Budget impact analyses of hemoglobin A1c and lipid panel point-of-care testing with Afinion™ 2 in Canada and Italy.

Screening and monitoring of diabetes or dyslipidemia frequently involves a multi-step process requiring patients to obtain test requisitions from their primary care physician (PCP), followed by a laboratory visit and re-consultation. Point-of-care testing (POCT) for hemoglobin A (HbA) and lipid panel can streamline the patient care pathway. This study assessed the budget impact of introducing Afinion™ 2 POCT (Abbott Rapid Diagnostics) from the Canadian and Italian societal perspectives.

Microvascular abnormalities and long-term efficacy after stereotactic radiotherapy under continued intravitreal anti-VEGF treatment for neovascular AMD.

Background: For treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), multiple intravitreal injections of drugs targeting vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) result in a high burden for patients and healthcare systems. Low-energy stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) might reduce the anti-VEGF need. This study evaluated the long-term efficacy and safety of adjunct SRT to anti-VEGF injections in a treat-and-extend regimen in nAMD.

Severe asthma and eligibility for biologics in a Brazilian cohort.

Objective: This study aims to describe the eligibility for biologic therapies for severe asthma (SA) in a cohort of patients attending the Program for Control of Asthma (ProAR) in Bahia, Brazil.

Methods: Data from SA patients (≥18 years old) attending the ProAR, that were included in a case-control study conducted from 2013 to 2015, were used to reassess patients according to a modified ERS/ATS 2014 SA criteria. Patients were then classified according to the eligibility for SA biological therapy based on current prescription labels.

Trend of self-reported asthma prevalence in Brazil from 2003 to 2013 in adults and factors associated with prevalence.

Objectives: To determine the trend of self-reported asthma diagnosed prevalence and to describe the factors associated with asthma in Brazilian adults.

Method: Epidemiological cross-sectional study based on databases analysis from three national household surveys: Pesquisa Nacional por Amostra de Domicílios (PNAD) 2003, PNAD 2008 and Pesquisa Nacional de Saúde (PNS) 2013. Participants between 18-45 years old were included.

Low-Energy Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Treatment of Exudative Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Treat-and-Extend Regimen.

Background And Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of low-energy stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) combined with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment following a treat-and-extend regimen (TER) in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Patients And Methods: Before/after SRT, the authors compared retrospective consecutive case series of 50 patients requiring frequent anti-VEGF treatment (every 4 or 6 weeks) in wet AMD, treated with a single session of SRT and TER (same manner pre/post-SRT). Outcomes were visual acuity (VA), recurrence-free interval, and central retinal thickness (CRT).