Cost-effectiveness analysis of abemaciclib with endocrine therapy (ET) versus ET alone for HR+, HER2-, node-positive, high-risk early breast cancer in Italy.

Background: Abemaciclib was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency in combination with adjuvant endocrine therapy (ET) for adult patients with hormone receptor positive (HR+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative (HER2-), node-positive early breast cancer (EBC) at high risk of recurrence.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of abemaciclib plus ET vs. ET alone in patients with HR+, HER2-, node-positive EBC at high risk of disease recurrence, from the Italian healthcare system perspective.

Real-world patient-reported outcomes of women receiving initial endocrine-based therapy for HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer in five European countries.

Background: Endocrine therapy (ET)-based regimens are the mainstay of treatment for patients with hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2-) advanced breast cancer. With the introduction of new treatment classes, it is important to examine patient symptoms and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at the start of this changing therapeutic landscape. This real-world study describes the patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of women with HR+/HER2- advanced breast cancer receiving ET-based regimens who were naïve to systemic treatment in the advanced setting across five European countries (EU5).

Care bundles for acute kidney injury: a balanced accounting of the impact of implementation in an acute medical unit.

In 2009, a National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death report detailed significant shortcomings in recognition and management of patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). As part of a national collaborative to reduce harm from AKI, the Scottish Patient Safety Programme developed two care bundles to improve response ('SHOUT') and review ('BUMP') of AKI. Baseline data from eight patients with AKI on the acute medical unit (AMU) in Ninewells Hospital showed 62% compliance with SHOUT.

Efficacy of duloxetine versus alternative oral therapies: an indirect comparison of randomised clinical trials in chronic low back pain.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to obtain parameter estimates for the efficacy of duloxetine versus alternative oral therapies for the treatment of chronic low back pain.

Materials And Methods: Electronic databases were searched to identify randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled trials. Studies reporting pain intensity, with parallel-group design of oral treatments with length of treatment of more than 8 weeks were included.

Economic burden of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in Canada.

Background: Psoriasis is a chronic debilitating disease affecting approximately one million Canadians. The objective of this study is to estimate the economic burden in $CDN (2008) of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis among Canadian adults.

Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, direct resource use, costs, lost productivity, and quality of life were obtained for 90 subjects diagnosed with psoriasis in three dermatology clinics in British Columbia, Ontario, and Québec.

Timely symptom management at end of life using 'just in case' boxes.

This article discusses the successful implementation of anticipatory prescribing using 'just in case' boxes (JICB) in primary care across the Grampian region and a subsequent follow up survey one year later. The implementation approach used local educational sessions to primary care clinicians. The survey was distributed to 65 primary care bases to gauge awareness and use of the JICB and thoughts about how the box was used.

Joint assessment of intended and unintended effects of medications: an example using vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Objective. To estimate the net health benefits of pegaptanib and ranibizumab by considering the impact of visual acuity and unintended effects (cardiovascular and hemorrhagic events) on quality-of-life among persons with neovascular age-related macular degeneration. Methods.

Switching asthma patients to a once-daily inhaled steroid improves compliance and reduces healthcare costs.

Objective: To determine the costs and consequences of switching asthma patients, managed in primary care, from a twice-daily inhaled corticosteroid (ICS), to either a once-daily or another twice-daily ICS.

Design: This was a case-control study based on an interrogation of the General Practice Research Database in the UK, for patients with a Read code of asthma who were managed between 1990 and 2001, and who had received at least two prescriptions for a twice-daily ICS within 12 months, before switching to a once-daily ICS (cases) or another twice-daily ICS (controls). Data on resource use was collected for one year before and after the switch.

Cost effectiveness of cilostazol compared with naftidrofuryl and pentoxifylline in the treatment of intermittent claudication in the UK.

Objective: To estimate the cost effectiveness of cilostazol (Pletal) compared to naftidrofuryl and pentoxifylline (Trental) in the treatment of intermittent claudication in the UK.

Design And Setting: This was a modelling study on the management of patients with intermittent claudication who are 40 years of age or above and have at least six months history of symptomatic intermittent claudication, secondary to lower extremity arterial occlusive disease. The study was performed from the perspective of the UK's National Health Service (NHS).

Costs and consequences of using pamidronate compared with zoledronic acid in the management of breast cancer patients in the UK.

Objective: To estimate the costs and consequences of using pamidronate compared to zoledronic acid in the prophylactic management of skeletal morbidity among breast cancer patients in the UK.

Design And Setting: This was a modelling study performed from the perspective of the UK's National Health Service (NHS).

Methods: Published clinical outcomes from a comparative study were combined with resource utilisation estimates derived from a panel of clinicians.

Costs and consequences of botulinum toxin type A use. Management of children with cerebral palsy in Germany.

This study was a retrospective survey of the management of a cohort of children with cerebral palsy at Seepark Hospital, Germany, who did (cases; n=107) and did not (controls; n=107) receive botulinum toxin injections. Data on healthcare resource use and clinical outcomes over 12 months were collected from the date cases received their first injection and from the date controls were first admitted into hospital. Botulinum toxin use led to an 85% reduction in the number of children requiring surgery.