article summarizes the discussions held by the participants at the 40th ISPOR HTA Council Roundtable for LA. An additional literature review was carried out to support some of the concepts included. RESULTS: This article includes a brief description of the implementation of HTA over the last 30 years and then a conceptual analysis using examples of the broader use of HTA to support procurement decisions and risk-sharing agreements, which might play a future role in healthcare priority-setting in LA. CONCLUSIONS: Formerly, HTA processes and methods played important although mostly isolated roles (with drug licensing or reimbursement being examples of this). Nowadays, with more and more innovative technologies and the establishment of value frameworks to support the priority setting in healthcare, HTA features a promising panorama for the health systems sustainability.

Analysis of the Cost-Effectiveness of Liquid Biopsy to Determine Treatment Change in Patients with Her2-Positive Advanced Breast Cancer in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is highly prevalent worldwide and leads to high health-care costs. HER2-positive subtype represents 30% of all breast cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis. Patients treated with anti-HER2 therapies frequently develop resistance and require pharmacological treatment change. Liquid biopsy is a minimally invasive and an easily accessible technique, with high sensitivity and specificity, to detect molecular treatment resistance even before the onset of clinical manifestations and can thus be used to reduce unnecessary anti-HER2 treatment costs. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of using liquid biopsy (ctDNA detection) to determine treatment change in women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer in Colombia. METHODOLOGY: We performed an economic evaluation using decision tree modeling and deterministic analyses based on literature search for first and second lines of treatment (trastuzumab, pertuzumab, docetaxel, and TDM1); resistance; outcomes; and sensitivity and specificity of tests detecting molecular resistance. The effectiveness was measured using quality-adjusted life year (QALY) score, and costs were obtained from databases with national validity, suppliers, the Colombian Drug Price Information System (SISMED), and local studies. RESULTS: The use of liquid biopsy (ctDNA detection) with conventional treatment was more expensive and less effective than conventional treatment without liquid biopsy (US $177,985.35 and 0.533889206 QALY, respectively). The incremental cost with liquid biopsy was US $7,333.17 and the incremental effectiveness was 0.00042256 QALY relative to the conventional method. CONCLUSION: Including liquid biopsy in the treatment of HER2-positive advanced breast cancer was considered currently inapplicable in Colombia because it was not cost effective. Our results open a window of opportunity to improve the development and implementation of ctDNA testing in Colombia, potentially reducing current costs. More evidence is required on the utility of this test, depending on the financial capacity of Colombia and other countries.

Evaluating the centralized purchasing policy for the treatment of hepatitis C: The Colombian CASE.

The high cost of drugs for hepatitis C limits access and adherence to treatment. In 2017, the Colombian health care system decided to design a strategy. It consisted of centralized purchasing, regulations, clinical practice guidelines, and direct observation of the treatment and follow-up of patients. The main objective of this study was to assess the centralized purchasing strategy in Colombia. The study design was a policy implementation assessment. We analyzed the change in prices, the clinical outcomes, and the opinions of stakeholders using data from the Ministry of Health. Additional information about effectiveness came from the Colombian Fund for High-Cost Diseases and semi-structured interviews of the stakeholders. The follow-up was from October, 2017 to October, 2018. The total number of patients reported in the cohort period was 1069. The number that finished 12 weeks of treatment, completed the follow-up for the case closure, and were considered cured through the end of October, 2018 was 563 (53%). The remainder, 506 patients (47%), are currently in treatment. A total of 543 of these treated patients (96%) were cured. After implementing this strategy, the drug prices decreased by more than 90% overall. Before implementation, the total direct cost was $100 102 171.75 dollars. Afterward, the cost was $8 378 747 dollars.

[Cost effectiveness of human papilloma virus testing in cervical cancer screening: a literature review]. / Costo-efectividad de la detección del virus del papiloma humano en los programas de tamización de cáncer de cuello uterino.

Human papilloma virus DNA testing may improve the cost effectiveness of cervical cancer screening programs. However, the circumstances to get this improvement are not the same between countries. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the cost effectiveness of introducing human papilloma virus testing in the current screening practice both in developed and developing countries. We conducted a review of published articles since January 2000 until December 2006 related to the cost effectiveness of introducing human papilloma virus testing in cervical cancer screening programs. A total of 17 original researches and six reviews were analyzed. Human papilloma virus testing is cost effective in developed countries only if it is a complementary test to Pap test and used to determine the management of women with atypical squamus cells of undetermined significance, the interval among tests is increased more than two years and it is performed in women over 30 years. On the other hand, developing countries should establish first organized screening programs and guarantee full coverage and access to diagnosis and treatment.

Value-Based Pricing in Latin America: How Far Away Are We?

In February and September of 2017, the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research Health Technology Assessment Council held roundtables focused on Latin America to discuss health technology assessment best practices, collaboration opportunities, and regional experiences regarding health policies to improve the affordability of and access to healthcare technologies. The access to high-cost technologies, increased social pressure to achieve universal coverage, population aging, and the limits of traditional mechanisms to control costs create political pressure to begin considering other pricing alternatives, including value-based pricing, in Latin America. This article attempts to conceptualize key stakeholders' perceptions of their experiences, opportunities, and barriers to implementing value-based pricing in Latin America.

[Equity in access to health-services in Antioquia, Colombia]. / Equidad en el Acceso a Servicios de Salud en Antioquia, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: Analysing equity in access to health care in Antioquia, Colombia. METHODS: Poorer and richer groups' access to health-care was evaluated, as was that of people with insurance and those without it. A Logit model was estimated for analysing the main determinants of access to curative and preventative health-care services; explanatory variables were socioeconomic status, education level, self-reported health status, age, gender, urban/rural location and social security affiliation. RESULTS: There was no difference in health-care service access amongst people affiliated to contribution-based and subsidised regimes. However, financial constraints represented important obstacles for subsidised regime members and those having no affiliation. Contribution-based regime members had greater resources for continuing to receive attention. There was positive bias in using preventative services thereby favouring people having higher socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS: Educational level, age and being affiliated to social security were the main factors explaining health-care service access. Gender, self-reported health status and geographical location were additional factors explaining preventative health-service access.

[Access to cervical cytology in Medellín, Colombia during 2006]. / Accesibilidad a la citología cervical en Medellín, Colombia en 2006.

BACKGROUND: The burden of illness of cervical cancer has not decreased enough in developing countries. For that reason is important to improve coverage, access and effectiveness of cervical cancer screening programs. The objective of this paper is to analyze women's access to the cervical cytology programme of the Secretary of Health of Medellín (Colombia). METHODS: An analysis was made of 1,519 records of women from a cross-sectional study conducted in an urban area of Medellin (Colombia). Descriptive analysis was conducted and a Logit model was estimated for analysing recent cervical cytology (cytology performed less than 36 months prior to the survey). RESULTS: 68.7% of women had a recent cytology, 17.2% did not have recent cytology and 14.2% of women attended for the first time to the service. The probability of having a recent cytology increased with age, women with family history of cervical cancer, women with personal history of sexually transmitted infections, women with some education and women who are (or were) married or in a stable union. CONCLUSIONS: The demand for cytology appears to be concentrated; a limited number of women assist frequently while others don't practice it or stop assisting.

[Costs of oral and nasogastric rehydration compared to intravenous rehydration in children under 5 years of age with diarrhea in Colombia]. / Costos de la rehidratación oral y nasogástrica comparadas con la rehidratación endovenosa en niños con diarrea en Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the costs of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and nasogastric rehydration therapy (NRT) compared with intravenous rehydration therapy (IRT) to treat dehydration in children under 5 years of age with diarrhea. METHODOLOGY: Cost-minimization analysis from the perspective of the Colombian Health System, comparing ORT, (followed by NRT when ORT fails), with IRT. The time horizon was the duration of rehydration. The effectiveness measure was obtained from a systematic review of the literature. To determine costs, a typical case was created based on current guidelines and medical records; this case was validated by experts. Unit costs were obtained from Colombian databases and were provided in Colombian pesos (COP) and US dollars (USD) for 2010. One- and two-way sensitivity analyzes were performed. RESULTS: ORT and ERT are similarly effective to prevent hospitalization and to achieve rehydration. In the base case, the expected cost of ORT was $91,221 COP (40.5 USD) and for IRT was $112,944 COP ($50.14 USD), saving $21,723 COP ($9.64 USD) per case. In the sensitivity analyzes by health insurance and hospital level, ORT is often the least costly strategy. DISCUSSION: Both interventions are similarly effective, but ORT, followed by NRT when ORT fails, is less costly than IRT. ORT is recommended as the first option to treat dehydration since it is effective and less expensive. Efforts should be continued to implement TRO and NRT in the health services of Colombia.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar los costos de las terapias de rehidratación oral (TRO) y de rehidratación nasogástrica (TRN) comparadas con la terapia de rehidratación endovenosa (TRE) para corregir la deshidratación por diarrea en niños. METODOLOGÍA: Análisis de minimización de costos desde la perspectiva del Sistema de Salud colombiano comparando TRO (seguida de TRN ante falla de la TRO), con la TRE. El horizonte temporal fue la duración de la rehidratación. La medida de efectividad se extrajo de una revisión sistemática de literatura. Para determinar costos, se construyó un caso típico y un árbol de decisiones, a partir de revisión de guías e historias clínicas, validado con expertos. Los costos unitarios se obtuvieron de bases de datos colombianas. Costos fueron calculados en pesos colombianos (COP) y dólares americanos (USD). Se realizaron análisis de sensibilidad de una y dos vías. RESULTADOS: La TRO y la TRE son similares en efectividad para prevenir hospitalización y lograr rehidratación. En el caso base, el costo de la TRO fue $91,221COP (40.5 USD) y para TRE $112,944COP (50.14USD), es decir, un ahorro de $21,723 COP (9.64 USD). En los análisis de sensibilidad por regímenes de aseguramiento y complejidad del hospital, la TRO suele ser la estrategia menos costosa. DISCUSIÓN: Ambas intervenciones son similares en efectividad, pero la TRO, seguida de TRN ante falla de la primera resulta menos costosa que la TRE. La TRO es recomendable como primera opción para corregir la deshidratación. Deberían continuarse esfuerzos por implementar TRO y TRN en los servicios de salud en Colombia.

Análisis de costo efectividad de ondansetrón para el tratamiento del vómito en niños menores de cinco años con gastroenteritis en Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Ondansetron reduces hospitalization rates for diarrhea and vomiting in children, but is not yet routinely used. OBJECTIVE: To estimate from a social perspective the relative cost-effectiveness of ondansetron for the treatment of vomiting in children with gastroenteritis and at risk of dehydration in Colombia. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness analysis from a social perspective, including direct medical costs and costs for caregivers. With a decision tree we compared costs and health outcomes of usual treatment without antiemetic to usual treatment plus ondansetron in children under 5 years with gastroenteritis and vomiting. Effectiveness of intervention was measured as reduction in hospitalization rates, and the time horizon of the model was the episode. Probabilities were obtained from clinical trials and systematic reviews, measurement of resources use was based on protocols and expert opinions, while unit costs were obtained from Colombian tariff manuals. We performed a survey to estimate indirect costs for caregivers (n=81) that included questions about wage loss, transportation, meals expenditures and other out-of-pocket payments. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. RESULTS: Usual treatment plus ondansetron is a dominant strategy compared to usual treatment without antiemetic yielding fewer hospitalizations and saving $44.562 Colombian pesos (23,98USD) per episode. Ondansetron was dominant in 98,91% of simulations of the probabilistic analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Ondansetron is a dominant intervention that reduces hospitalization rates and costs for health system and caregivers. We recommend assessing the inclusion of this drug in the Colombian Health Benefit Plan for the treatment of gastroenteritis in children under 5 years.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome in Colombia.

INTRODUCTION: Acute coronary syndrome is one of the most frequent medical emergencies in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: To determine, from the perspective of the Colombian health system, the cost-effectiveness of ticagrelor compared to clopidogrel for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis from the perspective of the Colombian health system comparing ticagrelor and clopidogrel for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome. To estimate the expected costs and outcomes, a Markov model was constructed in which patients could remain stable without experiencing new cardiovascular events, suffer from a new event, or die. For the baseline case, a 10-year time horizon and a discount ratio of 3% for costs and benefits were adopted. The transition probabilities were extracted from the PLATO (Platelet Inhibition and Patient Outcomes) clinical trial. Vital statistics were drawn from the Departmento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE) and additional information from Colombian patients included in the Access registry. To identify and measure resource use, a standard case was built by consulting guidelines and protocols. Unit costs were obtained from Colombian rate lists. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was conducted in which costs were represented by a triangular distribution, and the effectiveness through a beta distribution. RESULTS: In the base case, the additional cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained with ticagrelor was COP$ 28,411,503. The results were sensitive to changes in the time horizon and the unit cost of clopidogrel. For a willingness-to-pay equivalent to three times the Colombian per capita gross domestic product, the probability of ticagrelor being cost-effective was 75%. CONCLUSIONS: Ticagrelor is a cost-effective strategy for the treatment of patients with acute coronary syndrome in Colombia.

Cost-effectiveness of a nurse facilitated, cognitive behavioural self-management programme compared with usual care using a CBT manual alone for patients with heart failure: secondary analysis of data from the SEMAPHFOR trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of a nurse facilitated, cognitive behavioural self-management programme for patients with heart failure compared with usual care including the un-facilitated access to the same manual, from the perspective of the NHS. DESIGN: Data were obtained from a pragmatic, multi-centre, randomized controlled 'open' trial conducted in seven centres in the UK between 2006 and 2008. Effectiveness was estimated as Quality-Adjusted Life Years. Resource use was measured prospectively on all patients using information provided by patients in postal questionnaires, case-note review, electronic record review and interviews with patients. Unit costs were obtained from the literature and applied to the relevant resource use to estimate total costs. Multiple imputation was used to handle missing data. RESULTS: There were no substantial differences in the utility scores between treatment groups in all follow-up assessments, in the use of medication or outpatient visits and both groups report a similar frequency of contact with health care professionals. After controlling for baseline utility and using imputed dataset, treatment was associated with a reduction in QALY of 0.004 and a additional cost of £69.49. The probability that the intervention is cost-effective for thresholds between £20,000 and £30,000 is around 45%. CONCLUSIONS: There is little evidence that the addition of the intervention had any effect on costs or outcomes. The uncertainty around both estimates of cost and effectiveness mean that it is not reasonable to make recommendations based on cost-effectiveness alone.

Carga de enfermedad atribuible al uso de tabaco en Colombia y potenciales beneficios sanitarios y económicos del aumento del precio del cigarrillo mediante impuestos / Disease burden attributable to smoking in Colombia and potential economic and health benefits of price increase through taxes

Resumen Objetivo: estimar la carga de enfermedad asociada al consumo de tabaco en Colombia y evaluar el potencial efecto sanitario y económico del aumento de precio en los cigarrillos mediante impuestos. Materiales y métodos: se diseñó un modelo de simulación de Monte Cario de primer orden que incorporó la historia natural, los costos y la calidad de vida de enfermedades relacionadas con el consumo de tabaco en adultos. Se estimó el impacto en la prevalencia de tabaquismo y en la recaudación de diferentes escenarios de aumento de precio a través de impuestos. Resultados: en Colombia cada año mueren 32.088 personas como consecuencia del consumo de cigarrillo y pueden atribuírsele los siguientes porcentajes: el 16% de las muertes cardiovasculares, el 13% de las producidas por accidentes cerebrovasculares, el 77% de las muertes ocasionadas por enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y el 80% de las muertes por cáncer de pulmón. Las enfermedades relacionadas con el cigarrillo representan un costo directo anual al sistema de salud de más de 4,5 billones de pesos, mientras la recaudación impositiva por la venta de cigarrillos apenas logra cubrir un 10% de este gasto. Un aumento en el precio de los cigarrillos del 50% podría evitar, en un horizonte de 10 años, más de 45.000 muertes y generar recursos por 8 billones por ahorro en gastos sanitarios y aumento de recaudación. Conclusiones: la carga de enfermedad y el costo para el sistema de salud asociados al consumo de tabaco son muy elevados en Colombia. Un aumento del precio de los cigarrillos a través de los impuestos tendría importantes beneficios tanto sanitarios como económicos.

Abstract Objective: to estimate the burden of disease associated with tobacco consumption in Colombia and to evaluate the potential health and economic effect of the price increase in cigarettes through taxes. Materials and methods: to estimate the burden of disease, a first-order Monte Carlo simulation model was designed that incorporated the natural history, costs and quality of life of diseases related to tobacco consumption in adults. A tax model was designed to calculate the impact on the prevalence of smoking and on the collection of different price increase scenarios. Results: according to the proposed model, it can be estimated that in Colombia 26,464 people die every year as a result of cigarette smoking. 13% of cardiovascular deaths, 13% of those caused by strokes, 77% of deaths caused by chronic lung disease and 81 % of deaths from lung cancer can be attributed to their consumption. The diseases related to cigarettes in Colombia represent a direct annual cost of more than 4 billion pesos, while the tax collection from the sale of cigarettes barely covers 10% of this expense. An increase in the price of cigarettes of 50% could prevent more than 30,000 deaths in ten years and generate resources for 7.9 billion savings in health spending and increased collection. Conclusions: the burden of disease and the cost to the health system associated with tobacco use are very high in Colombia. An increase in the price of cigarettes through taxes would have important health and economic benefits for Colombia.

Costo-efectividad de la reanimación cardiopulmonar con el uso del desfibrilador externo automático, comparado con reanimación cardiopulmonar básica, para personas con pérdida de conciencia en espacios de afluencia masiva de público / Cost-effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation using an automated external defibrillator compared with a basic defibrillator in unconscious patients in crowded public spaces in Colombia

Resumen Objetivo: Estimar la razón de costo-efectividad de la reanimación cardiopulmonar con el uso del desfibrilador externo automático (DEA), comparado con la reanimación cardiopulmonar básica, para la reanimación de personas con pérdida de conciencia en espacios de afluencia masiva de público en Colombia. Métodos: Para estimar los costos y desenlaces de las dos alternativas de comparación, se diseñó un árbol de decisiones en el cual se reflejan los principales desenlaces posterior a la pérdida de conciencia y la reanimación con cualquiera de las dos alternativas. Se asumió la perspectiva del sistema de salud colombiano en un horizonte temporal comprendido entre el momento de la pérdida de conciencia de la persona hasta el ingreso al hospital. Las probabilidades de los eventos se obtuvieron de un meta-análisis de ensayos clínicos y la información de costos de fuentes oficiales y consulta directa a proveedores de DEA en Colombia. Los costos fueron expresados en pesos colombianos de 2016 y la efectividad en muertes evitadas. Se realizaron análisis de sensibilidad determinísticos y probabilísticos para estimar el impacto de la incertidumbre sobre las conclusiones. Resultados: La razón de costo-efectividad de la reanimación cardiopulmonar con DEA fue de $3.267.777 por muerte evitada. La probabilidad de que esta intervención sea costo-efectiva es superior al 90% para un umbral de costo-efectividad superior a 10 millones de pesos. Conclusión: Un programa de reanimación cardiopulmonar con desfibrilación temprana mediante el uso de DEA, en espacios de afluencia masiva de público, es una alternativa costo-efectiva para el sistema de salud colombiano.

Abstract Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation using an automated external defibrillator (AED) compared with basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation, for the resuscitation of unconscious patients in crowded public spaces in Colombia. Methods: A decision tree was designed in order to estimate the costs and outcomes of the two alternatives. This included the main outcomes after the loss of consciousness and resuscitation by any of the two alternatives. The perspective of the Colombian Health System was adopted in a time scale consisting of the time of loss of consciousness until hospital admission. The probabilities of the events were obtained from a meta-analysis of clinical trials, and the information on costs from official sources and direct consultations with AED providers in Colombia. The costs were expressed in Colombian pesos of 2016, and the effectiveness in deaths prevented. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed to estimate the impact of uncertainty on the conclusions. Results: The cost-effectiveness of cardiopulmonary resuscitation with AED was COP $3,267,777 per death avoided. The probability that this intervention would be cost-effective is greater than 90% for cost-effectiveness threshold greater than 10 million Colombian pesos. Conclusion: A cardiopulmonary resuscitation program with early defibrillation using an AED in crowded public spaces is a cost-effective alternative for the Colombian Health System.

[Quality assessment of economic evaluations in health care in Colombia: a systematic review]. / Evaluación de la calidad metodológica de la literatura en evaluación económica en salud en Colombia: una revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: Economic evaluation is a tool that can provide useful information to decision-makers in health. The methodological quality of Colombian studies has not been assessed in a systematic way. OBJECTIVE: To assess the methodological quality of economic evaluations in health care in Colombia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Systematic review of economic studies that assessed both costs and effectiveness of at least two technologies related to a decision problem in Colombia. Search was performed in international and Colombian databases and was completed with manual searches and contact with authors. Data was synthesized in tables that included relevant information about the studies. Methodological quality was evaluated using a predefined instrument. Searches were performed between January and February. RESULTS: 48 studies were included in the review. Perspective of the study, incremental analyzes and description of alternatives were usually well specified. However, more than half of the articles did not state clearly the time horizon or discount rate and most studies did not address equity and implementation issues. Management of uncertainty was also problematic. CONCLUSIONS: Economic evaluation in health care in Colombia has grown considerably in recent years. However, methods vary considerably between studies and therefore their usefulness for decisionmaking in health is limited. It is necessary to standardize methods in order to generate evidence of higher quality to support decisions within the Colombian health care system.

Costos de la rehidratación oral y nasogástrica comparadas con la rehidratación endovenosa en niños con diarrea en Colombia / Costs of oral and nasogastric rehydration compared to intravenous rehydration in children under 5 years of age with diarrhea in Colombia

RESUMEN Objetivo Evaluar los costos de las terapias de rehidratación oral (TRO) y de rehidratación nasogástrica (TRN) comparadas con la terapia de rehidratación endovenosa (TRE) para corregir la deshidratación por diarrea en niños. Metodología Análisis de minimización de costos desde la perspectiva del Sistema de Salud colombiano comparando TRO (seguida de TRN ante falla de la TRO), con la TRE. El horizonte temporal fue la duración de la rehidratación. La medida de efectividad se extrajo de una revisión sistemática de literatura. Para determinar costos, se construyó un caso típico y un árbol de decisiones, a partir de revisión de guías e historias clínicas, validado con expertos. Los costos unitarios se obtuvieron de bases de datos colombianas. Costos fueron calculados en pesos colombianos (COP) y dólares americanos (USD). Se realizaron análisis de sensibilidad de una y dos vías. Resultados La TRO y la TRE son similares en efectividad para prevenir hospitalización y lograr rehidratación. En el caso base, el costo de la TRO fue $91,221COP (40.5 USD) y para TRE $112,944COP (50.14USD), es decir, un ahorro de $21,723 COP (9.64 USD). En los análisis de sensibilidad por regímenes de aseguramiento y complejidad del hospital, la TRO suele ser la estrategia menos costosa. Discusión Ambas intervenciones son similares en efectividad, pero la TRO, seguida de TRN ante falla de la primera resulta menos costosa que la TRE. La TRO es recomendable como primera opción para corregir la deshidratación. Deberían continuarse esfuerzos por implementar TRO y TRN en los servicios de salud en Colombia.(AU)

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the costs of oral rehydration therapy (ORT) and nasogastric rehydration therapy (NRT) compared with intravenous rehydration therapy (IRT) to treat dehydration in children under 5 years of age with diarrhea. Methodology Cost-minimization analysis from the perspective of the Colombian Health System, comparing ORT, (followed by NRT when ORT fails), with IRT. The time horizon was the duration of rehydration. The effectiveness measure was obtained from a systematic review of the literature. To determine costs, a typical case was created based on current guidelines and medical records; this case was validated by experts. Unit costs were obtained from Colombian databases and were provided in Colombian pesos (COP) and US dollars (USD) for 2010. One- and two-way sensitivity analyzes were performed. Results ORT and ERT are similarly effective to prevent hospitalization and to achieve rehydration. In the base case, the expected cost of ORT was $91,221 COP (40.5 USD) and for IRT was $112,944 COP ($50.14 USD), saving $21,723 COP ($9.64 USD) per case. In the sensitivity analyzes by health insurance and hospital level, ORT is often the least costly strategy. Discussion Both interventions are similarly effective, but ORT, followed by NRT when ORT fails, is less costly than IRT. ORT is recommended as the first option to treat dehydration since it is effective and less expensive. Efforts should be continued to implement TRO and NRT in the health services of Colombia.(AU)