Improvements in Health-related Quality of Life and Symptoms in Patients With Previously Untreated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Final Results From the Phase II GIBB Study of the Combination of Obinutuzumab and Bendamustine.

Background: We evaluated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) receiving first-line chemoimmunotherapy in the GIBB single-arm, Phase II study of obinutuzumab plus bendamustine (BG).

Materials And Methods: Patients received six 28-day cycles of BG and were followed for up to 27 months. HRQoL was assessed using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EORTC QLQ Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia 16 (QLQ-CLL16) questionnaires.

US cost-effectiveness of polatuzumab vedotin, bendamustine and rituximab in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

 To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of polatuzumab vedotin (pola) + bendamustine + rituximab (BR) in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma based on the GO29365 trial from a US payer's perspective.  A partitioned survival model used progression-free survival and overall survival data from the GO29365 trial. The base case analysis assumed overall survival was informed by progression-free survival; a mixture cure model estimated proportion of long-term survivors.

Partial palivizumab prophylaxis and increased risk of hospitalization due to respiratory syncytial virus in a Medicaid population: a retrospective cohort analysis.

Background: Infection with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is common among young children insured through Medicaid in the United States. Complete and timely dosing with palivizumab is associated with lower risk of RSV-related hospitalizations, but up to 60% of infants who receive palivizumab in Medicaid population do not receive full prophylaxis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of partial palivizumab prophylaxis with the risk of RSV hospitalization among high-risk Medicaid-insured infants.

Early treatment discontinuation and switching in first-line metastatic breast cancer: the role of patient-reported symptom burden.

Treatment options for metastatic breast cancer (MBC) are complex, and some patients experience early discontinuation or switching of treatment (ETDS). We examined the relationship between ETDS and patient-reported symptom burden among patients receiving first-line treatment of MBC in community oncology settings. This retrospective observational study used the ACORN Data Warehouse, a comprehensive community oncology repository of medical records and patient-reported outcomes.

Persistent recurring wheezing in the fifth year of life after laboratory-confirmed, medically attended respiratory syncytial virus infection in infancy.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infancy is associated with subsequent recurrent wheezing.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study examined children born at ≥32 weeks gestation between 1996-2004. All children were enrolled in an integrated health care delivery system in Northern California and were followed through the fifth year of life.

Cost utility of palivizumab prophylaxis among pre-term infants in the United States: a national policy perspective.

Objective: The cost-effectiveness of palivizumab has previously been reported among certain guideline-eligible, high-risk premature infants in Medicaid. Because guideline authorities base decisions on a national perspective, the economic model of palivizumab was adapted to include all infants, that is, public and privately insured patients (60% of palivizumab use is public, 40% is private).

Methods: This study examined four groups of premature infants without chronic lung disease of prematurity or congenital heart disease: (1) <32 weeks gestational age (wGA) and ≤ 6 months chronologic age (CA); (2) 32-34 wGA, ≤ 3 months CA, with 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) risk factors (RFs); (3) 32-35 wGA, ≤ 6 months CA, with 2006 AAP RFs; and (4) 32-35 wGA, ≤ 6 months CA, with ≤ 1 RF.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of palivizumab among pre-term infant populations covered by Medicaid in the United States.

Objective: Medicaid infants are at high risk of severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) disease. The study objective was to estimate the cost-effectiveness of palivizumab in a Medicaid population.

Methods: A societal cost-utility analysis was conducted of prophylaxis with palivizumab vs no prophylaxis among four groups of premature infants: (1) <32 weeks gestational age (wGA) and ≤ 6 months chronologic age (CA); (2) 32-34 wGA, ≤ 3 months CA with 2009 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) risk factors (RF); (3) 32-35 wGA, ≤ 6 months CA with 2006 AAP RF; and (4) 32-35 wGA, ≤ 6 months CA with ≤ 1 RF.

Association of RSV lower respiratory tract infection and subsequent healthcare use and costs: a Medicaid claims analysis in early-preterm, late-preterm, and full-term infants.

Objective: Healthcare use and costs within 1 year of a respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection (RSV-LRI) among Medicaid early-preterm and late-preterm infants compared with full-term infants were evaluated.

Methods: Infants born during 2003-2005 were identified from the Thomson Reuters MarketScan Multi-State Medicaid Database. Infants <1 year of age were grouped based on RSV-LRI and unspecified bronchiolitis/pneumonia (UBP) diagnosis codes and stratified by inpatient or outpatient setting.

Respiratory outcomes, utilization and costs 12 months following a respiratory syncytial virus diagnosis among commercially insured late-preterm infants.

Objectives: To determine, among a commercially-insured population of late-preterm infants, utilization of healthcare resources and costs during the 1 year following a diagnosis of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory infection (RSV LRI).

Methods: Administrative claims for non-capitated, commercially-insured infants <1 year old were used to identify infants diagnosed with RSV LRI and unspecified bronchiolitis/pneumonia (UBP). Infants were stratified by the setting of diagnosis.

Recurrent wheezing in the third year of life among children born at 32 weeks' gestation or later: relationship to laboratory-confirmed, medically attended infection with respiratory syncytial virus during the first year of life.

Objective: To quantify the relationship between recurrent wheezing (RW) in the third year of life and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, prematurity, and neonatal oxygen exposure.

Design: Retrospective cohort study linking inpatient, outpatient, and laboratory databases for cohort assembly and logistic regression analysis.

Setting: Integrated health care delivery system in Northern California.

Healthcare costs within a year of respiratory syncytial virus among Medicaid infants.

Limited research exists on the economic impact of respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory infection (RSV LRI) among vulnerable infant populations. This study evaluated healthcare costs of full-term and late-preterm Medicaid infants with RSV LRI within 1 year of infection. Medicaid administrative claims were used to conduct a retrospective study of infants born 2003-2005.

Comparative costs of hospitalisation among infants at high risk for respiratory syncytial virus lower respiratory tract infection during the first year of life.

Objective: This retrospective cohort study compared the total cost of hospitalisation due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) lower respiratory tract infection (LRI) during the first year of life between late-preterm (33-36 weeks gestational age [wGA]) and term (≥ 37 wGA) infants.

Research Design And Methods: A large national claims database of commercially insured members was examined to identify hospital admissions associated with RSV between January 2003 and June 2007 among infants at high risk for RSV LRI, including late-preterm infants. Hospital use and costs were compared with those of a reference cohort of term infants with RSV.