Epidemiology of Medically Attended Respiratory Syncytial Virus Lower Respiratory Tract Infection in Japanese Children, 2011-2017.

Background: The objective was to report critical respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-related epidemiological and healthcare resource utilization measures among Japanese children stratified by gestational and chronological age groups.

Methods: The JMDC (formerly the Japan Medical Data Center) was used to retrospectively identify infants with or without RSV infection (beginning between 1 February 2011 and 31 January 2016, with follow-up through 31 December 2017). The incidence of RSV medically attended lower respiratory tract infection (MALRI) was captured by flagging hospitalizations, outpatient, and emergency department/urgent care visits with an RSV diagnosis code during the season.

The Long-Term Healthcare Utilization and Economic Burden of RSV Infection in Children ≤5 Years in Japan: Propensity Score Matched Cohort Study.

Background: The objective of this study was to estimate the long-term healthcare utilization and cost burden of RSV by chronological age of diagnosis (Year 1, Year 2 and Years 3-5 cohorts) as well as by gestational age at birth in Japan.

Methods: The JMDC database was used to retrospectively identify RSV and control patients between February 1, 2011 and January 31, 2016 and follow them through December 31, 2017. Infants with RSV infection (n = 9028 in Year 1; n = 4929 in Year 2; n = 2004 in Years 3-5) were matched to controls (n = 17,886; n = 9351; n = 3655, respectively) based on gestational age and year and quarter of birth; controls were assigned the index date (ie, diagnosis) of their respective match.

Understanding what matters to metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients when considering treatment options: A US patient preference survey.

Background: Understanding how patients perceive the efficacy, safety, and administrative burden of treatments for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) can facilitate shared-decision making for optimal management. This study sought to elicit patient preferences for mCRPC treatments in the US.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey using the discrete-choice experiment method.

Patient Preferences for Benefits, Risks, and Administration Route of Hypomethylating Agents in Myelodysplastic Syndromes.

Introduction/background: Therapy with infused or injected hypomethylating agents (HMAs) may lead to higher treatment administration burden (ie, local reaction, visit frequency and duration) vs. oral HMAs.   OBJECTIVES: To reveal preferences of US and Canadian patients with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) for HMAs' benefits, risks, and administration burden through an online discrete-choice experiment (DCE).

Assessing the value of orphan drugs using conventional cost-effectiveness analysis: Is it fit for purpose?

Conventional cost-effectiveness analysis-i.e., assessing pharmaceuticals through a cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) framework-originated from a societal commitment to maximize population health given limited resources.