Opioid-Induced Constipation Among Patients with Chronic Noncancer Pain in the United States, Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom: Laxative Use, Response, and Symptom Burden Over Time.

Purpose: Estimate rate of laxative inadequate response (LIR) over time among patients with chronic noncancer pain with opioid-induced constipation (OIC).

Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was conducted in United States, Canada, Germany, and United Kingdom. Patients on opioid therapy for ≥4 weeks for chronic noncancer pain and OIC completed an Internet-based survey at Baseline and Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24.

Transfusions and patient burden in chemotherapy-induced anaemia in France.

Objectives: To estimate the patient burden in terms of the time spent on outpatient red blood cell (RBC) transfusions indicated for chemotherapy induced-anaemia (CIA) in patients with cancer in France.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of patients with cancer receiving an outpatient RBC transfusion was conducted at seven treatment centres in France. Total treatment time for one transfusion visit per patient was measured as the elapsed time between pre- and post-transfusion vital sign assessment, including time from transfusion start to stop.

The International Burden of Migraine Study (IBMS): study design, methodology, and baseline cohort characteristics.

Objective: To describe a survey methodology to evaluate headache characteristics and burden and to present baseline characteristics for the international cohort of survey participants.

Methods: A targeted, web-based methodology was used to recruit and survey subjects with migraine in 10 countries. Based on reported symptoms, subjects meeting ICHD-2 criteria for migraine were included; eligible subjects were classified as chronic (≥ 15 headache days per month) or episodic (< 15 headache days per month).

Increasing Access to Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for the Treatment of Mental Illness in Canada: A Research Framework and Call for Action.

International studies suggest that cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for the treatment of mental disorders results in improved clinical and economic outcomes. In Canada, however, publicly funded CBT is scarce, representing an inequity in service delivery. A research framework to evaluate the Canadian health economic impact of increasing access to CBT is proposed.

Iron chelation therapy: clinical effectiveness, economic burden and quality of life in patients with iron overload.

Introduction: This study of UK patients examines clinical, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and economic outcomes associated with iron chelation therapy (ICT). Desferrioxamine (DFO) (Desferal; Novartis, Switzerland) and Deferiprone (Ferriprox; Apotex, Canada) are ICTs used to treat iron overload. DFO requires 8-to 12-hour infusions a minimum of five times per week.

Clinical and economic burden of infused iron chelation therapy in the United States.

Background: Patients requiring chronic blood transfusions are at risk for iron overload, which, if not treated by iron chelation therapy (ICT), can create serious organ damage and reduce life expectancy. Current ICT requires burdensome 8- to 12-hour infusions five to seven times per week.

Study Design And Methods: A naturalistic study of the burden of infused ICT was conducted in four US centers.

Evaluating the true cost of hypertension management: evidence from actual practice.

Hypertension is a prevalent and costly disease and drug cost is the most significant driver of total expense. Therefore, medications such as diuretics, with lower acquisition costs, and equal or better trial-based efficacy versus other classes of antihypertensives, are currently recommended as first-line therapy. However, observational data from actual practice suggest that antihypertensive drug acquisition costs alone are a poor predictor of total treatment cost.

Long term cost-of-illness in stroke: an international review.

An international review of the costs of stroke was conducted to explore data sources, and cost variables as well as to compare estimates of the annual aggregated cost (prevalence-based) and total per patient long-term cost (incidence-based) of care. Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish literature was searched using the keywords stroke, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, cerebrovascular accident, cerebral infarction, cost(s), economics, and cost analysis. Criteria for study inclusion were: provides estimates of direct and/or indirect costs of stroke, published after 1989, methods described in adequate detail, and for studies of long-term costs, estimates based on a minimum 5 years of care following the event.