HBA1C point-of-care testing for diabetes control in a low-income population: A before and after study and cost-parity analysis HbA1c point-of-care testing for diabetes control.

Objective: To evaluate the results of a program that offered access to HbA1c POC tests for the glycemic control of patients with diabetes in small and poor municipalities of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Methods: Using a before and after study, we compared four groups: patients submitted to (i) POC tests; (ii) conventional tests; (iii) both tests; and (iv) neither test. The analysis considered three periods: before the program; before the pandemic; and during the pandemic.

Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy associated with standard medical treatment compared with standard medical treatment only to treat patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Methods: This was a systematic review and metaanalysis of randomized controlled trials. An electronic search was performed in the following databases: MEDLINE ® /PubMed ® , Cochrane Library (Trials), LILACS/IBECS (via Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS)) and Embase.

Estimation of Health-Related Quality of Life Losses Owing to a Technological Disaster in Brazil Using EQ-5D-3L: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objectives: In 2015, a dam collapsed at Samarco iron ore mine in the municipality of Mariana, Brazil, and contaminated more than 600 km of watercourses and destroyed almost 1600 acres of vegetation. Nineteen people died and more than 600 families lost their homes. This study aimed to estimate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) losses owing to this disaster.

Medical adhesive-related skin injuries in the neonatology department of a teaching hospital.

Background: Medical adhesives are used to affix components to the skin. They are part of procedures performed by medical specialties because of their participation as constituents of different products, such as tapes, dressings, and electrodes.

Aim: This study aims to assess the prevalence of, and factors associated with, the development of medical adhesive-related skin injuries (MARSIs) in patients treated with medical tapes in the neonatology department of a large teaching hospital in Brazil.

Cost-effectiveness and Price of Aripiprazole for Schizophrenia in the Brazilian Public Health System.

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic debilitating condition characterized by disorders in thought, affect and behavior. Considering the low effectiveness of antipsychotic drugs for schizophrenia and the potentially high cost of an inadequate choice, a systematic cost-effectiveness evaluation of the list of subsidized antipsychotic drugs is necessary in order to allow an adequate choice of pharmacotherapy for the patient and the financial reality of the Brazilian public health system (SUS).

Objective: The aims of this study are to conduct a cost-effectiveness analysis of the subsidized antipsychotic drugs for the first-line treatment of schizophrenia in Brazil and aripiprazole, and to discuss a reasonable incorporation price for aripiprazole.

Viscoelastic haemostatic assays in the perioperative period of surgical procedures: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Viscoelastic Haemostatic Assays (VHA) to guide transfusions in patients undergoing surgical procedures.

Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials up until June 5, 2019.

Setting: Hospitalized patients.

The Price of Substitute Technologies.

Background: Only a small share of new drugs is truly innovative; 85% to 90% of all new health technologies have little or no advantage over existing therapeutic alternatives. Health economic evaluations can be used to induce acceptable prices for new technologies through threshold pricing.

Objective: This work discusses a cost-effectiveness threshold (λ) to be applied to the price regulation of substitute technologies.

Cost-effectiveness thresholds: methods for setting and examples from around the world.

Introduction: Cost-effectiveness thresholds (CETs) are used to judge if an intervention represents sufficient value for money to merit adoption in healthcare systems. The study was motivated by the Brazilian context of HTA, where meetings are being conducted to decide on the definition of a threshold.

Areas Covered: An electronic search was conducted on Medline (via PubMed), Lilacs (via BVS) and ScienceDirect followed by a complementary search of references of included studies, Google Scholar and conference abstracts.