Applied health economics and health policy
-
Appl Health Econ Health Policy · May 2012
ReviewEconomic evaluations of adult weight management interventions: a systematic literature review focusing on methods used for determining health impacts.
One of the challenges when undertaking economic evaluations of weight management interventions is to adequately assess future health impacts. Clinical trials commonly measure impacts using surrogate outcomes, such as reductions in body mass index, and investigators need to decide how these can best be used to predict future health effects. Since obesity is associated with an increased risk of numerous chronic diseases occurring at different future time points, modelling is needed for predictions. ⋯ This is the first literature review comparing methods used in economic evaluations of weight management interventions, and it is the first time that observed differences in study results are addressed with a view to methodological explanations. We conclude that many studies have methodological deficiencies and we urge analysts to follow recommended practices and use models capable of depicting long-term health consequences.
-
Appl Health Econ Health Policy · May 2012
Review Comparative StudyCost effectiveness of prostacyclins in pulmonary arterial hypertension.
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is considered an orphan disease. Prostacyclins are the keystone for PAH treatment. Choosing between the three available prostacyclin therapies could be complicated because there are no comparison studies, so the final decision must be driven by factors such as efficacy, administration route, safety profile and economic aspects. ⋯ Initiating prostacyclin treatment with iloprost in patients with PAH, functional class III of the NYHA, is the less costly alternative for the NHS in Spain, with a good efficacy profile when compared with the other alternatives.