Economic evaluation of newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus infection: A systematic review.

Purpose: This systematic review analyzes economic evaluations of newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) infection to identify key factors influencing cost-effectiveness and differences in methodological approaches.

Methods: Following a pre-registered PROSPERO protocol (CRD42023441587), we conducted a comprehensive literature search across multiple databases on July 4, 2024. The review included both full economic evaluations (cost and outcomes) and partial economic evaluations (cost only).

Health-related quality of life and caregiver burden of pediatric patients with inborn errors of metabolism in Japan using EQ-5D-Y, PedsQL, and J-ZBI.

Purpose: Inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are known with poor long-term health concerns; however, the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and the burden placed on families remain unclear. This study investigated the self- and proxy-reported HRQoL of pediatric patients with IEM with or without developmental disabilities and the burden placed on their caregivers.

Methods: Patients with IEM aged 8-15 years and their caregivers were asked to respond to the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), EuroQoL five-dimension questionnaire for younger populations (EQ-5D-Y), and Japanese version of the Zarit Caregiver Burden Interview (J-ZBI).

[Cancer Screening and the Application of Economic Evaluation].

In Japan, 5 types of cancer screening programs are recommended: stomach cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer. Since it is desirable to conduct these cancer screenings widely among the target population, the number of individuals eligible for screening is large, requiring a significant amount of health resources for implementation. When faced with questions about how to efficiently provide healthcare from limited health resources, health economic evaluation methods are useful tools for decision-makers.

Development of a Model for Quantitative Assessment of Newborn Screening in Japan Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process.

Whether or not conditions should be included in publicly funded newborn screening (NBS) programs should be discussed according to objective and transparent criteria. Certain criteria have been developed for the introduction of NBS programs in the context of individual countries; however, there are no standard selection criteria for NBS programs in Japan. This study aimed to develop a quantitative scoring model to assess newborn screening that incorporates the views of a variety of stakeholders in Japan.

Regional disparity in the provision of rehabilitation services using the open data from the Japanese national claims database: an ecological study.

Objectives: There are few reports on regional differences in the supply/utilisation balance and provision of rehabilitation services. This study analysed those regional differences in Japan to help policymakers provide more uniform and efficient rehabilitation services and optimally allocate related resources.

Design: An ecological study.

Impacts of the preceding cancer-specific health-related quality of life instruments on the responses to the subsequent EQ-5D-5L.

Background: In clinical studies, the EQ-5D-5L is often employed with disease-specific health-related quality of life instruments. The questions in the former are more general than the latter; however, it is known that responses to general questions can be influenced by preceding specific questions. Thus, the responses to the EQ-5D-5L have the possibility of being influenced by the preceding disease-specific health-related quality of life instruments.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Universal Screening for Biliary Atresia in Japan.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of universal newborn screening using stool color card or direct bilirubin (DB) testing when comparing with no screening for biliary atresia in Japanese setting.

Study Design: A decision analytic Markov microsimulation model was developed to evaluate the universal screening for biliary atresia. Our screening strategies included stool color card, DB, or no screening.

Gradient Boosted Tree Approaches for Mapping European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 Onto 5-Level Version of EQ-5D Index for Patients With Cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop direct and response mapping algorithms from the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 onto the 5-level version of EQ-5D index based on the gradient boosted tree (GBT), a promising modern machine learning method.

Methods: We used the Quality of Life Mapping Algorithm for Cancer study data (903 observations from 903 patients) for training GBTs and testing their predictive performance. In the Quality of Life Mapping Algorithm for Cancer study, patients with advanced solid tumor were enrolled, and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 and 5-level version of EQ-5D were simultaneously evaluated.

Identification of individuals benefiting from the kakaritsuke-yakuzaishi (family pharmacist) system in Japan: a retrospective cohort study using an employment-based health insurance claims database.

Background: The kakaritsuke-yakuzaishi system (henceforth, the family pharmacist system) which provides more health services than those by general pharmaceutical practice, was implemented in Japan in April 2016. To distribute medical resources and medical care expenditures appropriately, identifying the possible major beneficiaries of this system is essential. By analyzing administrative claims data through this retrospective cohort study, we identified modifiers of the potential benefits of the system.

[Impact of Change in Community Pharmacists' Role on Their Estimated Demand].

Pharmacists play a key role in optimizing the safe and effective use of medicines in the super-aged society in Japan. Recently, community pharmacists' role has been transformed and expanded to provide patient-centered care. This study aimed to simulate a change in the demand for community pharmacists resulting from this shift in their role, from 2019 to 2035.

Direct health care cost of treatment and medication of biliary atresia patients using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups.

Background: Treatment of biliary atresia (BA), which typically requires an initial surgical intervention called the Kasai procedure (KP) and possible liver transplant (LT) afterwards, is quite resource-intensive and would affect patients and families for a lifetime; yet a comprehensive view of the economic burden has not been reported. We estimated direct health care costs from the public payer perspective using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan.

Methods: Children newly diagnosed at ages 0 days to 4 years between April 2010 and September 2019 were identified.

Cost-Minimization Analysis of Deep-Brain Stimulation Using National Database of Japanese Health Insurance Claims.

Objectives: A new rechargeable dual-channel deep brain stimulation (DBS) system has been introduced for the treatment of Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. However, the clinical value of the device, which has a high cost, remains unclear.

Materials And Methods: We conducted a cost-minimization analysis using a national database of health insurance claims in Japan.

Economic burden of community-acquired pneumonia among elderly patients: a Japanese perspective.

Background: This study aimed to estimate the economic burden of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) among elderly patients in Japan. In addition, the study evaluated the relationship between total treatment cost and CAP risk factors.

Methods: An administrative database was searched for elderly patients (≥ 65 years old) who had pneumonia (ICD-10 code: J12-J18) and an antibiotic prescription between 1 June 2014 and 31 May 2015.

Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium Standardization of Biobank Data: A Feasibility Study.

The National Center Biobank Network (NCBN), consisting of six national centers (NCs) for advanced and specialized medical care, was launched in Japan in 2012 to collect biological specimens and health-related data. The common data formats of the six NCs, however, are not widely known outside the NCs. Therefore, we investigated whether the data elements collected by the NCBN could be made to conform to the international standards of the Clinical Data Interchange Standards Consortium (CDISC).