Cost-minimization Analysis (cost-minimization + analysis)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Diabetic retinopathy screening: a systematic review of the economic evidence

DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 3 2010
S. Jones
Diabet. Med. 27, 249,256 (2010) Abstract This paper systematically reviews the published literature on the economic evidence of diabetic retinopathy screening. Twenty-nine electronic databases were searched for studies published between 1998 and 2008. Internet searches were carried out and reference lists of key studies were hand searched for relevant articles. The key search terms used were ,diabetic retinopathy', ,screening', ,economic' and ,cost'. The search identified 416 papers of which 21 fulfilled the inclusion criteria, comprising nine cost-effectiveness studies, one cost analysis, one cost-minimization analysis, four cost,utility analyses and six reviews. Eleven of the included studies used economic modelling techniques and/or computer simulation to assess screening strategies. To date, the economic evaluation literature on diabetic retinopathy screening has focused on four key questions: the overall cost-effectiveness of ophthalmic care; the cost-effectiveness of systematic vs. opportunistic screening; how screening should be organized and delivered; and how often people should be screened. Systematic screening for diabetic retinopathy is cost-effective in terms of sight years preserved compared with no screening. Digital photography with telemedicine links has the potential to deliver cost-effective, accessible screening to rural, remote and hard-to-reach populations. Variation in compliance rates, age of onset of diabetes, glycaemic control and screening sensitivities influence the cost-effectiveness of screening programmes and are important sources of uncertainty in relation to the issue of optimal screening intervals. There is controversy in relation to the economic evidence on optimal screening intervals. Further research is needed to address the issue of optimal screening interval, the opportunities for targeted screening to reflect relative risk and the effect of different screening intervals on attendance or compliance by patients. [source]


High accuracy and cost-effectiveness of a biopsy-avoiding endoscopic approach in diagnosing coeliac disease

ALIMENTARY PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS, Issue 1 2006
G. CAMMAROTA
Summary Background The ,immersion' technique during upper endoscopy allows the visualization of duodenal villi and the detection of total villous atrophy. Aim To evaluate the accuracy of the immersion technique in detecting total villous atrophy in suspected coeliac patients. The accuracy in diagnosing coeliac disease and the potential cost-sparing of a biopsy-avoiding approach, based on selection of individuals with coeliac disease-related antibodies and on endoscopic detection of absence of villi, were also analysed. Methods The immersion technique was performed in 79 patients with positive antibodies and in 105 controls. Duodenal villi were evaluated as present or absent. As reference, results were compared with histology. Diagnostic approaches, including endoscopy with or without biopsy, were designed to investigate patients with coeliac disease-related antibodies and total villous atrophy. A cost-minimization analysis was performed. Results All patients with positive antibodies had coeliac disease. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of endoscopy to detect total villous atrophy was always 100%. The sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values of biopsy-avoiding or biopsy-including strategies in diagnosing coeliac disease when villi were absent was always 100%. The biopsy-avoiding strategy was cost-sparing. Conclusions Upper endoscopy is highly accurate in detecting total villous atrophy coeliac patients. A biopsy-avoiding approach is both accurate and cost-sparing to diagnose coeliac disease in subjects with marked duodenal villous atrophy. [source]


Economic evaluation of BDP/formoterol fixed vs two single inhalers in asthma treatment

ALLERGY, Issue 9 2010
B. Brüggenjürgen
To cite this article: Brüggenjürgen B, Ezzat N, Kardos P, Buhl R. Economic evaluation of BDP/formoterol fixed vs two single inhalers in asthma treatment. Allergy 2010; 65: 1108,1115. Abstract Background:, Asthma treatment costs are substantial, the largest proportion being incurred by medications. Combination therapy with inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) and long-acting beta2 -agonists (LABA) is recommended in patients not adequately controlled by ICS alone. Aim of this study was to compare costs and health outcomes of a fixed ICS,LABA combination of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and formoterol fumarate (FF) vs the same drugs delivered via separate inhalers in Germany. Methods:, A cost-minimization analysis, a cost-effectiveness analysis, as well as a threshold analysis were undertaken. Efficacy results were obtained from a recent clinical trial. Cost inputs include medical costs, physician costs, and hospital admission costs. Medical costs, health outcomes, and treatment costs were also varied to assess their impact on results. Results:, Beclomethasone dipropionate/FF fixed combination was less costly compared to BDP + FF delivered as separate inhalers, costs totaling ,525 and ,637, respectively, over a 24-week treatment period. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was ,,9.77 per additional day free of asthma symptoms. Equal cost-effectiveness ratios would still be obtained at a price of the fixed combination increased by 3.4-fold. Conclusion:, A cost-minimization analysis as well as a cost-effectiveness analysis for Germany based on different product price calculations show that BDP/FF fixed combination is superior to BDP + FF delivered via separate inhalers. [source]


Cost of prophylaxis in the management of cytomegalovirus infection in solid organ transplant recipients

CLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4 2007
Federico Oppenheimer
Abstract:, Background:, Limited economic data exist on the use of valganciclovir for the prevention of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and disease in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. We compared the economics of sequential i.v. and oral ganciclovir prophylaxis vs. oral valganciclovir prophylaxis alone in high-risk (D+/R,) SOT patients. Methods:, A cost-minimization analysis was performed from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System comparing the cost of sequential ganciclovir prophylaxis (induction with i.v. ganciclovir 10 mg/kg daily for 14 d followed by oral ganciclovir 1 g t.i.d. for 3 months) vs. oral valganciclovir prophylaxis (900 mg once daily for 100 d). Resource utilization data for both regimens were obtained from the literature and from clinical records of 83 patients in nine Spanish hospitals. Results were expressed as average cost per patient treated. Results:, The average cost per patient treated with sequential ganciclovir or valganciclovir prophylaxis was ,3715.51 and ,3295.90, respectively. The higher cost of ganciclovir therapy was due to concomitant administration of anti-CMV immunoglobulin (,313.73), drug administration costs (,401.45), catheter culture tests (,13.64) and adverse events associated with catheter use (,3.30). Following a sensitivity analysis, taking into account dose and duration of drug, concomitant medications and adverse events, costs for valganciclovir and sequential therapy were similar. Conclusions:, Valganciclovir prophylaxis is as economical as sequential ganciclovir prophylaxis in high-risk D+/R, SOT patients. In addition, the once-daily dosing regimen of valganciclovir is more convenient, and avoids the complications associated with catheter use. [source]