Evaluating the Effectiveness of mRNA-1273.815 Against COVID-19 Hospitalization Among Adults Aged ≥ 18 Years in the United States.

Introduction: In September 2023 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine targeting the XBB.1.5 sublineage.

Healthcare resource utilization, costs and treatment associated with myasthenia gravis exacerbations among patients with myasthenia gravis in the USA: a retrospective analysis of claims data.

There are limited data on the clinical and economic burden of exacerbations in patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). We assessed patient clinical characteristics, treatments and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) associated with MG exacerbation. This was a retrospective analysis of adult patients with MG identified by commercial, Medicare or Medicaid insurance claims from the IBM MarketScan database.

Economic burden of joint analysis in psoriasis: US claims analysis.

Objectives: Few studies have assessed the economic burden of concomitant joint disease in patients with psoriasis (PSO). This analysis compared health care resource utilization (HCRU) and health care costs in patients with PSO vs those with psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Study Design: This was a retrospective database analysis of US commercially insured patients with PSO or PsA.

Clinical Burden of Concomitant Joint Disease in Psoriasis: A US-Linked Claims and Electronic Health Records Database Analysis.

Background: Few studies have evaluated the clinical burden of concomitant joint disease in patients with psoriasis (PSO). The objective of this study was to assess comorbidity rates in patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) compared with PSO alone.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of US patients with prevalent PSO.

Evaluation of Wound Closure Rates Using a Human Fibroblast-derived Dermal Substitute Versus a Fetal Bovine Collagen Dressing: A Retrospective Study.

Unlabelled: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are associated with an increased risk for serious and costly outcomes such as osteomyelitis, amputation, and hospitalization.

Purpose: A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the proportion of patients healed and time to healing of DFUs treated with a human fibroblast-derived dermal substitute (HFDS) or a fetal bovine collagen dressing (FBCD).

Methods: Data from patients with a DFU who received the first treatment in 2014 were extracted from the electronic record database of 93 wound care centers.

Unintended consequences of the potential phase-out of gamma irradiation.

The radioisotope cobalt-60 (Co-60) is important for commercial, medical, and agricultural applications. Its widespread use has meant that Co-60 can be found in less secured facilities, leading to the fear that unauthorized persons could obtain and use it to produce a "dirty bomb". This potential security concern has led to government calls for phasing-out Co-60 and other radiation sources, despite ongoing safety and security regulations for handling, transport and use of radioactive sealed sources.

An exploratory case study of the impact of expanding cost-effectiveness analysis for second-line nivolumab for patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer in Canada: Does it make a difference?

Introduction: Health technology appraisal agencies often rely on cost-effectiveness analyses to inform coverage decisions for new treatments. These assessments, however, frequently measure a treatment's value from the payer's perspective, and may not capture value generated from reduced caregiving costs, increased productivity, value based on patient risk preferences, option value or the insurance value to non-patients.

Methods: To examine how using a broader societal perspective of treatment value affects cost-effectiveness estimates, this case study analyzed the net monetary benefit (NMB) of second-line nivolumab treatment of patients with squamous non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Canada.

Comparative Effectiveness of a Bioengineered Living Cellular Construct and Cryopreserved Cadaveric Skin Allograft for the Treatment of Venous Leg Ulcers in a Real-World Setting.

A variety of advanced biological therapies are available for the treatment of chronic wounds such as venous leg ulcers (VLUs), but real-world comparative effectiveness data that can help guide decisions around treatments are currently lacking. This analysis was designed to compare the effectiveness of a bioengineered living cellular construct (BLCC) to a cryopreserved cadaveric skin allograft (CCSA) for the treatment of VLUs. Treatment records were collected from a large wound care-specific electronic medical record database on 717 patients (799 VLUs) receiving treatment at 177 wound care centers.

The Comparative Effectiveness of a Human Fibroblast Dermal Substitute versus a Dehydrated Human Amnion/Chorion Membrane Allograft for the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers in a Real-world Setting.

Background: Impaired wound healing is associated with serious complications in patients with diabetes. Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) can lead to costly complications and an increased mortality rate. Standard treatments for DFUs often need to be augmented with adjunctive therapies designed to stimulate healing in recalcitrant wounds.

Comparative effectiveness of a bioengineered living cellular construct vs. a dehydrated human amniotic membrane allograft for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers in a real world setting.

We evaluated the comparative effectiveness of a bioengineered living cellular construct (BLCC) and a dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane allograft (dHACM) for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). Using a wound care-specific electronic medical record database, we assessed real-world outcomes in 218 patients with 226 DFUs receiving treatment in 2014 at 99 wound care centers. The analysis included DFUs ≥1 and <25 cm2 with duration <=1 year and area reduction ≤20% in 14 days prior to treatment (N=163, BLCC; N=63, dHACM).

Economic outcomes among Medicare patients receiving bioengineered cellular technologies for treatment of diabetic foot ulcers.

Objective: To assess the real-world medical services utilization and associated costs of Medicare patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) treated with Apligraf (bioengineered living cellular construct (BLCC)) or Dermagraft (human fibroblast-derived dermal substitute (HFDS)) compared with those receiving conventional care (CC).

Methods: DFU patients were selected from Medicare de-identified administrative claims using ICD-9-CM codes. The analysis followed an 'intent-to-treat' design, with cohorts assigned based on use of (1) BLCC, (2) HFDS, or (3) CC (i.

Budget impact analysis of antiepileptic drugs for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

Background: In October 2011, clobazam was FDA-approved for adjunctive treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), a debilitating childhood epilepsy characterized by drop attacks, for patients 2 years and older.

Objective: To assess the budget impact of adding clobazam to an antiepileptic drug (AED) portfolio containing topiramate, lamotrigine, and rufinamide in a hypothetical, 100,000-member commercially insured health plan.

Methods: Patient characteristics and AED efficacy (decrease in drop-seizure frequency) were modeled with clinical data.

Burden of venous leg ulcers in the United States.

Objective: To estimate the annual incremental per-patient and overall payer burden (2012USD) of venous leg ulcers (VLU) in the US.

Methods: Beneficiaries with and without VLU were identified using two de-identified insurance claims databases: aged 65+ from a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries (2007-2010: n ∼ 2.3 million); and aged 18-64 from a privately-insured population (2007-2011: n ∼ 8.

Cost-effectiveness of Tdap vaccination of adults aged ≥65 years in the prevention of pertussis in the US: a dynamic model of disease transmission.

Objectives: In February 2012, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) advised that all adults aged ≥65 years receive a single dose of reduced-antigen-content tetanus, diphtheria, and acellular pertussis (Tdap), expanding on a 2010 recommendation for adults >65 that was limited to those with close contact with infants. We evaluated clinical and economic outcomes of adding Tdap booster of adults aged ≥65 to "baseline" practice [full-strength DTaP administered from 2 months to 4-6 years, and one dose of Tdap at 11-64 years replacing decennial Td booster], using a dynamic model.

Methods: We constructed a population-level disease transmission model to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of supplementing baseline practice by vaccinating 10% of eligible adults aged ≥65 with Tdap replacing the decennial Td booster.

Burden of diabetic foot ulcers for medicare and private insurers.

Objective: To estimate the annual, per-patient incremental burden of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Research Design And Methods: DFU patients and non-DFU patients with diabetes (controls) were selected using two de-identified databases: ages 65+ years from a 5% random sample of Medicare beneficiaries (Standard Analytical Files, January 2007-December 2010) and ages 18-64 years from a privately insured population (OptumInsight, January 2007-September 2011). Demographics, comorbidities, resource use, and costs from the payer perspective incurred during the 12 months prior to a DFU episode were identified.

Primary vs secondary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim for the reduction of febrile neutropenia risk in patients receiving chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: cost-effectiveness analyses.

Objective: Evaluate the cost-effectiveness of primary vs secondary prophylaxis (PP vs SP) with pegfilgrastim to reduce the risk of febrile neutropenia (FN) in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) patients receiving myelosuppressive chemotherapy from a US payer perspective.

Methods: A Markov model was used to compare PP vs SP with pegfilgrastim in a cohort of patients receiving six cycles of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and prednisone (CHOP) or CHOP plus rituximab (CHOP-R) chemotherapy. Model inputs, including efficacy of pegfilgrastim in reducing risk of FN and costs, were estimated from publicly available sources and peer-reviewed publications.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of Tdap in the prevention of pertussis in the elderly.

Objectives: Health benefits and costs of combined reduced-antigen-content tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap) immunization among adults ≥65 years have not been evaluated. In February 2012, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended expanding Tdap vaccination (one single dose) to include adults ≥65 years not previously vaccinated with Tdap. Our study estimated the health and economic outcomes of one-time replacement of the decennial tetanus and diphtheria (Td) booster with Tdap in the 10% of individuals aged 65 years assumed eligible each year compared with a baseline scenario of continued Td vaccination.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of antiepileptic drugs in the treatment of Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.

An economic model evaluated the costs and outcomes of adjunctive clobazam therapy for Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) compared with adjunctive lamotrigine, rufinamide, and topiramate. Clinical data were used to estimate baseline frequency and the percentage of drop-seizure reductions over 3 months (all comparators) and 2 years (rufinamide). Claims data from a large US health care plan were employed to estimate costs.