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Illness Analysis (illness + analysis)
Selected AbstractsThe costs of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia: a patient-based cost of illness analysisJOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS, Issue 5 2009T. WILKE Summary.,Background and objectives:,Due to the complexity of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), currently available cost analyses are rough estimates. The objectives of this study were quantification of costs involved in HIT and identification of main cost drivers based on a patient-oriented approach. Methods:,Patients diagnosed with HIT (1995,2004, University-hospital Greifswald, Germany) based on a positive functional assay (HIPA test) were retrieved from the laboratory records and scored (4T-score) by two medical experts using the patient file. For cost of illness analysis, predefined HIT-relevant cost parameters (medication costs, prolonged in-hospital stay, diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, laboratory tests, blood transfusions) were retrieved from the patient files. The data were analysed by linear regression estimates with the log of costs and a gamma regression model. Mean length of stay data of non-HIT patients were obtained from the German Federal Statistical Office, adjusted for patient characteristics, comorbidities and year of treatment. Hospital costs were provided by the controlling department. Results and conclusions:,One hundred and thirty HIT cases with a 4T-score ,4 and a positive HIPA test were analyzed. Mean additional costs of a HIT case were 9008 ,. The main cost drivers were prolonged in-hospital stay (70.3%) and costs of alternative anticoagulants (19.7%). HIT was more costly in surgical patients compared with medical patients and in patients with thrombosis. Early start of alternative anticoagulation did not increase HIT costs despite the high medication costs indicating prevention of costly complications. An HIT cost calculator is provided, allowing online calculation of HIT costs based on local cost structures and different currencies. [source] The economic burden to the public health system of treating non-viral injecting-related injury and disease in Australia (a cost of illness analysis)AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, Issue 4 2009Rohan Sweeney Abstract Objective: We estimated the cost to the public health system of treating Injecting-Related Injuries and Diseases (IRIDs) in the three most populous states in Australia in the 12 months over 2005/06. Methods: We conducted a cost of illness analysis from the perspective of the public health system. Costs of treating IRIDs in the community were estimated from health service utilisation surveys of injecting drug users and physicians (yielding data on Government subsidised physician visits, medicines prescribed and emergency department presentations). Data on admitted hospitalisations in public hospitals due to IRIDs were extracted from State Government databases. Appropriate costs were attached to all Government-borne services and prescriptions to estimate the total cost to the public health system of treating IRIDs in 2005/06 in Queensland, NSW and Victoria. Results: Our estimate of the cost to the public health system of treating IRIDs in Queensland, NSW and Victoria in 2005/06 was $20 million. Conclusion: IRIDs are an under-recognised harm resulting from injecting drug use, but the economic burden of IRIDs in Australia are non-negligible. Research is needed to identify cost effective programs to reduce the clinical and economic burden caused by IRIDs, particularly to reduce hospitalisations due to IRIDs. Implications: General practitioners, clinicians and other health workers need to be alert to IRIDs in their injecting drug user clients to prevent progression to more serious disease and consequent elevation of the associated economic costs. [source] | ||||||||||