Reply to Standaert, B. Comment on "Postma et al. Predicted Public Health and Economic Impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination with Variable Duration of Protection for Adults ≥60 Years in Belgium".

We have read the commentary from Baudouin Standaert [...

Enhancement and external validation of algorithms using diagnosis codes to identify invasive disease.

Objective: To assess the predictive accuracy of code-based algorithms for identifying invasive ( disease (IED) among inpatient encounters in US hospitals.

Methods: The PINC AI Healthcare Database (10/01/2015-03/31/2020) was used to assess the performance of six published code-based algorithms to identify IED cases among inpatient encounters. Case-confirmed IEDs were identified based on microbiological confirmation of in a normally sterile body site (Group 1) or in urine with signs of sepsis (Group 2).

Clinical burden of invasive Escherichia coli disease among older adult patients treated in hospitals in the United States.

Background: Invasive extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli disease (IED) can lead to severe outcomes, particularly among older adults. However, the clinical burden of IED in the U.S.

Economic burden of invasive disease among older adult patients treated in hospitals in the United States.

Although invasive disease (IED) can lead to severe clinical outcomes, little is known about the associated medical resource use and cost burden of IED in US hospitals. To comprehensively describe medical resource use and costs associated with IED during the initial IED event and over the subsequent 12 months. Patients aged 60 years or older with 1 or more IED encounters were identified from the PINC AI Healthcare US hospital database (October 1, 2015, to March 31, 2020).

Predicted Public Health and Economic Impact of Respiratory Syncytial Virus Vaccination with Variable Duration of Protection for Adults ≥60 Years in Belgium.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a leading cause of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in older adults. This study used a static, cohort-based decision-tree model to estimate the public health and economic impact of vaccination against RSV in Belgians aged ≥60 years compared with no vaccination for different vaccine duration of protection profiles from a healthcare payer perspective. Three vaccine protection durations were compared (1, 3, and 5 years), and several sensitivity and scenario analyses were performed.

Targeted Literature Review of the Burden of Respiratory Syncytial Infection among High-Risk and Elderly Patients in Asia Pacific Region.

Introduction: The burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which causes acute respiratory illness, is well recognized among the pediatric population but also imposes a significant risk to the elderly (age ≥ 60) and those with underlying comorbidities. The study aimed to review the most recent data on epidemiology and burden (clinical and economic) of RSV in the elderly/high-risk populations in China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Australia.

Methods: A targeted review was conducted of English, Japanese, Korean, and Chinese language articles published from 1 January 2010 to 7 October 2020 relevant for the purpose.

Development and performance characteristics of novel code-based algorithms to identify invasive Escherichia coli disease.

Purpose: Evaluation of novel code-based algorithms to identify invasive Escherichia coli disease (IED) among patients in healthcare databases.

Methods: Inpatient visits with microbiological evidence of invasive bacterial disease were extracted from the Optum© electronic health record database between January 1, 2016 and June 30, 2020. Six algorithms, derived from diagnosis and drug exposure codes associated to infectious diseases and Escherichia coli, were developed to identify IED.

Safety and treatment patterns of angiogenesis inhibitors in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma in Spain.

Objective: To examine real-world safety and treatment patterns of angiogenesis inhibitors for advanced renal cell carcinoma (aRCC) using observational data from two Spanish hospitals.

Methods: A retrospective medical record review was performed for 93 patients with a histological diagnosis of aRCC who received sunitinib, sorafenib, bevacizumab or temsirolimus as first-line angiogenesis inhibitor therapy, between January 2005 and September 2010 at two Spanish hospitals. Data were collected on adverse events (AEs), dosing to calculate relative dose intensity (RDI), treatment modifications and reasons for modifications.

Cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab compared with pegaptanib in neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab compared with pegaptanib in the treatment of patients with minimally classic/occult neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), from a societal perspective in Spain.

Methods: We constructed a Markov model with five states defined by visual acuity (VA) in the better-seeing eye (Snellen scale): VA >20/40, < or =20/40 to >20/80, < or =20/80 to >20/200, < or =20/200 to >20/400, < or =20/400, and an additional death state. Two cohorts of patients were distributed along the VA states, and treated with either ranibizumab or pegaptanib.

Cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab compared with photodynamic treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Objective: This study compared the cost-effectiveness of ranibizumab with that of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of predominantly classic choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) from the perspective of a third-party payer in a Spanish setting.

Methods: We constructed a Markov model with 5 states defined by visual acuity (VA) in the better-seeing eye (Snellen scale), as follows: VA >20/40, 20/80, 20/200, 20/400, and View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Ranibizumab for neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose: The pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, clinical efficacy, safety, pharmacoeconomics, and place in therapy of ranibizumab are reviewed.

Summary: Ranibizumab is the humanized fragment of the murine monoclonal antibody that binds all the active forms of the vascular endothelial growth factor, leading to the inhibition of the neovascular process underlying age-related macular degeneration (AMD). In animal studies, intravitreal administration of ranibizumab resulted in penetration of the drug into all layers of the retina and subsequent slow absorption into the systemic circulation.