Cost effectiveness of palivizumab in children with congenital heart disease in Germany

Abstract

Objectives: To assess the cost effectiveness of palivizumab, a humanised monoclonal antibody, used as prevention against severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection requiring hospitalisation, in infants with haemodynamically significant congenital heart disease (CHD) in the German healthcare setting.

Study design: A decision-tree model was used to estimate the cost effectiveness of palivizumab for a hypothetical cohort of patients. The analysis was based on a lifetime follow-up period in order to capture the impact of palivizumab on long-term morbidity and mortality resulting from an RSV infection. Data sources included published literature, the palivizumab pivotal trials, official price/tariff lists and national population statistics. The study was conducted from the perspective of society (primary analysis) and the healthcare purchaser (secondary analysis).

Results: From the societal perspective, use of palivizumab results in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €2,615 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) without discounting, which increases to €9,529/QALY after discounting. From the perspective of the German healthcare purchaser, use of palivizumab results in an ICER of €4,576/QALY without discounting, which increases to €16,673/QALY after discounting. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the model. The study is limited by a number of conservative assumptions. It was assumed that palivizumab only affects the occurrence of RSV hospitalisation and does not influence the severity of the RSV infection. Another assumption was that international clinical trial data and data on utilities could be applied to the German healthcare setting.

Conclusion: This analysis showed that palivizumab represents a cost-effective means of prophylaxis against severe RSV infection requiring hospitalisation in infants with haemodynamically significant CHD.     

L-carnitine in the management of patients after acute myocardial infarction: a cost effectiveness analysis in Italy

Summary

The prevalence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is estimated at 500,000 individuals in the Italian population; the annual incidence can be crudely estimated at 100,000 events. This represents a major healthcare problem and generates questions about the rational allocation of public resources devoted to healthcare, since in Italy there is a National Health Service. We focused on modelling the possible economic consequences of adding L-carnitine administration to the standard care of AMI patients in Italy, by extrapolating the results obtained in the SAVE trial and matching entry criteria from the CEDIM and SAVE studies. The cost-effectiveness ratios were explored using different assumptions of the effectiveness and cost of the intervention under analysis. In our base case, administering L-carnitine had an Incremental Cost/Effectiveness Ratio of 28.2 and 22.2 million Lira per life year saved (LYS), respectively, depending on whether discounted or non-discounted benefits were used in this model. The results were sensitive to both the cost and effectiveness of L-carnitine.     

瑞舒伐他汀联合环磷腺苷葡胺治疗急性心肌梗死对患者血清血管内皮生长因子-B和生长分化因子15水平的影响

目的探讨瑞舒伐他汀联合环磷腺苷葡胺治疗急性心肌梗死对患者血清血管内皮生长因子-B(VEFG-B)和生长分化因子15(GDF-15)水平的影响。方法选取2018年1月至2019年7月沈阳医学院附属中心医院收治的93例急性心肌梗死患者为研究对象,按照用药方案不同分为两组,对照组予以环磷腺苷葡胺注射液治疗,观察组在对照组基础上采用瑞舒伐他汀钙片治疗。比较两组患者治疗前后血清指标、心功能指标。结果两组患者治疗前各项血清指标比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗后,两组肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、肌红蛋白(Mb)、GDF-15、N-末端脑钠肽前体(NT-proBNP)、髓过氧化物酶(MPO)、肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTnⅠ)、同型半胱氨酸(Hcy)较治疗前明显下降,VEFG-B明显升高,且观察组改善幅度优于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。两组患者治疗前心功能指标比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);治疗后,两组每搏量、心输出量、左室射血分数较治疗前明显升高,且观察组高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论采用瑞舒伐他汀联合环磷腺苷葡胺治疗急性心肌梗死,能改善患者心功能,对患者预后具有重要意义。     

Hospital patients with severe wounds: early evidence on the impact of Medicare payment changes on treatment patterns and outcomes

Aims: This study examines the effects of recent changes in Medicare long-term care hospital (LTCH) payments on treatment patterns and outcomes for severe wound patients discharged from short-term acute care hospitals (STACHs).

Materials and methods: The rolling implementation of a new Medicare payment policy was used to develop a difference-in-difference model. The study population consisted of Medicare beneficiaries subjected to the payment policy changes and hospitalized for stage 3, 4, or unstageable wounds; non-healing surgical wounds; and fistula. Using 2015-Q1-2017 Medicare claims data, changes in outcomes were examined for severe wound patients exposed to the new policy (treatment) and those that were not (comparison). All outcomes were modeled using linear regressions and adjusted for patient clinical characteristics. Analysis was conducted in a full sample and a sample with high-LTCH-use propensity.

Results: Severe wound patients exposed to the new policy experienced 4.1 and 7.5 percentage point (pp) reductions in LTCH use relative to the comparison group in the full sample and high-LTCH-propensity sample, respectively (p?p?=?.039). No statistically significant change was found in 60-day mortality or Medicare spending after the policy change in the treatment group as compared to the comparison group (p?>?.10). However, among severe wound patients who are exposed to the new policy in the high-LTCH-propensity sample, readmission and post-discharge sepsis rates increased after the policy change relative to the comparison group (readmission rate = 8.1 pp, p?=?.075; sepsis rate = 7.0 pp, p?=?.033).

Limitations: The findings are based on data from a limited timeframe around the policy change and, thus, provide only early evidence on the effects of the new policy.

Conclusion: The new LTCH payment policy is associated with no changes in Medicare spending and mortality, but higher readmissions and post-discharge sepsis rates among severe wound patients with a high likelihood to use an LTCH.     

Exploring the causal effect of religious piety on dividend policy: evidence from historical religious identification

Theory suggests that religious piety is associated with greater risk aversion and more conservative financial policies. Returns to shareholders through dividends are much more certain than returns through capital gains expected to be realized far into the future. We hypothesize that religious piety leads to a higher likelihood of dividend payments. We exploit the variation in religious piety across the US counties and estimate the effect of religion on dividend policy. To draw a causal inference, we use historical religious piety in 1971 as the instrument. Our two-stage least squares results confirm that religious piety induces firms to pay larger dividends.     

Effects of a holiday trip on health and quality of life: evidence from a natural experiment in South Korea

We examine whether having a holiday trip affects an individual’s well-being, namely quality of life, health status, stress level and health behaviours. We use the two-stage estimation method to control for endogeneity of a travel experience, exploiting a natural experiment of distributing Travel Vouchers at random among qualified applicants in South Korea in 2012. We find that, for applicants whose decision to travel is influenced by receiving a voucher, a travel experience has no significant effects on the traveller’s well-being measured 3–12 months later. We also find that the OLS estimates overstate benefits of a travel.     

比伐卢定联合挽救性经皮冠状动脉介入治疗急性心肌梗死溶栓失败患者的疗效及安全性

目的探讨比伐卢定联合挽救性经皮冠状动脉介入治疗(PCI)治疗急性心肌梗死(ACI)溶栓失败患者的疗效及安全性。方法选取2017年9月至2020年6月辽宁省人民医院收治的98例ACI患者作为研究对象,按随机数字表法分为对照组与观察组,各49例。对照组接受肝素+挽救性PCI治疗,观察组采用比伐卢定+挽救性PCI治疗。比较两组血管再通率、血清心肌损伤标志物肌酸激酶同工酶(CK-MB)、肌钙蛋白T(cTnT)、肌钙蛋白Ⅰ(cTnⅠ)、超声心动图心功能参数左室射血分数(LVEF)、每搏输出量(SV)、左室舒张功能比值(E/A),随访并记录主要不良心血管事件发生情况。结果治疗后,两组患者的血管再通率差异无统计学意义(χ²=1.010,P=0.315);PCI术后,两组血清CK-MB、cTn T、cTnⅠ水平及超声LVEF、SV、E/A水平差异无统计学意义(t=1.283、1.163、0.795、0.351、0.309、0.471,P=0.101、0.124、0.214、0.363、0.379、0.319)。随访期间,观察组主要不良心血管事件发生率低于对照组患者(χ²=4.009,P=0.045)。结论伐卢定联合挽救性PCI用于急性心肌梗死溶栓失败患者的治疗,疗效与普通肝素相当,但在治疗安全性方面具有一定优势。     

尿激酶静脉溶栓联合中药银杏二萜内酯葡胺治疗急性脑梗死患者的临床疗效

目的 探讨尿激酶静脉溶栓联合银杏二萜内酯葡胺治疗急性脑梗死患者的临床疗效.方法 按照不同的治疗方法将2019年6月至2020年6月鞍山市长大医院收治的97例急性脑梗死患者分为对照组和观察组,对照组(n=46)给予尿激酶静脉溶栓治疗,观察组(n=51)给予尿激酶静脉溶栓+银杏二萜内酯葡胺联合治疗.比较两组患者治疗效果、美...     

Cost effectiveness analysis of immunotherapy in patients with grass pollen allergic rhinoconjunctivitis in Germany

Abstract

Objectives:

An economic evaluation was conducted to assess the outcomes and costs as well as cost-effectiveness of the following grass-pollen immunotherapies: OA (Oralair; Stallergenes S.A., Antony, France) vs GRZ (Grazax; ALK-Abelló, Hørsholm, Denmark), and ALD (Alk Depot SQ; ALK-Abelló) (immunotherapy agents alongside symptomatic medication) and symptomatic treatment alone for grass pollen allergic rhinoconjunctivitis.

Methods:

The costs and outcomes of 3-year treatment were assessed for a period of 9 years using a Markov model. Treatment efficacy was estimated using an indirect comparison of available clinical trials with placebo as a common comparator. Estimates for immunotherapy discontinuation, occurrence of asthma, health state utilities, drug costs, resource use, and healthcare costs were derived from published sources. The analysis was conducted from the insurant’s perspective including public and private health insurance payments and co-payments by insurants. Outcomes were reported as quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and symptom-free days. The uncertainty around incremental model results was tested by means of extensive deterministic univariate and probabilistic multivariate sensitivity analyses.

Results:

In the base case analysis the model predicted a cost-utility ratio of OA vs symptomatic treatment of €14,728 per QALY; incremental costs were €1356 (95%CI: €1230; €1484) and incremental QALYs 0.092 (95%CI: 0.052; 0.140). OA was the dominant strategy compared to GRZ and ALD, with estimated incremental costs of ?€1142 (95%CI: ?€1255; ?€1038) and ?€54 (95%CI: ?€188; €85) and incremental QALYs of 0.015 (95%CI: ?0.025; 0.056) and 0.027 (95%CI: ?0.022; 0.075), respectively. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of €20,000, the probability of OA being the most cost-effective treatment was predicted to be 79%. Univariate sensitivity analyses show that incremental outcomes were moderately sensitive to changes in efficacy estimates. The main study limitation was the requirement of an indirect comparison involving several steps to assess relative treatment effects.

Conclusion:

The analysis suggests OA to be cost-effective compared to GRZ and ALD, and a symptomatic treatment. Sensitivity analyses showed that uncertainty surrounding treatment efficacy estimates affected the model outcomes.     

Research on effectiveness of technology transfer in technology alliances: evidence from Turkish SMEs

Many SMEs homed in newly industrialised countries are successful international players despite limited technological infrastructure and R&D resources. This study bridges a gap in the extant literature by examining the relationships between characteristics of partnership relationships, knowledge sharing and the effectiveness of technology transfer in partnerships between SMEs in developing countries and firms from developed countries. By studying data from Turkish SMEs and using partial least squares structural equation modelling, we find that explicit knowledge sharing forms the basis of technology transfer. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that explicit knowledge sharing is strongly contingent upon formalised technical support while trust and technical support seemed to be important antecedents of tacit knowledge sharing.     

The cost effectiveness of palivizumab: a systematic review of the evidence

Abstract

Objective:

Palivizumab is a prophylactic therapy shown to reduce the number of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related hospitalizations but has a high acquisition cost. The objective was to systematically examine the cost effectiveness of palivizumab in defined infant groups and identify important cost and outcome determinants.

Methods:

Literature searches of MedLine, the Cost-Effectiveness Analysis registry and the UK NHS Economic Evaluation Database (NHS EED) were conducted to identify economic evaluations of palivizumab compared to no prophylactic treatment for RSV prevention in any infant population. Study quality was evaluated using Quality of Health Economic Studies (QHES) criteria and results converted to 2009 CAN$ for comparison.

Results:

A total of 23 articles meeting inclusion criteria were identified, including 11 cost-utility analyses (CUAs) and 12 cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs). Quality of individual analyses was fairly high (range 60–100, median 86). Results ranged from cost dominance for prophylaxis to $3,365,769/QALY depending on population, outcome measures, and input parameters. Base-case and sensitivity-analysis mortality rates varied between studies and influenced results.

Conclusions:

RSV prophylaxis with palivizumab is cost effective in specific groups of high-risk infants, especially those with multiple environmental risk factors. Cost-effectiveness estimates vary between populations and settings and are more positive in those at highest risk for RSV hospitalization.

Limitations:

Direct comparison of the published reports was limited by restriction to English language articles and the varied methodologies, input measures, and populations across the studies reviewed. Although reported currencies were converted to a common unit for comparison, this does not completely account for monetary and inflation differences.     

Institutions and the effectiveness of expenditures on environmental protection: evidence from Middle Eastern countries

Middle Eastern countries are among the top air emitters in per capita terms worldwide. We examine the effect of government expenditures on environmental protection (GEEP) on air pollution in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries. Moreover, we explore whether countries with stronger quality of governance can exploit GEEP to reduce air pollution more efficiently. Empirical analysis, using data from 1996 to 2015 for a set of the MENA countries, shows that GEEP alone does not play a significant role in contributing to better environmental quality. However, improvements in quality of governance are shaping the final environmental effects of GEEP in the MENA region. Our results can help policy makers in the region and international community in discovering strategies for reaching the agreed goals under the Paris Climate Deal (COP21), namely net zero emissions in the second half of the century.     

Cost effectiveness of posaconazole in the prophylaxis of invasive fungal infections in acute leukaemia patients for the French healthcare system

Abstract

Background:

Acute myeloblastic leukaemia (AML) patients are at high risk of suffering from invasive fungal infections (IFI). Posaconazole demonstrated higher efficacy than standard azole agents (SAA) in the prophylaxis of IFI in this population.

The authors estimated the cost effectiveness of posaconazole versus SAA in France.

Methods:

A decision-tree model was developed to compare posaconazole with SAA with the results of a published clinical trial. Clinical events were modelled with chance nodes reflecting probabilities of IFI, IFI-related death, and death from other causes. Medical resource consumption and costs were obtained from results of the clinical trial and from a dedicated survey on the costs of treating IFI using a retrospective chart review design.

Results:

IFI treatment costs were estimated using medical files from 50 AML patients from six French centres, with a proven and probable IFI, who had been followed-up for 298 days on average. Direct costs directly related to IFI were estimated at €51,033, including extra costs of index hospitalisation, costs of antifungal therapy and additional hospitalisations related to IFI treatment. The model indicated that the healthcare costs for the posaconazole strategy were €5,223 (€2,697 for prophylaxis and €2,526 for IFI management), which was €859 less than the €6,083 in costs with SAA (€469 for prophylaxis and €5614 for IFI management). A sensitivity analysis indicated that there was an 80% probability that prophylaxis using the posaconazole strategy would be superior.

Conclusion:

The findings from this analysis suggest that posaconazole use is a clinically and economically dominant strategy in the prophylaxis of IFI in AML patients, given the usual limits of economic models and the uncertainty of costs estimates.     

依达拉奉联合阿托伐他汀钙治疗急性脑梗死患者的临床疗效

目的 探讨依达拉奉联合阿托伐他汀钙治疗急性脑梗死患者的疗效.方法 选取2019年1月至2020年1月于大连市中心医院神经内科住院治疗的急性脑梗死患者68例作为研究对象,据其住院病例号码随机分为他汀组与联合组,各34例.两组患者接受抗血小板聚集、改善循环、降低颅内压、改善脑水肿等基础治疗,并监测各项生命指征指标,如血压、...     

A New View on the Economic Theory of the State: A Case Study of France

Given the contribution of Schumpeterian entrepreneurship to technological progress and well-being, the accuracy of investment decisions by venture capitalists is a societal issue. Venture capitalists find the human capital of entrepreneurs difficult to assess. This paper employs instrumental value theory to assess the impact of different human capital factors on the performance of new ventures. A meta-analysis of 29 previous empirical studies that examined the effect of founder's human capital on new venture performance suggested that instrumental value theory holds promise as a guide for research on entrepreneurs' human capital and new venture performance. It could also help venture capitalists to make better investment decisions, benefiting society in general.     

The impact of wages on job search in a transition economy - evidence with data from Eastern Germany

This study is concerned with the impact of wages on job search decisions in Eastern Germany immediately after reunification and in later periods. Several concepts measuring wage effects are used. The results of bivariate probit estimates with incomplete classification for a global and local job search show that the wage level had stronger effects on the former than on the latter job search decision directly after the collapse of the Berlin Wall. The degree of satisfaction with current income and the earnings capacities were irrelevant for the search decision. Low-paid East German workers had a higher propensity to search for a new job in the old Länder than others. This is contrary to the misleading result of isolated estimates about the job search in Western Germany. In the subsequent periods the situation has changed. The difference of earnings capacities between Eastern and Western Germany, specific East German wage premiums and intraregional wage inequality affect the decision to search for a new job in the west.For helpful comments I thank Michael Burda, Knut Gerlach, Robert A. Hart, Stefan Niermann, Liz Regan and two referees.     

The dynamic effectiveness of monetary policy in China: evidence from a TVP-SV-FAVAR model

We use a broad set of China’s macroeconomic indicators and a dynamic factor model to estimate latent factors of economic output and inflation, which are used to measure the ultimate objectives of monetary policy. The above factors and policy variables are incorporated into a TVP-SV-FAVAR model to investigate the dynamic effectiveness of Chinese monetary policy. Our results confirm that the effects of Chinese monetary policy are time-varying. By comparing the quantity rule with the price rule, we find that the price rule is more effective in managing China’s macro-economy, especially after the financial crisis. Moreover, the results can be regarded as a division of policy rules in a way that different rules are directed at different objectives.     

Dimensions of civic activism and their effectiveness in exposing corruption: evidence from Italy

This article studies the influence of civic activism in exposing corruption across Italian regions. Using different dimensions of civic activism (including local and national newspapers, the internet, blood donors, and voter turnout), we make the distinction between active (media, internet, voters) and passive (blood donors) activism. Results show interesting different impacts of civic activism on corruption. In particular, voter turnout, blood donors, and national newspaper diffusion consistently increased exposure of corruption, while the internet and local newspapers showed opposite effects. Thus, local newspapers and the internet point to the possibility of media capture (influence) with regard to corruption exposure. The main findings hold following the substantial reforms in the nineties (called Mani Pulite).