Direct Medical Costs Research Articles

Healthcare costs associated with first-line (1L) treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (la/mUC) in the United States (US).

11 Background: In 2023 in the US, 82,290 new cases of bladder cancer and 16,670 related deaths were estimated. Prior analyses assessing the economic burden of la/mUC in the current and evolving treatment landscape have been limited. This study aimed to estimate the direct medical costs of treating patients with la/mUC, from US Medicare and commercial perspectives. Methods: A cost model was developed to estimate annual direct medical care costs in patients with la/mUC eligible for 1L platinum-based chemotherapy (PBC) in 2023. Costs (2023 USD)—including drug acquisition and administration, disease management and adverse event (AE) management—were calculated, including subsequent therapy costs. Inputs included estimated number of treated patients per year, treatment duration, progression-free survival and overall survival with various therapies, AEs incidence, and market shares. Efficacy and safety data were sourced from product prescribing information, epidemiology data from Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database and published literature. Market share assumptions were based on market research data. Results: For a hypothetical health plan with 1,000,000 members, 108 and 22 patients with la/mUC from Medicare and commercial perspectives, respectively, were estimated to be eligible for 1L PBC in 2023. Estimated total annual costs per treated patient are shown in the Table below. With market share data comprising 1L PBC, with and without avelumab (AVE) 1L maintenance (61% and 25%) and enfortumab vedotin (EV) + pembrolizumab (PEM) (for cisplatin-ineligible patients, 14%), annual costs of $16,673,645 ($12,861 per treated member per month) and $4,637,226 ($17,852 per treated member per month) were estimated for Medicare and commercial perspectives, respectively. Drug acquisition costs in 1L represented most of the total costs (Medicare, 75%; commercial, 64%). Conclusions: Understanding the economic burden associated with la/mUC treatments may facilitate informed decision making on treatment choice and optimal sequencing. Further real-world studies are needed to assess the impact of these innovative treatments on disease and AE management costs of la/mUC. [Table: see text]

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Tislelizumab Plus Chemotherapy as First-Line Treatment for Advanced or Metastatic Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma in China.

Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy improved overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone, while maintaining an acceptable level of safety. But it's still unclear which strategy is the most cost-effective. The objective of the study was to compare the cost-effectiveness of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line therapy for patients with advanced or metastatic esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) versus chemotherapy alone. A partitioned survival model with three states was constructed based on the RATIONALE-306 trial. The model's time horizon was ten years, and its cycle was three weeks. Only direct medical costs were considered from the healthcare perspective in China. Calculations were performed on total costs, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). One-way sensitivity and probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) were performed to determine the uncertainty regarding model parameters. Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy provided 1.35 QALYs for $26,450.77, while chemotherapy alone provided 0.89 QALY for $16,687.15. Compared to chemotherapy alone, tislelizumab had an ICER of $21,062.09/QALY. At the threshold of three times the Chinese GDP per capita ($38,253/QALY), the PSA indicated that tislelizumab had a 96.4% likelihood of being designated cost-effective. At the threshold of 1.5 times the Chinese GDP per capita ($19,126.5/QALY), the PSA indicated that tislelizumab had a probability of 48.7% of being designated cost-effective. Tislelizumab plus chemotherapy as the first treatment for patients with advanced or metastatic ESCC may be a cost-effective option compared to chemotherapy alone at 3 times Chinese GDP per capita.

Burden of seasonal influenza in the Swiss adult population during the 2016/2017-2018/2019 influenza seasons.

Evidence on the burden of seasonal influenza in Switzerland is scarce, yet it is critical for the design of effective prevention and control measures. The objective of this study was to assess influenza-related resource utilization, health care expenditures and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) lost in Switzerland across the 2016/2017-2018/2019 influenza seasons. We retrospectively analyzed multiple real-world data sources to calculate epidemiological and health outcomes, QALYs lost, and direct medical costs due to influenza in the Swiss adult population. Subgroups included residents 18-49, 50-64, and 65+ years of age. The observation period was Week 26, 2016, to Week 25, 2019. Across the three seasons, we estimated seasonal averages of 203,090 (se ± 26,717) general practitioner (GP) visits for influenza-like illness (ILI) 4944 (se ± 785) influenza-attributable hospitalizations and 1355 (se ± 169) excess deaths attributable to influenza. We estimated a total loss of 8429 (2016/2017), 11,179 (2017/2018), and 7701 (2018/2019) QALYs due to influenza. On average, 88% of the loss in QALYs was attributed to premature deaths due to influenza. The total direct medical costs amounted to 44.4 (2016/2017), 77.3 (2017/2018), and 64.5 (2018/2019) million euros. On average, 79.6% of the total costs arose due to hospitalizations. In Switzerland, the burden of influenza on patients and payers is significant and particularly high in the elderly population. Policy interventions to increase vaccination rates and the uptake of more effective vaccines among the elderly are needed to reduce the burden of influenza.

ЭКОНОМИЧЕСКОЕ БРЕМЯ НОВОЙ КОРОНАВИРУСНОЙ ИНФЕКЦИИ РЕСПУБЛИКИ БАШКОРТОСТАН

Abstract. Introduction. Extent of social losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic is still evaluated incompletely fully assessed despite its declared end. Aim. To study the socioeconomic burden of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Materials and Methods. In this study, we used the method of accounting for the economic burden caused by hospitalizations, sick leaves, and deaths. Four disease severity levels (mild, moderate, severe, and critical) and two treatment options (inpatient or outpatient) were considered. Direct costs were evaluated using the data provided by the Tariff Agreement on Compulsory Medical Insurance in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Indirect losses were evaluated considering the times of the patients’ incapacity to work and assessing the amounts of “underproduced” Gross Regional Product due to their premature deaths. Results and Discussion. The results obtained indicate that total direct medical costs related to the diagnosis and treatment of coronavirus infection increase annually, despite the reducing costs of each treatment stage. Based on published data alone, the three-year direct costs amounted to 0.3 billion rubles for outpatient treatment, 7.4 billion rubles in hospitals, and 4.6 billion rubles for PCR tests. In the loss structure, significant are indirect costs associated with incapacity periods (4.7 billion rubles) and mortality (2.3 billion). Conclusions. COVID-19 pandemic has led to large socioeconomic losses.

Outcomes and Direct Cost of Isolated Nonemergent CABG in Patients With Low Ejection Fraction.

Preoperative left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) is one of the main predictors of outcomes in cardiac surgery. We present current era outcomes and associated direct cost in nonemergent isolated coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG) patients with LVEF <20% over the past 6 years and compare it with higher EF subgroups. Six-year data from 2016 to 2022 at hospitals sharing Society of Thoracic Surgeons and financial data with Biome Analytics were analyzed based on 3 EF subgroups (EF ≤20%, EF 21% to 35%, and EF >35%). Outcomes and costs were assessed. Overall 30-day mortality of 12,649 patients was 1.9%. The EF ≤20% (n = 248), EF 21% to 35% (n = 1,408), and EF >35 (n = 10,993) cohorts had mortality of 6.9%, 3.7%, and 1.6%, respectively. The EF ≤20% subgroup had higher use of cardiopulmonary bypass, blood products, and mechanical support. In addition, the EF ≤20% subgroup had higher complication rates in almost all measured categories. Also, the EF ≤20% cohort had significantly higher length of stay, intensive care unit (ICU) hours, ICU and hospital readmissions, and lowest discharge to home rate. The strongest factors associated with mortality were postoperative cardiac arrest, renal failure requiring dialysis, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, sepsis, prolonged ventilation, and gastrointestinal event. The overall median direct cost of care was $37,387.79 ($27,605.18, $51,720.96), with a median direct cost of care in the EF ≤20%, EF 21% to 35%, and EF >35% subgroups of $52,500.17 ($34,103.52, $80,806.79), $44,108.32 ($31,597.58, $63,788.03), and $36,521.80 ($27,168.91, $50,019.31), respectively. In nonemergent isolated CABG surgery, low EF continues to have higher surgical risks and higher direct cost of care despite advances in cardiovascular care.

Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

Cancer causes a substantial burden to our society, both from a health and an economic perspective. To improve cancer patient outcomes and lower society expenses, early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential. The recent COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the care trajectory of cancer patients, which may affect their prognosis in a potentially negative way. The purpose of this paper is to present a flexible decision-analytic Markov model methodology allowing the evaluation of the impact of delayed cancer care caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium which can be used by researchers to respond to diverse research questions in a variety of disruptive events, contexts and settings. A decision-analytic Markov model was developed for 4 selected cancer types (i.e. breast, colorectal, lung, and head and neck), comparing the estimated costs and quality-adjusted life year losses between the pre-COVID-19 situation and the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium. Input parameters were derived from published studies (transition probabilities, utilities and indirect costs) and administrative databases (epidemiological data and direct medical costs). One-way and probabilistic sensitivity analyses are proposed to consider uncertainty in the input parameters and to assess the robustness of the model's results. Scenario analyses are suggested to evaluate methodological and structural assumptions. The results that such decision-analytic Markov model can provide are of interest to decision makers because they help them to effectively allocate resources to improve the health outcomes of cancer patients and to reduce the costs of care for both patients and healthcare systems. Our study provides insights into methodological aspects of conducting a health economic evaluation of cancer care and COVID-19 including insights on cancer type selection, the elaboration of a Markov model, data inputs and analysis.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of first-line tislelizumab plus chemotherapy for recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal cancer.

Introduction: The RATIONALE-309 trial confirmed the significant efficacy and safety of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy in patients with recurrent or metastatic nasopharyngeal carcinoma (R/M NPC). However, the economic benefits of this regimen are unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of adding tislelizumab to chemotherapy for R/M NPC from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. Methods: A Markov model was established to simulate the costs and outcomes of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy. The survival data came from the RATIONALE-309 trial. Only direct medical costs were considered, and utility values were referred to the literature. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was used as the main outcome measure. Sensitivity analysis was performed to assess the effect of parameter uncertainty on the model. Additionally, subgroup analyses were performed. Results: The basic analysis showed that the cost of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy ($33,693) was $17,711 higher than that of chemotherapy ($15,982), but it also gained 1.05 QALYs more (2.72 QALYs vs. 1.67 QALYs), with an ICER of $16,859/QALY, which was lower than the willing-to-pay (WTP) of $36,289/QALY. The factors that most influenced the model were the utility of PD, the cost of tislelizumab, and the risk of platelet count decreased in tislelizumab plus chemotherapy group. The subgroup analysis also demonstrated that tislelizumab plus chemotherapy was cost-effective in the whole population regardless of EBV DNA level and PD-L1 expression level. Conclusion: Compared with chemotherapy alone, tislelizumab plus chemotherapy was cost-effective for the treatment of R/M NPC in China.

Characteristics and economic burden of hospitalized patients with herpes zoster in China, before vaccination

ABSTRACT Herpes zoster (HZ) brings a significant economic burden. The HZ vaccine was introduced in China for the first time in 2020, and there is a lack of up-to-date information on the hospitalization costs and characteristics prior to vaccination. This study aimed to describe the characteristics and economic burden of HZ inpatients in Hunan Province, China, and analyze the factors influencing the length of stay (LOS) and costs. This was a retrospective study and we extracted information from the Chinese National Health Statistics Network Reporting System on HZ inpatients in Hunan Province, China from 2017 to 2019. Spatial join tools and Global or Local Moran’s Index were used for the geographic analysis of hospitalized HZ incidence. Multivariate linear regression models were used to analyze the factors influencing LOS and costs. There were 44,311 HZ inpatients included in this study, incurring a total of $31,857,734 medical costs. These patients had a median LOS of 8 days and a median expenditure of $573.47. Older age, more comorbidities, and the presence of complications with nervous system involved were all significantly associated with longer LOS and higher costs. HZ infection resulted in a large direct medical cost and heavy disease burden, especially in patients with advanced age or underlying medical conditions. The HZ vaccine has the potential to effectively reduce the disease burden and should be widely popularized especially among high-risk groups.

Methods for Economic Evaluations of Novel Oral Anticoagulants in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a severe epidemiological and public health concern among the elderly population worldwide, with substantial economic and social burdens. Economic evaluations can play an essential role in optimizing the utilization of scarce resources. In recent years, the number of economic evaluation studies related to AF has increased due to the rising number of AF patients, the continuous updating of clinical data, and the emergence of real-world evidence. However, there are still deficiencies in model settings and parameter sources in relevant studies. This study aims to review the existing economic evaluations of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in patients with AF and summarize the evidence and methods applied. A comprehensive and systematic search was conducted on electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Web of Science (WOS), and The Cochrane Library, from the date of database creation to November 2022. The reporting quality of included literature was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards 2022 (CHEERS 2022) statement. A total of 102 studies were included in the review, with 200 comparisons between NOACs and vitamin K antagonists (VKAs), as well as 58 comparisons between different NOACs. The healthcare sector and payer perspectives were the most common, and accordingly, the majority of the evaluations considered only direct medical costs. Most studies used Markov cohort models with the number of health states ranging from 4 to 29. Of included studies, 80 (78%) considered event recurrence and complications, and 78 (76%) considered discontinuation and second-line therapy. All of the studies applied uncertainty analysis to explore the robustness of the results. Of all 200 NOACs-VKAs comparisons, 149 (75%) showed that NOACs were more cost-effective; this proportion was 84% (139 out of 165) in high-income countries but decreased to 29% (10 out of 35) in middle- and low-income countries. Most (82%) of the 28 items in the CHEERS 2022 checklist were elucidated in the majority of included studies. A minority (only 39%) of included studies demonstrated high reporting quality. NOACs may be more cost-effective than VKAs in patients with AF, but this conclusion applies to high-income countries, whereas VKAs may be more cost-effective in middle- and low-income countries. The reporting quality of included studies was variable, and certain methodological issues were presented. This study highlights the economic evaluation methodology of NOACs in patients with AF and provides recommendations for modeling methods and future studies.

Direct medical costs of globe salvage in group C-E retinoblastoma and implications for cost-effectiveness

To determine the direct medical costs and cost-effectiveness of globe salvage compared with primary enucleation in patients with advanced retinoblastoma. Patients with International Classification of Retinoblastoma groups C-E retinoblastoma at a single institution from 2001 to 2021 were categorized into two groups: primary enucleation and globe salvage. Hospital visits and treatments were compared to determine differences in care utilization. Costs per encounter were derived from billing data and multiplied by number of encounters to determine total costs in the first year of treatment. Groups were stratified by unilateral or bilateral retinoblastoma, and visual acuity-based utility values were used to compare quality-adjusted life years to determine cost-effectiveness. Of 74 group C-E eyes of 70 patients, 55 eyes underwent primary enucleation and 19 eyes underwent globe salvage, 12 of which ultimately underwent secondary enucleation. Patients who underwent globe salvage had higher usage of systemic chemotherapy (P=0.001), more examinations under anesthesia (P < 0.001), fewer outpatient visits (P= 0.03), and a higher total cost of care (301,151 vs 104,764 USD [P < 0.001]) in the first year of treatment compared with the primary enucleation group. At an average life expectancy of 76 years, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 118,347 USD per QALY in unilateral retinoblastoma and 32,987 USD per QALY in bilateral retinoblastoma, meeting the <150,000 USD/QALY threshold of cost-effectiveness. Incurring additional costs may save the eye in advanced retinoblastoma, but the possibility of secondary enucleation should be disclosed for informed decision making. Despite this risk, globe salvage was cost-effective in unilateral and bilateral retinoblastoma.

The economic costs of COVID‐19 in a rural Western US state

AbstractThe impact of the coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has been felt worldwide. While the United States appears to be on path to recovery, the economic burden and rising medical care expenditures associated with the pandemic remains in the trillions of dollars. Utilizing data from the US Department of Health and Human Services and FAIR Health, this study estimates the economic burden of COVID‐19 for Idaho was estimated through assessment of direct medical costs and indirect costs for years 2020–2021. Total direct medical hospital costs associated with COVID‐19, among adults, were estimated as the sum of hospital costs associated with inpatient visits. The cost of testing was included in the direct cost assessment, with data from the Idaho Division of Public Health and Medicare Administrative Contractor payment rates. To determine indirect absenteeism costs, daily cases were multiplied by 7 to account for days of missed productivity; this number was then multiplied by an employment‐adjusted average daily wage to obtain a lost productivity dollar value. Lastly, premature mortality costs were estimated based on the lost value of future earnings. Results show that in 2020, the associated direct and indirect costs of COVID‐19 amounted to over $608 million and increased to over $1.3 billion in 2021 for the state of Idaho. As the pandemic lingers on with new variants and mutations, rising costs will continue to place a heavy burden on many Idahoans, who are already often face disparate health outcomes and access to health care.

A cost-utility analysis on a multicomponent intervention for fibromyalgia syndrome in Spain

Abstract Background Fibromyalgia is a chronic musculoskeletal condition associated with widespread pain, fatigue, and other somatic symptoms that reduce functionality and quality of life. Its significant economic burden for society urges improving the usual clinical practice. Methods This study presents a trial-based cost-utility analysis on a multicomponent intervention programme (MCI) for patients with fibromyalgia compared to the usual clinical care in Catalonia's primary care centres. This economic evaluation was conducted from a societal perspective, a human capital approach, and a one-year time horizon. The study outcomes included direct medical costs, productivity losses, and quality of life. Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were calculated using the SF-6Dv2 metric algorithm. Subsequently, crude and adjusted incremental cost-utility ratios (ICUR) were estimated to compare the treatment strategies and one- and two-way deterministic sensitivity analyses were performed. Results The complete case analysis comprised 297 individuals (161 in the intervention group / 136 controls). The obtained crude ICUR of €1,780.75 per QALY gained, and the adjusted ICUR of €851.67 suggested that the increase in participants’ quality of life outweighed the cost increase as they fell below the cost-effectiveness threshold. Furthermore, the sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of the results when variating large cost components and increasing therapeutic adherence, which endorsed the implementation scheme. Conclusions Given its cost-utility for society, the study's results support including the proposed MCI as part of the standard regional practice for patients with fibromyalgia. These findings provide decision-makers with evidence to enhance the healthcare approach to fibromyalgia syndrome, reduce its social burden and improve patients’ quality of life in a context of medical uncertainty. Key messages • The usual clinical practice for fibromyalgia syndrome urges improving its therapeutic approach in a scenario of medical uncertainty. • Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome can benefit from multicomponent intervention programmes that cover physical, psychological and health education needs reducing the economic burden for society.

Endovascular treatment for basilar artery occlusion: a cost-effectiveness analysis based on a meta-analysis.

This study aimed to investigate the efficacy and economic effect of endovascular treatment (EVT) combined with standard medical treatment (SMT) vs. SMT alone in Chinese patients with basilar artery occlusion (BAO) from the perspective of the Chinese healthcare system. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis using the results from a meta-analysis comparing EVT and SMT efficacy in Chinese patients with BAO-induced stroke using direct medical costs from the China National Stroke Registry. The meta-analysis's primary outcome was excellent functional outcome (mRS scores of 0-2), with secondary outcomes being poor functional outcome (mRS scores of 3-5) and death (mRS score of 6). To compare EVT plus SMT's cost-effectiveness with that of SMT alone, we constructed a combined decision tree and Markov model with a lifetime duration and a 3-month cycle length. The primary cost-effectiveness outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER), representing the incremental cost per incremental quality-adjusted life year (QALY). EVT was considered cost-effective if the ICER was lower than the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of three times the per capita gross domestic product (GDP) in 2021 in China; otherwise, it would not be cost-effective. The meta-analysis results indicated that EVT could increase the incidence of excellent functional outcomes, with a risk ratio (RR) of 2.23 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.18-4.21), p = 0.01. Simultaneously, EVT reduced the risk of poor functional outcome and mortality in the EVT group, with RRs of 0.83 (95% CI, 0.67-1.03), p = 0.09, and 0.71 (95% CI, 0.59-0.85), p = 0.0002, respectively. The study also found that EVT plus SMT resulted in a lifetime effectiveness of 2.15 QALY (3.88 life years) for 32,213 international dollars (Intl.$) per patient with BAO. In contrast, SMT alone achieved an effectiveness of 1.46 QALY (3.03 life years) with a total cost of Intl.$ 13,592 per patient. The ICER was Intl.$ 27,265 per QALY (Intl.$ 22,098 per life-year), which fell below the WTP threshold. Compared to SMT, EVT improves the prognosis of BAO-induced stroke. Considering the Chinese healthcare system, adding EVT to SMT proves to be cost-effective for patients with BAO compared to SMT alone.

Cost-Effectiveness of Health Literacy Enhancement Intervention on Patients with Type II Diabetes.

Type II diabetes is considered a chronic disease that influences the affected person's quality of life and imposes a high economic burden on the patient and society. The enhancement of health literacy seems essential for self-management and disease control in patients with type II diabetes. Consequently, this study was performed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of enhanced health literacy in type II diabetes patients. This study was of quantitative and economic evaluation type. A population of 232 patients was selected among those referred to the Tafihan Shiraz clinic based on the quality of entry and exit. The health literacy educational intervention was carried out for three months. In order to collect information, researchers used the SF36 questionnaire and the checklist of costs. The Cost Effectiveness Ratio (CER) and Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) were calculated. Moreover, the costs of each unit of increasing the quality of life before and after the intervention were calculated. A decision was made to determine the cost-effectiveness of the intervention. According to the results, 40% of the participants were females, and 34.5% were 30-40 years old. Examination of the quality of life in patients before the intervention indicated that the mean and standard deviation of the patients' quality of life before the intervention was 18.43±44.99, and the mean and standard deviation of the quality of life after the intervention was 49.57±16.21. Moreover, the patients' quality of life increased after the educational intervention. The total direct medical costs were $717,484 and $685,620 before and after the intervention, respectively. The total indirect medical costs were $604,122 and $493,011 before and after the intervention, respectively. Moreover, the total indirect costs were $122,535 and $122,119 before and after the intervention, respectively. The study was cost-effective with CER=0.9 and ICER= - 140,000 per increase in the quality of life. Improving health literacy can have a range of benefits and improve the quality of life of patients with type II diabetes and reduce their treatment costs, and thereby, this may be seen as an effective step toward the recovery of patients with type II diabetes.

Economic evaluation of antimicrobial resistance in curable sexually transmitted infections; a systematic review and a case study.

To provide a summary of the economic and methodological evidence on capturing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) associated costs for curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs). To explore approaches for incorporating the cost of AMR within an economic model evaluating different treatment strategies for gonorrhoea, as a case study. A systematic review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42022298232). MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, International Health Technology Assessment Database, National Health Service Economic Evaluation Database, and EconLit databases were searched up to August 2022. Included studies were analysed, quality assessed and findings synthesised narratively. Additionally, an economic evaluation which incorporated AMR was undertaken using a decision tree model and primary data from a randomised clinical trial comparing gentamicin therapy with standard treatment (ceftriaxone). AMR was incorporated into the evaluation using three approaches-integrating the additional costs of treating resistant infections, conducting a threshold analysis, and accounting for the societal cost of resistance for the antibiotic consumed. Twelve studies were included in the systematic review with the majority focussed on AMR in gonorrhoea. The cost of ceftriaxone resistant gonorrhoea and the cost of ceftriaxone sparing strategies were significant and related to the direct medical costs from persistent gonorrhoea infections, sequelae of untreated infections, gonorrhoea attributable-HIV transmission and AMR testing. However, AMR definition, the collection and incorporation of AMR associated costs, and the perspectives adopted were inconsistent or limited. Using the review findings, different approaches were explored for incorporating AMR into an economic evaluation comparing gentamicin to ceftriaxone for gonorrhoea treatment. Although the initial analysis showed that ceftriaxone was the cheaper treatment, gentamicin became cost-neutral if the clinical efficacy of ceftriaxone reduced from 98% to 92%. By incorporating societal costs of antibiotic use, gentamicin became cost-neutral if the cost of ceftriaxone treatment increased from £4.60 to £8.44 per patient. Inclusion of AMR into economic evaluations may substantially influence estimates of cost-effectiveness and affect subsequent treatment recommendations for gonorrhoea and other STIs. However, robust data on the cost of AMR and a standardised approach for conducting economic evaluations for STI treatment which incorporate AMR are lacking, and requires further developmental research.

Web-based intervention for improving influenza vaccination in pregnant women: a cost-effectiveness analysis

ABSTRACT A website with vaccine information and interactive social media was reported to improve maternal influenza vaccine uptake. This study aimed to evaluate cost-effectiveness of a web-based intervention on influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women from the perspective of US healthcare providers. A one-year decision-analytic model estimated outcomes in a hypothetical cohort of pregnant women with: (1) website with vaccine information and interactive social media (intervention group), and (2) usual care (usual care group). Primary measures included influenza infection, influenza-related hospitalization, mortality, direct medical cost, and quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) loss. In base-case analysis, intervention group reduced cost (by USD28), infection (by 28 per 1,000 pregnant women), hospitalization (by 1.226 per 1,000 pregnant women), mortality (by 0.0036 per 1,000 pregnant women), and saved 0.000305 QALYs versus usual care group. Relative improvement of vaccine uptake by the intervention and number of pregnant women in the healthcare system were two influential factors identified in deterministic sensitivity analysis. The intervention was cost-effective in 99.5% of 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations (at willingness-to-pay threshold 50,000 USD/QALY). A website with vaccine information and interactive social media to promote influenza vaccination for pregnant women appears to reduce direct medical costs and gain QALYs from the perspective of US healthcare providers.

Direct healthcare cost and barriers to the medical management of primary open-angle glaucoma in healthcare facilities in Yaounde – Cameroon

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the direct healthcare cost of glaucoma among patients attending two healthcare services in Yaounde, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: This investigation was a hospital-based, observational, and cross-sectional study of 122 glaucoma patients on follow-up from January to August 2021. The study was carried out using a pre-tested questionnaire and analyzed sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, monthly income, investigations performed, medications prescribed, and direct healthcare costs. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24. Results: A total of 122 glaucoma follow-up patients participated in the study of whom 73 (59.9%) were male (sex ratio M/F = 1.49). Seventy-one (58.19%) participants were above 60 years. The majority (67.4%) had a higher education level. Over 40% of participants reported a monthly income of &lt;228 Euros. Only 38 (31.1%) had health insurance. During the study year, each patient underwent 2.25 ± 0.84 consultations, 2.76 ± 1.40 ocular pressure measurements, 0.73 ± 0.52 visual field examinations, and 0.32 ± 0.2 gonioscopy. Prostaglandin analogs were the most widely prescribed drugs (71%), followed by β-blockers (Carteolol and Timolol) and carbonic anhydrase inhibitors with frequencies of 62% and 15%, respectively. The direct medical cost of the study population was estimated at 468.47 ± 155.34 Euros. The greatest proportion of out-of-pocket expenses (61.13% of medical costs) concerned the purchase of drugs, with an average cost of 284.16 ± 115.25 Euros. Patients treated in the public sector spent an average of 425.78 ± 38.49 Euros, while those treated in the private sector spent 562.22 ± 139.18 Euros during the study year (P = 0.001). However, health coverage and type of glaucoma did not influence the direct cost of treatment. The main obstacles to glaucoma care were insufficient income followed by forgetfulness. Conclusion: The present study shows that almost all participants self-funded their glaucoma management. More than 60% of the direct healthcare cost was devoted to anti-glaucoma drugs and the main barrier to optimal glaucoma care was the lack of financial resources. All stakeholders need involvement, especially health policymakers, to prioritize glaucoma management to make it affordable for patients.

Comparative Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccines for Older Adults in Hong Kong.

Two respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccines (AREXVY® and ABRYSVO®) were recently approved for older adults in the US. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of AREXVY® and ABRYSVO® from the Hong Kong public healthcare provider's perspective. A two-year decision-analytical model was developed to examine the outcomes of a single RSV vaccination (AREXVY® or ABRYSVO®) compared to no vaccination. Primary outcomes included RSV-related health outcomes, direct medical costs, quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) loss, and incremental cost per QALY (ICER). RSV vaccines are not yet marketed in Hong Kong, base-case analysis, therefore, benchmarked US RSV vaccine prices at 4 levels (25%, 50%, 75%, 100%). AREXVY® and ABRYSVO® (versus no vaccination) gained 0.000568 QALY and 0.000647 QALY, respectively. ICERs of ABRYSVO® (26,209 USD/QALY) and AREXVY® (47,485 USD/QALY) were lower than the willingness-to-pay threshold (49,594 USD/QALY) at 25% US vaccine price. The RSV attack rate was a common influential factor at all vaccine price levels. The probabilities of AREXVY® and ABRYSVO® to be most cost-effective were 0.10% and 97.68%, respectively, at 25% US vaccine price. Single vaccination of ABRYSVO® or AREXVY® for older adults appears to gain QALYs over 2 years in Hong Kong. The cost-effectiveness of AREXVY® and ABRYSVO® is subject to vaccine price and RSV attack rate.

Trends in incidence, health care consumption, and medical and productivity costs of femoral shaft fractures in the Netherlands between 2005 and 2019

IntroductionPopulation-based knowledge on the occurrence of femoral shaft fractures is necessary for allocation of health care services, optimization of preventive measures, and research purposes. This nationwide study aimed to provide an overview on the incidence of femoral shaft fractures over a 15-year period and to gain insight into health care consumption and work absence with associated costs in the Dutch population. MethodsData of patients who sustained an acute femoral shaft fracture in the years 2005–2019 were extracted from the National Medical Registration of the Dutch Hospital Database. The incidence rate, hospital length of stay (HLOS), direct medical costs, productivity costs, and years lived with disability were calculated for age- and gender specific groups. ResultsA total of 15,847 patients with a femoral shaft fracture were included. The incidence rate increased with 13 % over this 15-year period (5.71/100,000 persons per year in 2005 and 6.47/100,000 in 2019). The mean HLOS per patient was 13.8 days in 2005–2009 versus 8.4 days in 2015–2019 for the entire group. Mean HLOS per patient increased with age (10.0 days for age group 0–9 and 12.7 days for age group >80), but declined over time from 13.6 days in 2005–2009 to 8.8 days in 2015–2019 in males, and from 13.7 days and to 8.2 days, respectively, in females. The costs due to work absence was higher in males. Cumulative health care costs were highest in females >80 years (8.4 million euros versus 1.6 million in males). ConclusionThe incidence rate of femoral shaft fractures increased over the past 15 years in the Netherlands. Mean HLOS per patient has decreased in all age groups and in both sexes. Health care costs were highest for female octogenarians.

Cost Effectiveness Analysis in Scientific Herbal Therapy Compared to Conventional Therapy for Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia is a common digestive disorder among global health problems. This study aimed to examine the cost-effectiveness of scientific herbs in the treatment of dyspepsia. This study has used a societal perspective, but the indirect costs are considered equal because the patient is undergoing outpatient care. The analysis was used to determine the cost-effectiveness using the Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) method. The results were reported in rupiah currency, which includes categories of direct medical costs and direct non-medical costs. Sensitivity analysis reported changes in results, taking into account various possible influencing variables. A total of 62 patients who were respondents in this study were included in scientific herbal therapy (48.38%) and conventional dyspepsia therapy (51.62%). The cost of scientific herbal therapy was higher than conventional dyspepsia therapy (45.558±4.351 vs. 39.202±4.500). However, this difference was not statistically significant on the effectiveness of therapy (96.67% vs. 90.62%; p-value 0.600), the utility index of scientific herbal medicine was greater than conventional dyspepsia therapy (0.85±0.11 vs. 0.74±0.14). The ICER value for 1 additional unit of effectiveness was IDR 105,933; while for the addition of 1 unit of quality of life was IDR 57,781. The effectiveness of scientific herbal medicine therapy for dyspepsia was greater than the effectiveness of conventional dyspepsia therapy, where the cost was higher but the effectiveness was better.