Real-world treatment patterns, patient-reported outcomes, and effectiveness of flexibledosing etanercept in patients with plaque psoriasis in Greece.

Etanercept is approved for continuous or intermittent use and flexible dosing in plaque psoriasis (PsO). The objectives of this study were to investigate real-world treatment patterns with etanercept in Greek adults with moderate-to-severe PsO. This non-interventional multicenter study included a retrospective-to-prospective (RP) cohort, previously treated with etanercept for ≥24 months and followed for an additional 6 months, and a biologic-naïve, prospective-only (PO) cohort, followed for 6 months after treatment initiation.

Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Lorlatinib in Patients Previously Treated with Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase Inhibitors for Non-small Cell Lung Cancer in Greece.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), which accounts for about 80%-85% of lungcancer cases, is a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Lorlatinib is a potent third-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor approved for the treatment of patients with advanced, ALK-positive NSCLC previously treated with at least one second-generation ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitor. The present study assessed the cost-effectiveness of lorlatinib vs pemetrexed with platinum combination of carboplatin or cisplatin (P-ChT) in Greece.

Blood pressure variability assessed by office, home, and ambulatory measurements: comparison, agreement, and determinants.

The present study compared the blood pressure variability (BPV) among office (OBP), home (HBP), and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) measurements and assessed their determinants, as well as their agreement in identifying individuals with high BPV. Individuals attending a hypertension clinic had OBP measurements (2-3 visits) and underwent HBP monitoring (3-7 days, duplicate morning and evening measurements) and ABP monitoring (24 h, 20-min intervals). BPV was quantified using the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), and variability independent of the mean (VIM) using all BP readings obtained by each method.

Two Sides of the Same Coin? A Dual Multiple Criteria Decision Analysis of Novel Treatments Against Rheumatoid Arthritis in Physicians and Patients.

Purpose: Available treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) differ in important aspects. In this sense, each RA treatment option is accompanied by a spectrum of characteristics that collectively constitute its comprehensive "value," as viewed from the physician's or the patient's perspective. The objective of this study was to perform a multiple criteria decision analysis of different RA treatments from the perspective of physicians and patients and to outline the respective aspects of value for each treatment METHODS: A literature review was performed for constructing a set of criteria (N = 8) for the multiple criteria decision analysis.

Cost-effectiveness of tofacitinib for the treatment of moderate to severe active ulcerative colitis in Greece.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of tofacitinib versus other treatment options currently available for the management of adult patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis, who have had an inadequate response, loss of response, or were intolerant to conventional therapy or a biologic agent, in Greece.

Methods: A Markov model was adapted for projecting lifetime costs and outcomes, for a cohort of patients with moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis from a Greek payer perspective. Patients entered the model in the active ulcerative colitis state and transitioned to a remission or response state or they underwent colectomy.

Validation of the professional device for blood pressure measurement Microlife WatchBP Office in adults and children according to the American National Standards Institute/Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/International Organization for Standardization standard.

Objective: To assess the accuracy of the professional oscillometric blood pressure (BP) monitor Microlife WatchBP Office in adults and children according to the American National Standards Institute/Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation/International Organization for Standardization (ANSI/AAMI/ISO) 81060-2:2013 standard.

Methods: Adults and children (aged 3-12 years) were recruited to fulfil the age, sex, BP and cuff distribution criteria of the ANSI/AAMI/ISO standard using the same-arm sequential BP measurement method. Three cuffs of the test device were used for arm circumferences of 14-22, 22-32 and 32-42 cm.

Cost-effective osteoporosis treatment thresholds for people living with HIV infection in Greece.

Objectives: We aimed to specifically define the FRAX-based cost-effective treatment thresholds for osteoporosis among people living with HIV (PLWHIV) in Greece and to compare them with those of the general population.

Methods: A previously described state transition Markov cohort model was used in order to estimate the cost-effective intervention thresholds for osteoporotic therapy among Greek PLWHIV employing the FRAX® tool. The model-derived relative risk at which an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 30,000€/QALY gained was observed for treatment versus no intervention was multiplied by the average Greek FRAX-based 10-year probabilities for both major osteoporotic and hip fractures.

Cost-effectiveness of Ingenol Mebutate Gel for the Treatment of Actinic Keratosis in Greece.

Purpose: The present study aimed to perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of ingenol mebutate (IM) versus other topical alternatives for the treatment of actinic keratosis (AK).

Methods: The analysis used a decision tree to calculate the clinical effects and costs of AK first-line treatments, IM (2-3 days), diclofenac 3% (for 8 or 12 weeks), imiquimod 5% (for 4 or 8 weeks), during a 24-month horizon, using discrete intervals of 6 months. A hypothetical cohort of immunocompetent adult patients with clinically confirmed AK on the face and scalp or trunk and extremities was considered.

A novel cuffless device for self-measurement of blood pressure: concept, performance and clinical validation.

A pocket-size cuffless electronic device for self-measurement of blood pressure (BP) has been developed (Freescan, Maisense Inc., Zhubei, Taiwan). The device estimates BP within 10 s using three embedded electrodes and one force sensor that is applied over the radial pulse to evaluate the pulse wave.

Cost Effectiveness of Apixaban versus Warfarin or Aspirin for Stroke Prevention in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation: A Greek Perspective.

Background: Strokes attributed to atrial fibrillation (AF) represent a major cause of adult disability and a great burden to society and healthcare systems.

Objectives: Our objective was to assess the cost effectiveness of apixaban, a direct acting oral anticoagulant (DOAC), versus warfarin or aspirin for patients with AF in the Greek healthcare setting.

Methods: We used a previously published Markov model to simulate clinical events for patients with AF treated with apixaban, the vitamin K antagonist (VKA) warfarin, or aspirin.

Treatment with the first TNF inhibitor in rheumatoid arthritis patients in the Hellenic Registry of Biologic Therapies improves quality of life especially in young patients with better baseline functional status.

Objectives: To assess in daily practice in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) the effect of treatment with first tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitor (TNFi) in quality of life (Qol), disease activity and depict possible baseline predictors for gains in Qol.

Methods: Patients followed prospectively by the Hellenic Registry of Biologic Therapies were analysed. Demographics were recorded at baseline, while RA-related characteristics at baseline and every 6 months.

Methodology and technology for peripheral and central blood pressure and blood pressure variability measurement: current status and future directions - Position statement of the European Society of Hypertension Working Group on blood pressure monitoring and cardiovascular variability.

Office blood pressure measurement has been the basis for hypertension evaluation for almost a century. However, the evaluation of blood pressure out of the office using ambulatory or self-home monitoring is now strongly recommended for the accurate diagnosis in many, if not all, cases with suspected hypertension. Moreover, there is evidence that the variability of blood pressure might offer prognostic information that is independent of the average blood pressure level.

How peptide technology has improved costs and outcomes in patients with heart failure.

Introduction: Heart failure (HF) is characterized by substantial health and economic burden, mainly attributed to increased hospitalizations and readmissions. Its diagnosis remains challenging due to the non-specific nature of the initial symptoms of the disease. Recently, scientific evidence has highlighted the potential of natriuretic peptides (NP) in improving the diagnosis and prognosis of HF and, by extension, in restraining healthcare costs.

Relationship between office and home blood pressure with increasing age: The International Database of HOme blood pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome (IDHOCO).

Home blood pressure (HBP) measurements are known to be lower than conventional office blood pressure (OBP) measurements. However, this difference might not be consistent across the entire age range and has not been adequately investigated. We assessed the relationship between OBP and HBP with increasing age using the International Database of HOme blood pressure in relation to Cardiovascular Outcome (IDHOCO).

Association of Central Versus Brachial Blood Pressure With Target-Organ Damage: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Accumulating evidence suggests that central blood pressure (BP) may reflect the hemodynamic stress on target organs more accurately than brachial BP. A systematic review assessing the relationship of central versus brachial BP with preclinical target-organ damage was performed. Meta-analysis of cross-sectional data showed that central compared with brachial systolic BP was more closely associated with (1) left ventricular mass index (12 studies, n=6431; weighted age [SD], 49.

Cost-effective osteoporosis treatment thresholds in Greece.

Unlabelled: A Greek-specific cost-effectiveness analysis determined the FRAX-based intervention thresholds. Assuming a willingness to pay of 30,000 , osteoporosis treatment is cost-effective in subjects under the age of 75 with 10-year probabilities for hip and major osteoporotic fractures of 2.5 and 10 %, respectively, while for older patients, the same thresholds are raised to 5 and 15 %.

Quantifying the economic benefits of prevention in a healthcare setting with severe financial constraints: the case of hypertension control.

Hypertension significantly contributes to the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, thus leading to rising healthcare costs. The objective of this study was to quantify the clinical and economic benefits of optimal systolic blood pressure (SBP), in a setting under severe financial constraints, as in the case of Greece. Hence, a Markov model projecting 10-year outcomes and costs was adopted, in order to compare two scenarios.

Determinants of the direct cost of heart failure hospitalization in a public tertiary hospital.

Background: Heart failure (HF) is the first reason for hospital admission in the elderly and represents a major financial burden, the greatest part of which results from hospitalization costs. We sought to analyze current HF hospitalization-related expenditure and identify predictors of cost in a public tertiary hospital in Europe.

Method: We performed a retrospective chart review of 197 consecutive patients, aged 56±16years, 80% male, with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 30±10%, hospitalized for HF in a major university hospital in Athens, Greece.

Cost estimation of hypertension management based on home blood pressure monitoring alone or combined office and ambulatory blood pressure measurements.

This study aims at estimating the resources consumed and subsequent costs for hypertension management, using home blood pressure (BP) monitoring (HBPM) alone versus combined clinic measurements and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (C/ABPM). One hundred sixteen untreated hypertensive subjects were randomized to use HBPM or C/ABPM for antihypertensive treatment initiation and titration. Health resources utilized within 12-months follow-up, their respective costs, and hypertension control were assessed.