Incidence and costs of hypoglycemia in insulin-treated diabetes in Switzerland: A health-economic analysis.

Aims: We assess the incidence and economic burden of severe and non-severe hypoglycemia in insulin-treated diabetes type 1 and 2 patients in Switzerland.

Methods: We developed a health economic model to assess the incidence of hypoglycemia, the subsequent medical costs, and the production losses in insulin-treated diabetes patients. The model distinguishes between severity of hypoglycemia, type of diabetes, and type of medical care.

Impact of a diabetes disease management program on guideline-adherent care, hospitalization risk and health care costs: a propensity score matching study using real-world data.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of a DMP for patients with diabetes mellitus in a Swiss primary care setting.

Methods: In a prospective observational study, we compared diabetes patients in a DMP (intervention group; N = 538) with diabetes patients receiving usual care (control group; N = 5050) using propensity score matching with entropy balancing. Using a difference-in-difference (DiD) approach, we compared changes in outcomes from baseline (2017) to 1-year (2017/18) and to 2-year follow-up (2017/19).

Cost-Utility Analysis of Thumb Carpometacarpal Resection Arthroplasty: A Health Economic Study Using Real-World Data.

Purpose: Knowledge about the costs and benefits of hand surgical interventions is important for surgeons, payers, and policy makers. Little is known about the cost-effectiveness of surgery for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis. The objective of this study was to examine patients' quality of life and economic costs, with focus on the cost-utility ratio 1 year after surgery for thumb carpometacarpal osteoarthritis compared with that for continued nonsurgical management.

Cost-utility analysis of total shoulder arthroplasty: a prospective health economic study using real-world data.

Background: With increasing health care expenditures, knowledge about the benefit and costs of surgical interventions such as total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) becomes important for orthopedic surgeons, social insurance programs, and health policy decision makers. We examined the impact of TSA on quality of life (QOL), direct medical costs, and productivity losses and evaluated the cost-utility ratio of TSA compared with ongoing nonoperative management using real-world data.

Methods: Patients with shoulder osteoarthritis and/or rotator cuff tear arthropathy indicated for anatomic or reverse TSA were included in this prospective study.

Cost-Utility Analysis of Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair: A Prospective Health Economic Study Using Real-World Data.

Purpose: To assess the change in quality of life (QOL) and costs for patients with rotator cuff tears after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (aRCR) compared with continued nonoperative management, using real-world evidence.

Methods: Patients indicated for aRCR were included in a prospective study and followed up to 2 years after surgery (postop) for all measurements. QOL (EQ-5D-5L) and shoulder function (Constant Score, Oxford Shoulder Score, subjective shoulder value) were assessed.

Recent trends and variations in general practitioners' involvement in accident care in Switzerland: an analysis of claims data.

Background: As in other countries, there is concern and some fragmentary evidence that GPs' central role in the Swiss healthcare system as the primary provider of care might be changing or even be in decline. Our study gives a systematic account of GPs' involvement in accident care from 2008 to 2016 and identifies changes in GPs' involvement in this typical field of primary care: how frequently GPs were involved along the care pathway, to what extent they figured as initial care provider, and what their role in the care pathway was.

Methods: Using a claims dataset from the largest Swiss accident insurer with two million accident cases, we constructed individual care pathways, i.

Impact of osteosynthesis in fracture care: a cost comparison study.

To estimate the health economic impact of osteosynthesis (OS) in fracture care over six decades in 17 high-income countries. Applying a decision tree model, we assumed a hypothetical absence of OS and compared OS (intervention) with conservative treatment (CONS; comparator). We included patients with femur, tibia and radius fractures (age <65 years) and for proximal femur fractures also elderly patients (≥70 years).

Extrapolating Antibiotic Sales to Number of Treated Animals: Treatments in Pigs and Calves in Switzerland, 2011-2015.

To evaluate the contribution of antimicrobial use in human and veterinary medicine to the emergence and spread of resistant bacteria, the use of these substances has to be accurately monitored in each setting. Currently, various initiatives collect sales data of veterinary antimicrobials, thereby providing an overview of quantities on the market. However, sales data collected at the level of wholesalers or marketing authorization holders are of limited use to associate with the prevalence of bacterial resistances at species level.

The impact of the AO Foundation on fracture care: An evaluation of 60 years AO Foundation.

Objectives: Sixty years ago, the Association of Osteosynthesis (AO) was founded with the aim to improve fracture treatment and has since grown into one of the largest medical associations worldwide. Aim of this study was to evaluate AO's impact on science, education, patient care and the MedTech business.

Design/methods: Impact evaluations were conducted as appropriate for the individual domains: Impact on science was measured by analyzing citation frequencies of publications promoted by AO.

Health effects of micronutrient fortified dairy products and cereal food for children and adolescents: A systematic review.

Introduction: Micronutrient (MN) deficiencies cause a considerable burden of disease for children in many countries. Dairy products or cereals are an important food component during adolescence. Fortification of dairy products or cereals with MN may be an effective strategy to overcome MN deficiencies, but their specific impact on health in this age group is poorly documented.

Epidemiology and costs of multiple sclerosis in Switzerland: an analysis of health-care claims data, 2011-2015.

Background: Medical therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS) is expensive. Quantifying the burden of MS is fundamental for health-care planning and the allocation of resources for the management of MS. This study provides current national estimates of prevalence, incidence, mortality, and costs of MS in Switzerland using claims data between 2011 and 2015.

Economic Evaluation of Pharmacologic Pre- and Postconditioning With Sevoflurane Compared With Total Intravenous Anesthesia in Liver Surgery: A Cost Analysis.

Background: Pharmacologic pre- and postconditioning with sevoflurane compared with total IV anesthesia in patients undergoing liver surgery reduced complication rates as shown in 2 recent randomized controlled trials. However, the potential health economic consequences of these different anesthesia regimens have not yet been assessed.

Methods: An expostcost analysis of these 2 trials in 129 patients treated between 2006 and 2010 was performed.

Reply to O. Osibogun's Letter to the Editor Re: Hess S. et al.; Nutrients 2016, 8, 88.

In a recent literature review and meta-analysis, we summarized the evidence of reducing anemia in children and adults with fortified condiments and noodles [1].[..

Implementation of a hospital-integrated general practice--a successful way to reduce the burden of inappropriate emergency-department use.

Principles: Emergency departments (EDs) are overcrowded by lower acuity patients, which might be more efficiently treated by general practitioners (GPs). This study evaluated the impact of triaging lower acuity patients to a new hospital-integrated general practice (HGP) on ED case-load and the reasons for choosing the ED/HGP.

Methods And Results: Patients were consecutively assessed according to the emergency severity index (ESI) to triage lower acuity patients to the HGP.

Micronutrient Fortified Condiments and Noodles to Reduce Anemia in Children and Adults--A Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Micronutrient deficiencies impose a considerable burden of disease on many middle and low income countries. Several strategies have been shown to be effective in improving micronutrient deficiencies. However, the impact of fortified condiments as well as fortified noodles is less well documented.

Social Costs of Iron Deficiency Anemia in 6-59-Month-Old Children in India.

Introduction: Inadequate nutrition has a severe impact on health in India. According to the WHO, iron deficiency is the single most important nutritional risk factor in India, accounting for more than 3% of all disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) lost. We estimate the social costs of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in 6-59-month-old children in India in terms of intangible costs and production losses.

Impact evaluation of Swiss Medical Board reports on routine care in Switzerland: a case study of PSA screening and treatment for rupture of anterior cruciate ligament.

Questions Under Study: Evidence-based recommendations play an important role in medical decision-making, but barriers to adherence are common. In Switzerland, the Swiss Medical Board (SMB) publishes evidence reports that conclude with recommendations. We assessed the impact of two SMB reports on service provision (2009: Recommendation of conservative treatment as first option for rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament of the knee; 2011: Recommendation against PSA screening for prostate cancer).

Satisfaction of health professionals after implementation of a primary care hospital emergency centre in Switzerland: A prospective before-after study.

Background And Aim: The increasing number of patients requiring emergency care is a challenge and leads to decreased satisfaction of health professionals at emergency departments (EDs). Thus, a Swiss hospital implemented a hospital-associated primary care centre at the ED. The study aim was to investigate changes in job satisfaction of ED staff before and after the implementation of this new service model and to measure hospital GPs' (HGPs) satisfaction at the hospital-associated primary care centre.

Health technology assessment in Switzerland: a descriptive analysis of "Coverage with Evidence Development" decisions from 1996 to 2013.

Objectives: To identify factors associated with the decisions of the Federal Department of Home Affairs concerning coverage with evidence development (CED) for contested novel medical technologies in Switzerland.

Design: Quantitative, retrospective, descriptive analysis of publicly available material and prospective, structured, qualitative interviews with key stakeholders.

Setting: All 152 controversial medical services decided on by the Federal Commission on Health Insurance Benefits within the framework of the new federal law on health insurance in Switzerland from 1997 to 2013, with focus on 33 technologies assigned initially to CED and 33 to evidence development without coverage.

Burden of micronutrient deficiencies by socio-economic strata in children aged 6 months to 5 years in the Philippines.

Background: Micronutrient deficiencies (MNDs) are a chronic lack of vitamins and minerals and constitute a huge public health problem. MNDs have severe health consequences and are particularly harmful during early childhood due to their impact on the physical and cognitive development. We estimate the costs of illness due to iron deficiency (IDA), vitamin A deficiency (VAD) and zinc deficiency (ZnD) in 2 age groups (6-23 and 24-59 months) of Filipino children by socio-economic strata in 2008.

Hospital-integrated general practice: a promising way to manage walk-in patients in emergency departments.

Rationale, Aims And Objectives: The inappropriate use and overcrowding of emergency departments (EDs) by walk-in patients are well-known problems in many countries. The current study aimed to determine whether ambulatory walk-in patients could be treated more efficiently in a new hospital-integrated general practice (HGP) for emergency care services compared to a traditional ED.

Methods: We conducted a pre-post comparison before and after the implementation of a new HGP.

Sustained health-economic effects after reorganisation of a Swiss hospital emergency centre: a cost comparison study.

Background: Emergency departments (EDs) are increasingly overcrowded by walk-in patients. However, little is known about health-economic consequences resulting from long waiting times and inefficient use of specialised resources. We have evaluated a quality improvement project of a Swiss urban hospital: In 2009, a triage system and a hospital-associated primary care unit with General Practitioners (H-GP-unit) were implemented beside the conventional hospital ED.

Cost-effectiveness of dabigatran for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in Switzerland.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke and anticoagulation therapy is indicated to reduce risk. Dabigatran is a new oral anticoagulant that does not require INR monitoring. This study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of dabigatran versus vitamin K antagonists for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation in Switzerland.

Cost of acute coronary syndrome in Switzerland in 2008.

Questions Under Study: To perform a cost-of-illness study of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in Switzerland from a societal perspective, evaluating direct costs, production losses and intangible costs in terms of quality adjusted life years (QALYs) lost.

Methods: A bottom-up incidence-based approach was used. Data concerning patients with one or more ACS events were extracted from a national hospital database and from mortality statistics.