Cost analysis of self-monitoring blood glucose in nonintensively managed type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: To compare health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs between self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) users in adults with nonintensively managed type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Study Design: Retrospective analysis of the MarketScan Databases.

Methods: Adults with T2D using SMBG or initiating CGM between January 2018 and March 2019 were eligible for inclusion.

Economic evaluation of aclidinium bromide in the management of moderate to severe COPD: an analysis over 5 years.

Purpose: Aclidinium bromide is a long-acting muscarinic antagonistic used in maintenance treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A model-based health economic study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of aclidinium 400 μg bid as an alternative to tiotropium 18 μg od for this indication in the US.

Patients And Methods: PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS IN THIS MODEL REFLECT THOSE IN THE ACLIDINIUM CLINICAL STUDIES: age >40 years, stable moderate-to-severe COPD, current or ex-smokers (>10 pack-years), post-salbutamol forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) ≥30% and <80% of predicted normal value, and FEV1/forced vital capacity <70%.

Relative efficacy of bivalirudin versus heparin monotherapy in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention: a network meta-analysis.

In the absence of head-to-head clinical data, the objective of this study was to indirectly compare the efficacy and safety of a bivalirudin-based anticoagulation strategy with that of heparin monotherapy in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) intended for primary percutaneous coronary intervention. A systematic literature review was performed to identify randomized controlled trials to build a network of bivalirudin and heparin monotherapy strategies in STEMI patients using heparin, with glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitor as a common reference strategy. At 30 days, the bivalirudin-based strategy was expected to result in lower mortality rates than heparin monotherapy (odds ratio [OR], 0.

Efficacy of once-daily indacaterol relative to alternative bronchodilators in COPD: a patient-level mixed treatment comparison.

Objective: Indacaterol was evaluated versus placebo, formoterol, and salmeterol in randomized controlled trials. No direct comparisons, however, are available for indacaterol 150 μg with formoterol or indacaterol 300 μg with salmeterol. Indacaterol trial evidence was synthesized to provide coherent estimates of indacaterol 150 μg and indacaterol 300 μg relative to formoterol, salmeterol, and tiotropium.

Indirect treatment comparison of abatacept with methotrexate versus other biologic agents for active rheumatoid arthritis despite methotrexate therapy in the United kingdom.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of abatacept and alternative biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and an inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX) in the United Kingdom.

Methods: A systematic literature search identified 11 individual studies investigating the efficacy of abatacept, infliximab, adalimumab, etanercept, certolizumab pegol, and golimumab in adult patients with RA that did not respond to MTX. The clinical trials included in this analysis were similar in trial design, baseline patient characteristics, and background therapy (i.

Abatacept with methotrexate versus other biologic agents in treatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis despite methotrexate: a network meta-analysis.

Introduction: The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy in terms of Health Assessment Questionnaire change from baseline (HAQ CFB), 50% improvement in American College of Rheumatology criterion (ACR-50) and Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28) defined remission (< 2.6) between abatacept and other biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have inadequate response to methotrexate (MTX-IR).

Methods: A systematic literature review identified controlled trials investigating the efficacy of abatacept (three studies), etanercept (two studies), infliximab (two), adalimumab (two), certolizumab pegol (two) ritixumab (three), and tocilizumab (two) in MTX-IR patients with RA.

The efficacy of bisphosphonates in the prevention of vertebral, hip, and nonvertebral-nonhip fractures in osteoporosis: a network meta-analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of available bisphosphonate therapies regarding the prevention of vertebral, hip, and nonvertebral-nonhip fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Methods: Eight randomized placebo controlled trials investigating the effects of zoledronic acid (1 study), alendronate (3), ibandronate (1), risedronate (2), and etidronate (1) in terms of fractures with a follow-up of 3 years (or 2 years if used for registration purposes) were identified with a systematic literature search. The endpoints of interest were morphometric vertebral fractures, hip fractures, and nonvertebral-nonhip fractures.

Manipulative therapy in addition to usual medical care accelerates recovery of shoulder complaints at higher costs: economic outcomes of a randomized trial.

Background: Shoulder complaints are common in primary care and have unfavourable long term prognosis. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness of manipulative therapy of the cervicothoracic spine and the adjacent ribs in addition to usual medical care (UMC) by the general practitioner in the treatment of shoulder complaints.

Methods: This economic evaluation was conducted alongside a randomized trial in primary care.

Efficacy of vitamin D3 supplementation in preventing fractures in elderly women: a meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of vitamin D(3) in preventing fractures and falls has been explored in a number of clinical trials. However, recent evidence revealed new questions about the adequate doses of vitamin D(3) supplementation and its efficacy in fracture prevention independent of calcium supplements for various types of fractures.

Objective: To conduct a meta-analysis to estimate the effectiveness of 800 IU daily vitamin D(3) supplementation for increasing bone mineral density (BMD) and preventing fractures in postmenopausal women.

Indirect comparison of tocilizumab and other biologic agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.

Objectives: To compare the patterns of American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response between tocilizumab and other biologic agents in patients with rheumatoid arthritis who have inadequate response to disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARD-IR).

Methods: Systematic literature review identified similarly designed double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials over an 18-year period that investigated the effectiveness of abatacept (2), rituximab (2), and TNF-alpha inhibitors etanercept, infliximab, and adalimumab (11) in DMARD-IR patients; data from 3 placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials for tocilizumab, a newly developed IL-6 inhibitor, were included. The endpoint of interest was ACR20/50/70 response criteria at 24 to 30 weeks.

Manipulative therapy in addition to usual care for patients with shoulder complaints: results of physical examination outcomes in a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of manipulative therapy on the shoulder girdle, in addition to usual care provided by the general practitioner, on the outcomes of physical examination tests for the treatment of shoulder complaints.

Methods: This was a randomized controlled trial in a primary care setting in the Netherlands. A total of 150 participants were recruited from December 2000 until December 2002.

Prevention of vertebral fractures in osteoporosis: mixed treatment comparison of bisphosphonate therapies.

Objective: The objective was to compare the efficacy of bisphosphonates regarding the prevention of vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis.

Methods: Seven randomized placebo controlled trials investigating the effects of zoledronic acid (one study), alendronate (three studies), ibandronate (one study), and risedronate (two studies) in terms of fractures with a follow-up of 3 years were identified with a systematic literature search. The endpoint of interest was vertebral fractures.

Bayesian meta-analysis of multiple treatment comparisons: an introduction to mixed treatment comparisons.

Recently, mixed treatment comparisons (MTC) have been presented as an extension of traditional meta-analysis by including multiple different pairwise comparisons across a range of different interventions. MTC allow for indirect comparisons and can therefore provide very useful information for clinical and reimbursement decision-making in the absence of head-to-head data. In this article, we provide an introductory overview of MTC illustrated with example analyses of different drug treatments in rheumatoid arthritis using a continuous patient-reported end point.

Interobserver reliability of physical examination of shoulder girdle.

The object of this study was to assess interobserver reliability in 23 tests concerning physical examination of the shoulder girdle. A physical therapist and a physical therapist/manual therapist independently performed a physical examination of the shoulder girdle in 91 patients with shoulder complaints of varying severity and duration. The observers assessed 23 items in total: active and passive abductions, passive external rotation, hand in neck (HIN) test, hand in back (HIB) test, impingement test according to Neer, springing test of the first rib and joint play test of the acromioclavicular joint.

Cost-effectiveness of a fixed dose combination of alendronate and cholecalciferol in the treatment and prevention of osteoporosis in the United Kingdom and The Netherlands.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a fixed dose combination of alendronate 70 mg and cholecalciferol 2800 IU (alendronate/vitamin D3; Fosavance) versus no treatment, alendronate with dietary vitamin D supplements and ibandronate in the treatment of osteoporosis in the UK and Netherlands.

Methods: A patient simulation model was developed. One-year cycles included health states related to hip, vertebral, wrist and proximal humerus fractures, as well as death due to hip fractures and other causes.

Assessment of the cervical range of motion over time, differences between results of the Flock of Birds and the EDI-320: a comparison between an electromagnetic tracking system and an electronic inclinometer.

The objective of this study was to analyse cervical range of motion, assessed over time by means of a digital inclinometer (EDI-320) and a three-dimensional electromagnetic tracking device (Flock of Birds). The maximum active cervical range of motion was assessed with two measurement devices in three sessions over time, with 6-week intervals. In total, 26 women and 24 men (mean age: 44.

Interobserver reliability of neck-mobility measurement by means of the flock-of-birds electromagnetic tracking system.

Objective: To establish the interobserver reliability for measuring neck mobility in human subjects by means of an electromagnetic tracking device, the Flock-of-Birds system.

Methods: Two observers independently and in random order assessed the cervical range-of-motion in 30 subjects with a dysfunction in the neck and shoulder region (symptomatic subjects) and 30 subjects without known pathology (asymptomatic subjects). Measurements included rotation in neutral position, in flexed position and in extended position, flexion-extension, and lateral bending (all active and passive).

Variation in the cervical range of motion over time measured by the "flock of birds" electromagnetic tracking system.

Study Design: Observational longitudinal study.

Objective: To establish the normal variation over time for active and passive cervical range of motion (ROM) measured with the Flock of Birds electromagnetic tracking system (FOB).

Summary Of Background Data: Data about normal variation of cervical ROM over time are scarce but important for the interpretation of study results.

Manipulative therapy in addition to usual medical care for patients with shoulder dysfunction and pain: a randomized, controlled trial.

Background: Dysfunction of the cervicothoracic spine and the adjacent ribs (also called the shoulder girdle) is considered to predict occurrence and poor outcome of shoulder symptoms. It can be treated with manipulative therapy, but scientific evidence for the effectiveness of such therapy is lacking.

Objective: To study the effectiveness of manipulative therapy for the shoulder girdle in addition to usual medical care for relief of shoulder pain and dysfunction.

Groningen Manipulation Study. The effect of manipulation of the structures of the shoulder girdle as additional treatment for symptom relief and for prevention of chronicity or recurrence of shoulder symptoms. Design of a randomized controlled trial within a comprehensive prognostic cohort study.

Background: We present the design of the Groningen Manipulation Study. This randomized controlled trial is part of the Dutch Shoulder Disability Study, a comprehensive prognostic cohort study on shoulder disorders, with randomized controlled interventions in subcohorts.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of manipulative treatment of the structures of the shoulder girdle, in addition to standard treatment by the general practitioner for relief of shoulder symptoms and prevention of persistent or recurrent shoulder symptoms.