Quantifying the relationship between disability progression and quality of life in patients treated for NMOSD: Insights from the SAkura studies.

Background: To date, no specific scales have been developed to explore the impact of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD)-related disability on quality of life (QoL). The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the EuroQol 5-dimensions (EQ-5D) have been used to assess disability and QoL, respectively, in patients with NMOSD. However, there is limited evidence surrounding their use in this condition.

Real-world costs of transvenous lead extraction: the challenge for reimbursement.

Aims: Transvenous lead extraction is challenging, often requiring specialist equipment and prolonged hospital admission. A single tariff or itemized costs may be available for reimbursement. Due to limited data relating to the costs of transvenous extraction, it is unclear whether either form of reimbursement is adequate.

Treatment for newly diagnosed hypertension: patterns of prescribing and antihypertensive effectiveness in the UK.

Improved practice in the management of hypertension depends on an understanding of existing patterns of treatment. To describe the management of newly diagnosed hypertension in British general practice and the effectiveness of current prescribing patterns we conducted a retrospective observational study using data from a computerized general practitioner record database (DIN-LINK). 21 024 patients were first treated for newly diagnosed hypertension between January 1993 and December 1997, and were followed for 4 years.