Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Oct 2009
Economic burden of healthcare-associated infections: an American perspective.
Annually, approximately 2 million patients suffer with healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) in the USA, and nearly 90,000 are estimated to die. The overall direct cost of HAIs to hospitals ranges from US$28 billion to 45 billion. ⋯ Important policy changes include mandating hospitals to publically report HAI rates and a federal pay-for-performance measure that will no longer allow Medicare to pay more for patients with HAIs. Further rigorous economic evaluations of specific interventions, as well as on evaluations of the policies, are required.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Oct 2009
Understanding the EORTC QLQ-BM22, the module for patients with bone metastases.
Bone metastases are a frequent complication of cancer. With advances in effective systemic treatment and supportive care, the survival of patients with bone metastases has improved substantially. Treatment options for bone metastases have been expanding, as reflected in the latest clinical trials testing newer generations of bisphosphonates and increased use of orthopedic surgery. ⋯ The international validation of the Bone Metastases Module will facilitate measurement of important QoL issues in palliative care trials. Healthcare professionals will be able to reliably follow their patients' QoL, help patients in choosing treatments and assess the cost-effectiveness of the treatments. Bone metastases clinical trial QoL outcomes will be compared across trials through the utilization of a consistent and valid module questionnaire.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Aug 2009
ReviewPain management and quality of life in sickle cell disease.
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is the most common inherited disease worldwide and is responsible for a massive health burden. Its main clinical feature is severe pain that is unpredictable and recurrent, and this, in addition to the other acute and chronic features of SCD, may have a huge impact on the quality of life of both the patient and their families and carers. We consider medical and psychological methods of pain management in SCD, drawing on recently published UK Standards of Care, and also consider the effect of SCD on quality of life.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Aug 2009
Antibiotics and reduced risk of COPD re-exacerbations.
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a progressive disease of the airways in which respiratory symptoms aggravate transitorily during disease exacerbations. The treatment of the disease in its stable state is the most important factor in reducing related morbidity, but exacerbation therapy might also impact on subsequent re-exacerbation. ⋯ However, the analysis is only based on data at primary care level and, hence, should be interpreted with caution for several reasons, discussed in the paper. Furthermore, such results can represent a useful starting point for a subsequent study on this aspect, which is very important for clinical practice and surprisingly less investigated.