Impact of Older Adults' Internet Use on Economic Burden of Informal Caregiving.

This study examines the impact of older adults' Internet use on care hours and its influence on estimating national cost savings with active and potential Internet users. Using data from the 2015 National Health and Aging Trends Study ( = 1,806), we employed a survey weighted two-part model with gamma distribution. The cost savings were estimated by a replacement approach.

Cost-effectiveness of mask mandates on subways to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the United States.

Background: Community-based mask wearing has been shown to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. However, few studies have conducted an economic evaluation of mask mandates, specifically in public transportation settings. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of implementing mask mandates for subway passengers in the United States by evaluating its potential to reduce COVID-19 transmission during subway travel.

Dogs on the move: Estimating the risk of rabies in imported dogs in the United States, 2015-2022.

Background: Dog-mediated rabies virus variant (DMRVV), a zoonotic pathogen that causes a deadly disease in animals and humans, is present in more than 100 countries worldwide but has been eliminated from the United States since 2007. In the United States, the U.S.

Cost effectiveness of preemptive school closures to mitigate pandemic influenza outbreaks of differing severity in the United States.

Background: Nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) may be considered as part of national pandemic preparedness as a first line defense against influenza pandemics. Preemptive school closures (PSCs) are an NPI reserved for severe pandemics and are highly effective in slowing influenza spread but have unintended consequences.

Methods: We used results of simulated PSC impacts for a 1957-like pandemic (i.

Productivity costs associated with reactive school closures related to influenza or influenza-like illness in the United States from 2011 to 2019.

Introduction: Schools close in reaction to seasonal influenza outbreaks and, on occasion, pandemic influenza. The unintended costs of reactive school closures associated with influenza or influenza-like illness (ILI) has not been studied previously. We estimated the costs of ILI-related reactive school closures in the United States over eight academic years.

Cost-effectiveness of treatment strategies for populations from strongyloidiasis high-risk areas globally who will initiate corticosteroid treatment in the USA.

Background: The risk of developing strongyloidiasis hyperinfection syndrome appears to be elevated among individuals who initiate corticosteroid treatment. Presumptive treatment or treatment after screening for populations from Strongyloides stercoralis-endemic areas has been suggested before initiating corticosteroids. However, potential clinical and economic impacts of preventative strategies have not been evaluated.

Factors Associated With Adherence to First-line Antiviral Therapy Among Commercially Insured Patients With Chronic Hepatitis B.

Background: Nonadherence to antiviral therapy can lead to poor clinical outcomes among patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB). We used a claims database to evaluate risk factors for nonadherence to antiviral therapy among commercially insured patients with CHB in the United States.

Methods: We obtained data for commercially insured adult patients with CHB prescribed entecavir or tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) in 2019.

Costs of malaria treatment in the United States.

We estimated inpatient and outpatient payments for malaria treatment in the USA. The mean cost per hospitalized patient was significantly higher than for non-hospitalized patients (e.g.

The Association Between State-Issued Mask Mandates and County COVID-19 Hospitalization Rates.

Context: Mask mandates are one form of nonpharmaceutical intervention that has been utilized to combat the spread of SARS-CoV2, the virus that causes COVID-19.

Objective: This study examines the association between state-issued mask mandates and changes in county-level and hospital referral region (HRR)-level COVID-19 hospitalizations across the United States.

Design: Difference-in-difference and event study models were estimated to examine the association between state-issued mask mandates and COVID-19 hospitalization outcomes.

Low Use of Standard-of-Care Antiparasitic Drugs and Increased Estimated Outpatient Payments for Treating Schistosomiasis in the United States, 2013-19.

Drug utilization and payment estimates for standard-of-care treatment of schistosomiasis have not been reported previously in the United States. This study estimates the utilization of praziquantel (standard-of-care drug) among patients with schistosomiasis and outpatient payments among those who were treated with praziquantel, and investigates the factors associated with praziquantel use from 2013-19 using IBM's MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters database. Claims data showed that only 21% of patients with schistosomiasis diagnoses were treated with praziquantel.

Low Treatment Rates of Parasitic Diseases with Standard-of-Care Prescription Drugs in the United States, 2013-2019.

To assess appropriate drug treatment of parasitic diseases in the United States, we examined the treatment rates of 11 selected parasitic infections with standard-of-care prescription drugs and compared them to the treatment rates of two more common bacterial infections (Clostridioides difficile and streptococcal pharyngitis). We used the 2013 to 2019 IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters and MarketScan® Multi-State Medicaid databases, which included up to 7 years of data for approximately 88 million and 17 million individuals, respectively, to estimate treatment rates of each infection. The number of patients diagnosed with each parasitic infection varied from 57 to 5,266, and from 12 to 2,018, respectively, across the two databases.

Trends in Percentages of the US Population Covered by State-Issued COVID-19 Nonpharmaceutical Interventions, March 1, 2020-August 15, 2021.

Trends in the percentages of the US population covered by state-issued nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), including restaurant and bar restrictions, stay-at-home orders, gathering limits, and mask mandates, were examined by using county-specific data sets on state-issued orders for NPIs from March 1, 2020, to August 15, 2021. Most of the population was covered by multiple NPIs early in the pandemic. Most state-issued orders were lifted or relaxed as COVID-19 cases decreased during summer 2020.

Trends in Pricing and Out-of-Pocket Spending on Entecavir Among Commercially Insured Patients, 2014-2018.

This cross-sectional study of health claims from patients with private insurance examines trends in the cost of entecavir prescribed for chronic hepatitis B treatment.

Increases in Anti-infective Drug Prices, Subsequent Prescribing, and Outpatient Costs.

This cross-sectional study examines the association of prices for drugs to treat hookworm and pinworm with prescribing and prescription-filling behaviors and total outpatient treatment costs.

The Effect of Drug Pricing on Outpatient Payments and Treatment for Three Soil-Transmitted Helminth Infections in the United States, 2010-2017.

The price of certain antiparasitic drugs (e.g., albendazole and mebendazole) has dramatically increased since 2010.

Decline in COVID-19 Hospitalization Growth Rates Associated with Statewide Mask Mandates - 10 States, March-October 2020.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), is transmitted predominantly by respiratory droplets generated when infected persons cough, sneeze, spit, sing, talk, or breathe. CDC recommends community use of face masks to prevent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 (1). As of October 22, 2020, statewide mask mandates were in effect in 33 states and the District of Columbia (2).

Economic Impact of the 2015 MERS Outbreak on the Republic of Korea's Tourism-Related Industries.

The 2015 Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outbreak in the Republic of Korea (ROK) is an example of an infectious disease outbreak initiated by international travelers to a high-income country. This study was conducted to determine the economic impact of the MERS outbreak on the tourism and travel-related service sectors, including accommodation, food and beverage, and transportation, in the ROK. We projected monthly numbers of noncitizen arrivals and indices of services for 3 travel-related service sectors during and after the MERS outbreak (June 2015 to June 2016) using seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average models.

Vaccine delivery to newly arrived refugees and estimated costs in selected U.S. clinics, 2015.

Background: Newly arrived refugees are offered vaccinations during domestic medical examinations. Vaccination practices and costs for refugees have not been described with recent implementation of the overseas Vaccination Program for U.S.

Age-specific Cost Effectiveness of Using Intravenous Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator for Treating Acute Ischemic Stroke.

Introduction: Studies have demonstrated that intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rtPA) is a cost-effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Age-specific cost effectiveness has not been well examined. This study estimated age-specific incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) of IV rtPA treatment versus no IV rtPA.

Economic Burden of Informal Caregiving Associated With History of Stroke and Falls Among Older Adults in the U.S.

Introduction: Older adults are at high risk for stroke and falls, both of which require a large amount of informal caregiving. However, the economic burden of informal caregiving associated with stroke and fall history is not well known.

Methods: Using the 2010 Health and Retirement Study, data on non-institutionalized adults aged ≥65 years (N=10,129) in 2015-2017 were analyzed.

A Systematic Review of Economic Evidence on Community Hypertension Interventions.

Context: Effective community-based interventions are available to control hypertension. It is important to determine the economics of these interventions.

Evidence Acquisition: Peer-reviewed studies from January 1995 through December 2015 were screened.

A comparative cost analysis of the Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees.

Background: Vaccination Program for US-bound Refugees (VPR) currently provides one or two doses of some age-specific Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)-recommended vaccines to US-bound refugees prior to departure.

Methods: We quantified and compared the full vaccination costs for refugees using two scenarios: (1) the baseline of no VPR and (2) the current situation with VPR. Under the first scenario, refugees would be fully vaccinated after arrival in the United States.

A literature review of cost-effectiveness of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for treating acute ischemic stroke.

Background: Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (IV rtPA) is recommended treatment for acute ischemic stroke patients, but the cost-effectiveness of IV rtPA within different time windows after the onset of acute ischemic stroke is not well reviewed.

Aims: To conduct a literature review of the cost-effectiveness studies about IV rtPA by treatment times.

Summary Of Review: A literature search was conducted using MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and Cochrane Library, with the key words and .

Cost analysis of measles in refugees arriving at Los Angeles International Airport from Malaysia.

Background On August 24, 2011, 31 US-bound refugees from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (KL) arrived in Los Angeles. One of them was diagnosed with measles post-arrival. He exposed others during a flight, and persons in the community while disembarking and seeking medical care.