Estimated Loss of Productivity Attributed to Cardiovascular Diseases in South America.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) have significant health and economic burdens. In South America, the loss of productivity related to these diseases has not yet been well explored.

Objective: Estimate the potentially productive years of life lost (PPYLL) and loss of productivity related to premature mortality associated with CVD in South America, in 2019.

Cost of lost productivity from acute respiratory infections in South America.

Objectives: To estimate the burden of permanent productivity losses caused by acute respiratory infections in South American countries in 2019.

Methods: Mortality data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 were analyzed to estimate the burden of disease attributable to acute respiratory infections. An approach based on the human capital method was used to estimate the cost of permanent productivity losses associated with respiratory diseases.

Cost-effectiveness analysis and budgetary impact of anidulafungin treatment for patients with candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis in Brazil.

Candidemia and other forms of invasive candidiasis (C/IC) are serious conditions, especially for immunosuppressed individuals with prolonged hospitalization in intensive care units (ICU). This study analyzed the incremental cost-effectiveness and budgetary impact (BI) of treatment for IC with anidulafungin compared to amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) and amphotericin B deoxycholate (ABD) or conventional amphotericin B (CAB), in the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). A decision model was conducted with a time horizon of two weeks from the perspective of SUS.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of the Implementation of Cryptococcal Antigen Lateral Flow Assay for the Diagnosis of Cryptococcal Meningitis in Symptomatic People Living With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Brazil.

Objectives: Cryptococcal meningitis constitutes a significant source of mortality in the developing world. Annually, approximately 625 000 deaths occur worldwide among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This study aims to assess the cost-effectiveness of implementing cryptococcal antigen lateral flow assay (CRAG-LFA) screening in Brazil compared with the current practice.

Cost-effectiveness analysis and budgetary impact of the Cryptococcal Antigen Lateral Flow Assay (CRAG-LFA) implementation for the screening and diagnosis of cryptococcosis in asymptomatic people living with HIV in Brazil.

Cryptococcal infection is a frequent cause of mortality in Brazilian HIV-infected patients. The present study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budgetary impact of four cryptococcosis screening strategies in HIV-infected patients with CD4+ ≤ 200 cells/mm3, in Brazil. A Monte Carlo microsimulation was used to compare the following diagnostic tests: a systematic serum cryptococcal antigen (CRAG) screening with latex agglutination (CRAG-LA), a lateral flow immunochromatographic test (CRAG-LFA), India ink staining and no intervention.

Drug prices in Latin American countries: the case of rheumatoid arthritis Biosimilars.

Background: The objective of this paper is to analyze the prices of biological drugs in the treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) in three Latin American countries (Brazil, Colombia and Mexico), as well as in Spain and the United States of America (US), from the point of market entry of biosimilars.

Methods: We analyzed products authorized for commercialization in the last 20 years, in Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico, comparing them to the United States of America (USA) and Spain. For this analysis, we sought the prices and registries of drugs marketed between 1999 and October 1, 2019, in the regulatory agencies' databases.

PEG-asparaginase and native Escherichia coli L-asparaginase in acute lymphoblastic leukemia in children and adolescents: a systematic review.

Introduction: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the cancer with the highest incidence in childhood and adolescence, and pharmacotherapy is the primary form of treatment.

Objective And Methods: A systematic review of the efficacy and safety of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-asparaginase in acute lymphoblastic leukemia therapy in children and adolescents was conducted to compare it with native Escherichia coli L-asparaginase. PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, Scopus, LILACS (Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature) and EMBASE databases were selected.

[Regulations on expanded access and compassionate use of medicines in South AmericaRegulación de los programas de acceso ampliado y uso compasivo de medicamentos en América del Sur].

Objective: To describe and compare the regulatory framework governing policies on rapid/alternative access to medicines (expanded access and compassionate use) in South American countries.

Method: An exploratory descriptive study with analysis of documents was performed. In addition to a literature review, official rules issued by regulatory agencies were reviewed if available.

[Breast cancer screening: modeling improvement of access using mobile mammography unitsSeguimiento del cáncer de mama: modelo de mejora del acceso con el uso de mamógrafos móviles].

Objective: To investigate the impact of combined use of fixed and mobile mammography units to rationalize the management of breast cancer screening programs and increase population coverage.

Methods: An observational study was performed using agents-based modeling. The model was used to simulate breast cancer screening coverage in a specific region in the state of Rio de Janeiro () where 22 fixed mammography units are installed.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the treatment of mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease in Brazil.

Objective: To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of donepezil and rivastigmine therapy for mild and moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) from the perspective of the Brazilian Unified Health System.

Method: A hypothetical cohort of 1,000 individuals of both sexes, aged >65 years, and diagnosed with AD was simulated using a Markov model. The time horizon was 10 years, with 1-year cycles.

Skills and Core Competencies of Pharmacists in Humanitarian Assistance.

Background: Pharmacists' participation in health care within multi-disciplinary teams in Humanitarian Assistance (HA) shall be encouraged. Limited literature exists on their role in the humanitarian context. The objective of this paper is to evidence the skill-specific, comprehensive core competencies that pharmacists must demonstrate working in humanitarian interventions.

The link between industry and social interests in health in Brazil's National Health Innovation System: the experience of the Brazilian National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (INTO).

This article has two parts. The first discusses the relationship between industry and health interests based on three different but non-mutually exclusive "logics": (a) independent; (b) divergent; and (c) convergent. The second part describes the experience at the Brazilian National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopedics (INTO) with a technology management model.

[Cost-effectiveness of hepatitis C treatment in slow virologic responders coinfected with HIV].

Recent evidence has demonstrated that slow responders may benefit from antiviral treatment in HCV/HIV coinfection. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of HCV treatment in individuals with genotype 1 coinfected with HIV, with peg-interferon in combination with ribavirin, compared to the inclusion (versus non-inclusion) of slow responders. A Markov model was developed that simulated the progression of liver disease in a hypothetical cohort of one thousand men over 40 years of age, considering the Brazilian Unified National Health System (SUS) perspective and a 30-year timeline.

[The use of phytotherapy and medicinal plants in primary healthcare units in the cities of Cascavel and Foz do Iguaçu - Paraná: the viewpoint of health professionals].

Phytotherapy and the use of medicinal plants are part of the practice of folk medicine, which complements treatment traditionally employed for the lower income population. This work analyzed the knowledge of health managers and professionals who work in primary health care (PHC) about phytotherapy in the cities of Cascavel and Foz do Iguaçu in the State of Paraná. An exploratory, descriptive, and qualitative study using a structured questionnaire was conducted between February and July 2009.

Flows of financial resources for health research and development in Brazil, 2000-2002.

Objective: To map and measure the flows of financial resources for health research and development in Brazil for the years 2000-2002.

Methods: After adapting the methodology developed for the Center for Economic Policy Research, data were collected on the sources and uses of resources for health research and development.

Results: The annual average value of resources apportioned to health research and development was approximately 573 million US dollars.