Real-world evidence effect of budesonide+formoterol Spiromax on patients with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Sweden.

 Despite improved asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) management, treatment remains inadequate in many patients. Understanding the impact of current treatment in settings outside of controlled trials would add important clinical decision-making information. This study evaluated costs and outcomes associated with budesonide+formoterol (BF) Spiromax® initiation among real-world Swedish patients with asthma and/or COPD.

Real-world effectiveness evaluation of budesonide/formoterol Spiromax for the management of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the UK.

Objectives: Budesonide/formoterol (BF) Spiromax is an inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting β-agonist fixed-dose combination (FDC) inhaler, designed to minimise common inhaler errors and provide reliable and consistent dose delivery in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We evaluated non-inferiority of BF Spiromax after changing from another FDC inhaler, compared with continuing the original inhaler.

Methods: Patients with asthma and/or COPD who switched to BF Spiromax were matched (1:3) with non-switchers.

Vitamin K antagonist treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation and time in therapeutic range in four European countries.

Purpose: Patients with atrial fibrillation are at increased risk for stroke and thus require anticoagulant prophylaxis with vitamin K antagonists. However, many such patients fail to achieve target coagulation status. The objective of this study was to evaluate time in the therapeutic range and its relationship to clinical outcomes in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation prescribed a vitamin K antagonist in everyday clinical practice in 4 European countries (France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom).

Cost-effectiveness of varenicline compared with nicotine patches for smoking cessation--results from four European countries.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the cost-effectiveness of varenicline with nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) for smoking cessation in four European countries (Belgium, France, Sweden and the UK).

Methods: Markov simulations, using the Benefits of Smoking Cessation on Outcomes (BENESCO) model, were performed. We simulated the incidence of four smoking-related morbidities: lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary heart disease and stroke.

Association between visual acuity and medical and non-medical costs in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration in France, Germany and Italy.

Introduction: Exudative ('wet') age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the major cause of blindness in Western developed countries. Treatments aimed at preserving vision are already available and new compounds are under development. Micro-economics information will be pivotal to justifying forthcoming investment.