Publications by authors named "Miglena Doneva"
Managed entry agreements are applied in almost all European countries in order to improve patients' access to therapy. The current study aims to evaluate the changes in the affordability of biological medicines for patients in Bulgaria during 2019-2022. The study is a top-down macroeconomic analysis of the key economic indicators and reimbursed costs of biologic therapies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF: The objective is to evaluate medication adherence level (MA) and the relevant determinants of MA among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) monitored in ambulatory settings by general practitioners. : A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with T2DM monitored in a GP practice in Sofia, Bulgaria (September-December 2022). All patients were interviewed according to a predesigned questionnaire after granting informed consent.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCentral and Eastern European countries (CEEC) have among the highest rates of increase in healthcare expenditure. External reference pricing, generics and biologics price capping, regressive scale for price setting, health technology assessment (HTA), and positive drug lists for reimbursed medicines are among the variety of implemented cost-containment measures aimed at reducing and controlling the rising cost for pharmaceuticals. The aim of our study was to analyze the influence of a recently introduced measure in Bulgaria-budget capping in terms of overall budget expenditure.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe growth of public expenditure worldwide has set the priority on assessment of trends and establishment of factors which generate the most significant public costs. The goal of the current study is to review the tendencies in public healthcare expenditures in Bulgaria and to analyze the influence of the demographic, economic, and healthcare system capacity indicators on expenditures dynamics. A retrospective, top-down, financial analysis of the healthcare system expenditures was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: This study aims to analyze the reimbursement and cost of biological therapy for severe asthma in Bulgaria during 2014-2019 from the perspective of the National Health Insurance Fund.
Methods: It is a retrospective, Marco-costing, top-down study of the expenditures for biological products for severe asthma. The changes in the cost paid by the National Health Insurance Fund per year, per product, and per patient during 2015-2020 were systematized and calculated.
Acromegaly and its comorbidities affect the patients' quality of life, each healthcare system and the society. This study aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics and treatment patterns and the economic burden of acromegaly. All patients with acromegaly treated with expensive medicines and regularly followed up at the main expert clinical center for acromegaly in the country were included in this nationwide, retrospective, observational, population-based study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: To evaluate the expected life expectancy in patients with diabetes in Bulgaria and to compare it to the expected life expectancy of the non-diabetic population in the country.
Methods: It is a retrospective observational population study on individuals diagnosed with diabetes, compared to the non-diabetic population in Bulgaria for the period 2012-2015. Data from the national diabetes register and national statistical institute were used to construct life-tables with probability of survival with t-test and Chi Square test.
Article Synopsis
- - The study investigates the link between air pollution and the severity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in Bulgaria, using data from 426 patients and pollution monitoring from the Executive Environment Agency (EEA).
- - Results indicate that sulfur dioxide levels are within EU and WHO limits, but particulate matter (PM) levels exceed WHO guidelines, correlating with an increase in COPD exacerbations and hospital admissions.
- - Conclusions reveal that air pollution contributes to more frequent exacerbations and longer hospital stays, particularly affecting patients with severe COPD, who experience significantly higher rates of exacerbations compared to those with mild forms of the disease.
The goal of the current study is to perform a pilot study of the cost of some oncohematology diseases in Bulgaria. This is a pilot broader burden of disease research. The official report of the National health insurance fund provided information about the total expenditures paid for medicines, ambulatory services, and hospitalizations in 2015 and 2016.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Understanding the biomechanical properties of hernia meshes is essential in facilitating their selection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mechanical compatibility of hernia meshes and human abdominal fascia and assess their applicability in hernia repair.
Methods: Uniaxial tensile tests were performed.
Background: While the impact of COPD in Western-Europe is known, data from Eastern-Europe is scarce. This study aimed to evaluate clinical characteristics, treatment patterns, and the socio-economic burden of COPD in Eastern-Europe, taking Bulgaria as a reference case.
Methods: A representative sample of Bulgarian patients with COPD was randomly chosen by pulmonologists, based on the following inclusion criteria: COPD diagnosis with at least 1 year of living with COPD, ≥40 years of age, and use of COPD medication.