Economic Impact Research Articles

Modelling the potential clinical and economic impact of universal immunisation with nirsevimab versus standard of practice for protecting all neonates and infants in their first respiratory syncytial virus season in Spain

BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is associated with substantial morbidity among infants. This study modelled the potential public health and economic impact of nirsevimab, a long-acting monoclonal antibody, as an immunoprophylactic strategy for all infants in Spain in their first RSV season.MethodsA static decision-analytic model of the Spanish birth cohort during its first RSV season was developed to estimate the impact of nirsevimab on RSV-related health events and costs versus the standard of practice (SoP). Spain-specific costs and epidemiological data were used as model inputs. Modelled outcomes included RSV-related outpatient visits, emerging room (ER) visits, hospitalisations – including pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admission, mechanical ventilation, and inpatient mortality.ResultsUnder the current SoP, RSV caused 151,741 primary care visits, 38,798 ER visits, 12,889 hospitalisations, 1,412 PICU admissions, and 16 deaths over a single season, representing a cost of €71.8 million from a healthcare payer perspective. Universal immunisation of all infants with nirsevimab was expected to prevent 97,157 primary care visits (64.0% reduction), 24,789 ER visits (63.9%), 8,185 hospitalisations (63.5%), 869 PICU admissions (61.5%), and 9 inpatient deaths (52.6%), saving €47.8 million (62.4%) in healthcare costs.ConclusionsThese results suggest that immunisation with nirsevimab of all infants experiencing their first RSV season in Spain is likely to prevent thousands of RSV-related health events and save considerable costs versus the current SoP.

Analysis of Indirect Costs of Absence Associated with Mental Disorders on the Basis of Social Security Data (2012-2023).

Mental and behavioral disorders significantly impair psychophysical functioning, leading to challenges in daily activities. The increasing recognition of the importance of mental health in global development goals has resulted in its inclusion in the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The burden of mental disorders has grown worldwide due to demographic changes, with substantial economic and social impacts. This study aimed to examine the indirect costs of mental disorders in Poland by analyzing the expenditures by the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) on work incapacity benefits and disability pensions from 2012 to 2023. The goal was to identify trends, dependencies, and the economic impact of policy changes. Data were collected from ZUS reports on annual expenditures for work incapacity benefits and disability pensions. Advanced statistical methods, including linear regression and Pearson correlation, were employed to analyze trends and relationships. Student's t-tests assessed the statistical significance of the observed trends. The expenditures on benefits for work incapacity due to mental disorders increased significantly over the past decade, particularly from 2020 to 2023, partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Short-term absenteeism due to mental disorders accounted for 10.5% of the total sick leave days. A strong positive correlation was found between years and benefit expenditures. Conversely, the disability pension expenditures exhibited a downward trend, potentially reflecting improvements in public health or policy changes. The significant increase in expenditures on benefits related to mental disorders may reflect greater awareness, improved diagnostics, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, the decline in disability pension expenditures could suggest improved mental health or effective policy measures. However, it is important to emphasize that the presented data are not the only factor influencing this situation. Multiple variables, including societal, economic, and healthcare system changes, contribute to these trends. Therefore, further research is necessary to fully understand the underlying causes and to guide effective policy development. Regular monitoring and continued investment in mental health are essential to managing indirect costs such as absenteeism and presenteeism efficiently.

Оценка экономического влияния массовых ложных сообщений на сферу торговых центров

The article examines the economic impact of mass false bomb threat calls faced by shopping centers in Russia. The causes, prevalence of this phenomenon, and its impact on shopping center businesses are analyzed. Attention is given to direct and indirect losses, such as lost revenue, evacuation and inspection costs, and decreased trust from tenants and visitors. Estimates of damage to Moscow shopping centers' economy are provided, reaching tens of billions of rubles annually. Mechanisms for minimizing losses and the influence of these events on the sector's stability in a transforming market are discussed.

Temporal stability of the rumen microbiome and its longitudinal associations with performance traits in beef cattle

The rumen microbiome is the focus of a growing body of research, mostly based on investigation of rumen fluid samples collected once from each animal. Exploring the temporal stability of rumen microbiome profiles is imperative, as it enables evaluating the reliability of findings obtained through single-timepoint sampling. We explored the temporal stability of rumen microbiomes considering taxonomic and functional aspects across the 7-month growing-finishing phase spanning 6 timepoints. We identified a temporally stable core microbiome, encompassing 515 microbial genera (e.g., Methanobacterium) and 417 microbial KEGG genes (e.g., K00856—adenosine kinase). The temporally stable core microbiome profiles collected from all timepoints were strongly associated with production traits with substantial economic and environmental impact (e.g., average daily gain, daily feed intake, and methane emissions); 515 microbial genera explained 45–83%, and 417 microbial genes explained 44–83% of their phenotypic variation. Microbiome profiles influenced by the bovine genome explained 54–87% of the genetic variation of bovine traits. Overall, our results provide evidence that the temporally stable core microbiome identified can accurately predict host performance traits at phenotypic and genetic level based on a single timepoint sample taken as early as 7 months prior to slaughter.

The Return on Investment for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity in Beijing: A Modeling Study.

Background: The increasing prevalence of child and adolescent overweight and obesity (CAOAO) in Beijing poses significant health and economic challenges. This study assesses the potential health and economic outcomes of implementing specific interventions to address CAOAO in Beijing. Methods: A deterministic Markov cohort model was used to estimate the impact of five interventions from 2025 to 2115: restrictions on unhealthy food marketing to children, mandatory front of package labeling (FOPL), family-based nutrition and exercise education, school-based nutritional health education, and nutritional counseling in primary healthcare. The model evaluated societal costs, healthcare savings, wages, and economic productivity in adulthood, calculating the return on investment (ROI) for each intervention and their combined effect. Result: Without intervention, Beijing is projected to experience a loss of 13.4 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) due to CAOAO. The health and economic impact of childhood obesity in Beijing is projected to be CNY 14.6 trillion (USD 2.1 trillion), or a lifetime loss of CNY 6.8 million (USD 0.96 million) per affected child, exceeding the sum of Beijing's GDP from 2021 to 2023. Restrictions on unhealthy food marketing to children and nutrition counseling in primary healthcare are projected to yield the highest returns, with benefits accruing within one year of implementation. Owing to the substantial upfront costs, including personnel, materials, and training, school-based and family-based interventions require a longer time horizon to realize significant health and economic benefits. Conclusions: Effective management of CAOAO in Beijing demands a multifaceted approach. The combination of restrictions on unhealthy food marketing to children, mandatory front of package labeling, nutrition counseling in primary healthcare, school-based intervention, and family-based intervention presents the most substantial health and economic returns. This comprehensive strategy aligns with global best practices and addresses the unique challenges faced by Beijing in combating childhood obesity.

Living Hedges and Household Food and Nutrition Security in Cote D'ivoire

Soil degradation is a major problem, particularly for Ivorian rice farmers who grow rainfed rice on slopes or flood plains. To remedy this situation, some households are adopting agroforestry practices, in particular living hedgerows. This study analyzes the economic impact of the adoption of living hedgerows on the food and nutritional security of rice-growing households in Côte d'Ivoire. Data were collected from 456 households in the regions of Tonkpi in the west, Poro and Tchologo in the north, using stratified random sampling, with each village considered as a stratum. Then, the two steps of the propensity score matching (PSM) method were used to identify the factors involved in the adoption of living hedges and to measure the effect of this adoption on household food and nutritional security. The results obtained from the propensity score matching (PSM) analysis indicate that the adoption of living hedges improves the food and nutritional security of adopters by an average of 67% and 266.67% respectively. The study therefore recommends improving human capital through training in rice plot selection, raising awareness of the benefits of agroforestry practices, and capacity-building for producers in the use of living hedgerows.

Seroprevalence of infectious bursal disease and its associated risk factors in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT The poultry population is an integral part of Ethiopia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) but, due to various infectious diseases such as infectious bursal disease (IBD), the expected economic impact in the country remains limited. The status of the disease in Ethiopia is obscured; thus, a systematic review and meta-analysis were employed to estimate the overall pooled prevalence of IBD in Ethiopia. Meta-analysis was conducted to determine the effects of each identified risk factor, while meta-regression and sub-group analysis were employed to assess the relationship between study-level covariates and effect size. The pooled prevalence of IBD in Ethiopia was 69.4% (95% CI 30.7–96.2), while the pooled logit prevalence was 0.94 (95% CI: 0.68–1.20) with significant inter-study variance (Q test = 948.28, df = 43, P < 0.001; τ 2 = 0.71, I 2 = 95.47%). A small-study effect was detected in the regression-based Egger test (Prob > |z| < 0.0001). Significant variation was observed among different groups such as sex, age, breed, and type of farm of the chickens. The effect size for the study period from 2018 to 2021 was significantly lower by −0.204 compared to the study period from 2009 to 2015 (P < 0.0001. In conclusion, the IBD pooled prevalence estimate is high, even though the number of studies in the country is insufficient. The high prevalence of the disease requires prompt attention from all stakeholders in the sector to bring it under control through comprehensive disease prevention and control intervention strategies.

Effects of electric vehicle charging stations on the economic vitality of local businesses

Electric vehicle charging stations (EVCS) are essential for promoting cleaner transportation by facilitating electric vehicle recharging. This study explores their broader economic impact on nearby businesses, analyzing data from over 4000 EVCS and 140,000 business establishments in California. Results show that installing one EVCS boosts annual spending at a nearby establishment by 1.4% ($1,478) in 2019 and 0.8% ($404) from January 2021 to June 2023. The effect is more pronounced when a point of interest (POI) is within 100 meters of an EVCS, with spending increasing by 2.7% in 2019 and 3.2% from January 2021 to June 2023 for that POI. Public EVCS tend to attract higher-income, exploratory visitors, and local residents. Moreover, they notably enhance businesses in underprivileged areas, defined as disadvantaged and/or low-income areas designated by both California and Justice40, indicating the importance of expanding EVCS in such communities. This study highlights EVCS as drivers of local economic growth and stresses the economic benefits of multi-host EVCS setups.

STUDI BENTUK IMPLEMENTASI DAN DAMPAK SOSIAL EKONOMI PENGELOLAAN HUTAN DESA DI NEGERI MORELLA, LEIHITU, MALUKU TENGAH

The purpose of this study was to determine the form of implementation of the Social Forestry program and the Socio-Economic impacts in the management of Village Forests by LPHD in Morella Village. This study used a purposive sampling method, namely LPHD, KUPS. The results of the study showed that there were forms of Implementation of the Social Forestry (PS) program with the Village Forest (HD) management scheme by LPHD in Morella Village, including the formation of KUPS (KUPS Siliwangi, KUPS Toma Siwa, and KUPS Hausihu). The forms of activities include the Agroforestry Program through counseling and planting of seedlings (durian, nutmeg, cloves, and others), planning for clove oil distillation, assistance with sago processing production tools and exploring cooperation assistance with Bank BI for packaging and marketing of sago tumbu. The socio-economic impacts of the existence of Village Forests (HD) include; Social Impacts, namely being able to build community capacity in managing land, respondents' understanding of HD, the existence of social interaction, Cultural values ​​and norms (mutual cooperation, cooperation, sharing experiences, togetherness), Economic Impacts, namely management training and utilizing forest products, increasing the economy independently, increasing community economic efforts, assistance with economic tools/production tools, assistance with business capital, increasing knowledge and skills in product marketing, as well as business/entrepreneurship opportunities, and certainty of forest management.

How Does Your Garden Grow? Development of a Calculator to Evaluate the Economic and Dietary Impact of Edible Gardens

How Does Your Garden Grow? Development of a Calculator to Evaluate the Economic and Dietary Impact of Edible Gardens

A scoping review of early childhood caries, poverty and the first sustainable development goal

BackgroundPoverty is a well-known risk factor for poor health. This scoping review (ScR) mapped research linking early childhood caries (ECC) and poverty using the targets and indicators of the Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG1).MethodsWe searched PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus in December 2023 using search terms derived from SDG1. Studies were included if they addressed clinically assessed or reported ECC, used indicators of monetary or multidimensional poverty or both, and were published in English with no date restriction. We excluded books and studies where data of children under 6 years of age could not be extracted. We charted the publication year, study location (categorized into income levels and continents), children age, sample size, study design, measures of ECC, types and levels of poverty indicators and adjusted analysis. The publications were also classified based on how the relation between poverty and ECC was conceptualized.ResultsIn total, 193 publications were included with 3.4 million children. The studies were published from 1989 to 2023. Europe and North America produced the highest number of publications, predominantly from the UK and the US, respectively. Age-wise, 3–5-year-olds were the most studied (62.2%). Primary studies (83.9%) were the majority, primarily of cross-sectional design (69.8%). Non-primary studies (16.1%) included reviews and systematic reviews. ECC was mainly measured using the dmf indices (79.3%), while poverty indicators varied, with the most common used indicator being income (46.1%). Most studies measured poverty at family (48.7%) and individual (30.1%) levels. The greatest percentage of publications addressed poverty as an exposure or confounder (53.4%), with some studies using poverty to describe groups (11.9%) or report policies or programs addressing ECC in disadvantaged communities (11.4%). In addition, 24.1% of studies requiring adjusted analysis lacked it. Only 13% of publications aligned with SDG1 indicators and targets.ConclusionThe ScR highlight the need for studies to use indicators that provide a comprehensive understanding of poverty and thoroughly examine the social, political, and economic determinants and impact of ECC. More studies in low and middle-income countries and country-level studies may help design interventions that are setting- and economic context-relevant.

Assessing the economic burden of vision loss and irreversible legal blindness in Spain (2021–2030): a societal perspective

ObjectiveTo estimate the economic impact for the society, generated as a consequence of the onset of loss of vision and irreversible legal blindness, for the main ophthalmologic diseases in Spain: glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy (DR), diabetic macular edema (DME), age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and high myopia (HM).MethodsA cost analysis model was developed to estimate the economic burden of glaucoma, DR, DME, AMD and HM over a 10-year time horizon (2021-2030), from a societal perspective in Spain.The epidemiological and economic parameters used in the model were obtained through a literature review. Prevalence, incidence, and progression stages were used to establish the epidemiological flows. Annual costs per patient from publications were included and classified into direct healthcare, direct non-healthcare and indirect costs. Costs from other countries were converted based on purchasing-power-parity (€EUR, PPP). Epidemiological parameters about population and cost results were validated by a panel of experts.All costs were adjusted to euros, 2021 (€, 2021), and using the Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the last 10 years, extrapolated to 2030 euros (€, 2030).ResultsIt was estimated that the total population of patients with the main diseases pathologies (glaucoma, DR, DME, AMD and HM) will increase to 7.99 million patients by 2030, representing an increase of 103%.The total cost by 2030 of all pathologies would amount to 99.8 billion euros. Direct non-healthcare costs account for the largest item (44%), followed by loss of productivity costs (38%), and direct healthcare costs (18%). The pathologies with the highest cumulative costs will be glaucoma (€33.6 billion) and DME (€19.8 billion).The greatest increment costs compared to 2021 will likely be generated by pathologies related to diabetes mellitus, such as DR (703%) and DME (317%).ConclusionsKnowing the costs associated with the pathologies that generate loss of vision and irreversible legal blindness is essential to understand the socioeconomic impact associated with these pathologies. Furthermore, the high cost of treating these diseases makes necessary to coordinate efforts between administrations, together with the support of patient associations, to meet their needs.

Structural and Phylogenetic In Silico Characterization of Vitis vinifera PRR Protein as Potential Target for Plasmopara viticola Infection.

Fungi infection, especially derived from Plasmopara viticola, causes severe grapevine economic losses worldwide. Despite the availability of chemical treatments, looking for eco-friendly ways to control Vitis vinifera infection is gaining much more attention. When a plant is infected, multiple disease-control molecular mechanisms are activated. PRRs (Pattern Recognition Receptors) and particularly RLKs (receptor-like kinases) take part in the first barrier of the immune system, and, as a consequence, the kinase signaling cascade is activated, resulting in an immune response. In this context, discovering new lectin-RLK (LecRLK) membrane-bounded proteins has emerged as a promising strategy. The genome-wide localization of potential LecRLKs involved in disease defense was reported in two grapevine varieties of great economic impact: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. A total of 23 potential amino acid sequences were identified, exhibiting high-sequence homology and evolution related to tandem events. Based on the domain architecture, a carbohydrate specificity ligand assay was conducted with docking, revealing two sequences as candidates for specific Vitis vinifera-Plasmopara viticola host-pathogen interaction. This study confers a starting point for designing new effective antifungal treatments directed at LecRLK targets in Vitis vinifera.

Efforts of The Nagari Taram Government in Improving Community Welfare Through Kapalo Banda Tourism

The main problem in this study is the effort to improve community welfare through the development of Kapalo Banda tourism. Limited basic infrastructure such as inadequate road conditions and minimal supporting facilities are the main obstacles. Access roads to the location of tourist attractions are still in poor condition, there is a lot of damage and obstacles making it difficult for tourists to reach them. infrastructure problems, management of Kapalo Banda tourism objects by the Taram regional government has also not been implemented optimally. The type of research used by the researcher is field research using qualitative descriptive research methods to obtain data from the problems studied. Kapalo Banda tourism has created new jobs for the community, thereby reducing unemployment in the area. The economic impact of Kapalo Banda tourism development improves the quality of life of the community, increasing the standard of living and social welfare of the Nagari Taram community. Kapalo Banda tourism has a positive impact on the economy and social welfare of the community. get increased income, job opportunities and a better quality of life. Kapalo Banda tourism has created new jobs for the community, thereby increasing job opportunities, reducing unemployment. The development of Kapalo Banda tourism has increased community income, both from the tourism sector and other economic sectors related to the existence of tourist attractions.

Economic impact of limb-salvage strategies in chronic limb-threatening ischaemia: modelling and budget impact study based on national registry data.

Missed opportunities to reduce numbers of primary major lower-limb amputation and increase limb-salvage procedures when treating chronic limb-threatening ischaemia have previously been identified in the literature. However, the potential economic savings for healthcare providers when salvaging a chronic limb-threatening ischaemia-affected limb have not been well documented. A model using National Health Service healthcare usage and cost data for 1.6 million individuals and averaged numbers of primary surgical procedures for chronic limb-threatening ischaemia from England and Wales in 2019-2021 was created to perform a budget impact analysis. Two scenarios were tested: the averaged national rates of major lower-limb amputation (above the ankle joint), angioplasty, open bypass surgery or arterial endarterectomy in the National Vascular Registry (current scenario); and revascularization rates adjusted based on the lowest amputation rate reported by the National Vascular Registry at the time of the study (hypothetical scenario). The primary outcome was the net impact on costs to the National Health Service over 12 months after the index procedure. In the current scenario, the proportions of different index procedures were 10% for lower-limb major amputation, 55% for angioplasty, 25% for open bypass surgery and 10% for arterial endarterectomy. In the hypothetical scenario, the procedure rates were 3% for major lower-limb amputation, 59% for angioplasty, 27% for open bypass surgery and 11% for arterial endarterectomy. For 16 025 index chronic limb-threatening ischaemia procedures, the total care cost in the current scenario was €243 924 927. In the hypothetical scenario, costs would be reduced for index procedures (-€10 013 814), community care (-€633 943) and major cardiovascular events (-€383 407), and increased for primary care (€59 827), outpatient appointments (€120 050) and subsequent chronic limb-threatening ischaemia-related surgery (€1 179 107). The net saving to the National Health Service would be €9 645 259. A shift away from primary major lower-limb amputation towards revascularization could lead to substantial savings for the National Health Service without major cost increases later in the care pathway, indicating that care decisions taken in hospitals have wider benefits.

Heat Stress Impacts on Coral Reef Ecosystems and Communities: An Evaluation of Visitor Perceptions, Behaviors and Substitution Effects in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, USA

Evaluating the effects of environmental events across both biophysical and social dimensions is important in establishing a holistic view of such events. This study focuses on the impact of a devastating heat stress incident that occurred in many locations across the Caribbean region and South Atlantic during the 2023 summer season. The survey and focus of data collection was within Monroe County, a unique nature-based setting south of Miami, Florida, USA. The impact of the heat wave is still being calculated at the time of submission of this paper, but indications are that there was a major negative impact. The survey and data collection sought to understand recreationists’ perceptions, knowledge, and behavior changes as result of the heat stress impact in the Florida Keys. Respondents were interviewed during community workshops in person and through an online sample of boating/angler license holders. The results indicated a change in behavior by some respondents, which may have a longer-term economic impact, along with trends of satisfaction with outdoor recreation over time. This rapid survey method can be applied to future scenarios where social and economic data are needed to fully contextualize environmental impacts in addition to biological endpoints.

Effects of Marathon Competition on Economic Aspects in Guangzhou City

Background and Aim: In recent years, participation in Chinese marathons has experienced significant growth, with the number of participants rising from thousands to hundreds of thousands, and even millions. This surge underscores the growing economic impact of marathon events on urban economies, as they attract participants and stimulate various related industries. However, this rapid expansion also presents challenges in organizing and managing these events, particularly in ensuring safety, professionalism, and fairness. Materials and Methods: The objective of this study was twofold: first, to measure the direct economic impact of hosting major marathon events, and second, to develop a guideline for hosting such events in Guangzhou city. The research utilized a descriptive survey method, employing questionnaires to gather data from different stakeholders and participants involved in the Guangzhou Marathon. Subjects were a simple random sampling of 341 participants, including college students, social workers, and marathon enthusiasts. The research instrument was questionnaire development, and four separate questionnaires were designed to address different aspects of the research: 1) "Marathon runners wearing shoe survey". 2) "Consumer Survey of Marathon Participants". 3) "Guangzhou Marathon and the Image of Guangzhou". 4). "Investigation on the Impact of Holding a City Marathon on the City Economy". To ensure the validity and reliability of the questionnaires, the following steps were taken: content and structure evaluation by 10 experts in related fields, pilot testing for validity, with an Index of Item-Objective Congruence (IOC) of 1. Data Analysis: The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency and percentage. Results: 1) guidelines for the economic aspects of hosting the Guangzhou Marathon, based on the POLC (Planning, Organizing, Leading, and Controlling) theory framework, such as planning: conduct economic impact analysis, set objectives, develop an economic plan, and establish partnerships. Organizing: form an economic committee, develop a marketing plan, coordinate with businesses, engage sporting brands, and facilitate temporary employment. Leading: Provide leadership, maintain communication, foster collaboration, ensure regulatory compliance, and Control: Monitor progress, collect data, conduct reviews, implement quality control, and conduct post-event economic impact analysis. 2) Summary of the new knowledge presented in 4 parts: Marathoners' investments were to prioritize mid-high priced running shoes, purchase dedicated running apparel, invest in watches, headphones, and accessories, and optimize training and performance. Economic benefits included enhanced city visibility and image, driving sporting goods sales, attracting tourism and hospitality revenue, and creating new employment opportunities. Social and cultural impacts were to promote sports participation, foster creativity and cultural expression, increase social cohesion, and enhance city vibrancy and global profile. The Guangzhou Marathon's role was to promote sports culture, boost sponsor brand power and recognition, showcase economic development strengths, and provide perceived multifaceted benefits. Conclusion: The data suggests that hosting a large-scale city marathon can bring about various benefits such as economic growth, social engagement, cultural enrichment, and enhanced city branding, making it an appealing event to organize for cities, as indicated by the respondents surveyed.

A Scoping Review: Unveiling the Benefits of ACF on Tuberculosis Control

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) ranks among the top ten infectious diseases and causes of death worldwide. The implementation of active case-finding TV is crucial in achieving the objectives of the World Health Organization’s End TB strategy. Aims: This review aims to determine the role of active case finding in TB control in a community with high-burden TB. Methods: This review used databases Pubmed, Research Gate, Ebscohost, Science Direct, and Scopus. The search for articles used the main keywords community, active case finding, AND tuberculosis. The articles were selected in English, with a five-year time interval between 2019 to 2023. The type of article subject area included medicine, health, health care, environmental science, and social science. The documents were from journals and articles. The text availability was free full text. Results: This review was done on 3.561 articles that were screened and analyzed out of 6 articles. The articles were originated from Cambodia, China, India, and Africa. This scoping review describes the effect of ACF in the community on TB control (cohorts and cross-sectional) in high-burden TB. Results from 5 articles including 6 studies indicated that ACF in the community was significantly associated with TB control. One of the studies revealed that studies in which ACF reported a non-significant association. Conclusion: This review summarized that ACF provides greater benefits than the PCF strategy, especially in high-risk populations and those with limited access to healthcare facilities. It promotes prompt diagnosis and treatment improves treatment outcomes, minimizes health complications, and reduces the social and economic impact of TB.

Clinical and economic impact of first-line or drug-naïve catheter ablation and delayed second-line catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation using a patient-level simulation model

Aims To determine the clinical and economic implications of first-line or drug-naïve catheter ablation compared to antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs), or shorter AADs-to-Ablation time (AAT) in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients in France and Italy, using a patient level-simulation model. Materials and methods A patient-level simulation model was used to simulate clinical pathways for AF patients using published data and expert opinion. The probabilities of adverse events (AEs) were dependent on treatment and/or disease status. Analysis 1 compared scenarios of treating 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of patients with first-line ablation and the remainder with AADs. In Analysis 2, scenarios compared the impact of delaying transition to second-line ablation by 1 or 2 years. Results Over 10 years, increasing first-line ablation from 0% to 100% (versus AAD treatment) decreased stroke by 12%, HF hospitalization by 29%, and cardioversions by 45% in both countries. As the rate of first-line ablation increased from 0% to 100%, the overall 10-year per-patient costs increased from €13,034 to €14,450 in Italy and from €11,944 to €16,942 in France. For both countries, the scenario with no delay in second-line ablation had fewer AEs compared to the scenarios where ablation was delayed after AAD failure. Increasing rates of first-line or drug-naïve catheter ablation, and shorter AAT, resulted in higher cumulative controlled patient years on rhythm control therapy. Limitations The model includes assumptions based on the best available clinical data, which may differ from real-world results, however, sensitivity analyses were included to combat parameter ambiguity. Additionally, the model represents a payer perspective and does not include societal costs, providing a conservative approach. Conclusion Increased first-line or drug-naïve catheter ablation, and shorter AAT, could increase the proportion of patients with controlled AF and reduce AEs, offsetting the small investment required in total AF costs over 10 years in Italy and France.

Approaches to Sustainable Enterprise Value

Over the last two decades, business has taken a more systematic approach to understanding its impact on all of its stakeholders. Companies are striving to operate in a more sustainable way to improve the environmental, social and economic impact of their activities. Even today, the interest in determining the value of a company or parts of a company has not waned. As the economy continues to evolve, there are reasons and impulses that encourage companies to find out what their value is. The new approach is dependent on re-thinking value creation. There has been a growing understanding that sustainability requires a more comprehensive view of value that includes economic, social and environmental benefits. The aim of this paper is to propose a methodology for determining the sustainable value of an enterprise with respect to the factors influencing its value. This study is based on information that was gathered through an extensive literature review (research publications and research studies; the company’s financial statements with notes) using Internet and research databases and the authors’ own experiences. Methods of analysis, comparison, selection, abstraction, induction, deduction and statistics were used. The main findings of this study are as follows: the stakeholders require a company’s sustainable value; the modification of the EVA method with the sustainable value approach brings a different perspective to the issue of determining the value of an enterprise. In addition to the positives, the proposed methodology has limitations that can be removed or improved with further research.