Clinical and Economic Implications of Hydroxyurea Intolerance in Polycythemia Vera in Routine Clinical Practice.

Polycythemia vera (PV) is a chronic hematologic neoplasm commonly treated with hydroxyurea (HU). We utilized the advanced digitalized database of Maccabi Healthcare Services to retrospectively investigate the clinical and economic implications of HU intolerance in the routine clinical care of PV patients in Israel. We collected data on demographics, physician visits, hospitalizations, laboratory results, medication purchases, cardiovascular and thrombotic events, mental health, economic outcomes, and mortality.

Economic evaluation of universal prenatal HIV screening compared with current 'at risk' policy in a very low prevalence country.

Objectives: Our objective was to economically evaluate universal HIV prenatal screening in Israel, a very low prevalence country (0.1%), compared with the current policy of testing only women belonging to high-risk (HR) groups.

Design: A cost-effectiveness analytical model was constructed.

Does drug price-regulation affect healthcare expenditures?

Background: Increasing health costs in developed countries are a major concern for decision makers. A variety of cost containment tools are used to control this trend, including maximum price regulation and reimbursement methods for health technologies. Information regarding expenditure-related outcomes of these tools is not available.

Burden of human papillomavirus infection and related diseases in Israel.

This manuscript provides the available data on the burden of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections and HPV-related diseases in Israel. The incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) among Jewish women was 17.4 per 100,000 in 2007, showing an increase since 1997.

A population based study of the epidemiology of Herpes Zoster and its complications.

Objectives: To assess the incidence of Herpes Zoster (HZ) and its complications in the Israeli general population and specifically in immune-compromised individuals, and to identify risk factors for developing HZ and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN).

Methods: A retrospective database search for newly diagnosed cases of HZ and of PHN during 2006-2010 was conducted using the comprehensive longitudinal database of Maccabi Health Services. Cox-proportional hazards models were used to assess associations between risk factors and HZ and PHN.

Evaluating real-life clinical and economical burden of amphotericin-B deoxycholate adverse reactions.

Background: Amphotericin-B (AMB) is associated with toxicity such as renal impairment, hypokalemia and infusion-related events (IRE). With the advent of AMB lipid formulations and newer antifungal drugs, presenting improved safety profiles, it was suggested that using the conventional deoxycholate (AMB-D) formulation should no longer be regarded acceptable.

Objectives: Evaluation of real-life incidence of AMB-D-related adverse-drug effects (ADE) and associated costs.

Evaluating the epidemiology and morbidity burden associated with human papillomavirus in Israel: accounting for CIN1 and genital warts in addition to CIN2/3 and cervical cancer.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is mostly associated with cervical cancer (CC). However, it can cause other illnesses as well, all of which impact on people's wellbeing and consume healthcare resources. Measures for prevention or early detection of these conditions differ in their effectiveness and cost.

Utilization of health technologies-Do not look where there is a light; shine your light where there is a need to look! Relating national health goals with resource allocation decision-making; illustration through examining the Israeli healthcare system.

Innovative health technologies are often the focus of attention. However, in the allocation of public resources for improving health, the focus should be on the health needs of the population. It is the need that should be analyzed first, and decision makers should then evaluate the full range of interventions available, whether new or old, to meet this need.

It's time to choose the study design!: net benefit analysis of alternative study designs to acquire information for evaluation of health technologies.

Uncertainty in the decision-making process for reimbursement of health technologies could be reduced if additional information were available. Although methods to evaluate the monetary value of the uncertainty have been previously described, an economic evaluation of alternative methods to acquire additional information has not yet been thoroughly explored. Should resources be allocated to a retrospective study design or to a randomised controlled trial (RCT) when additional information is deemed justified? We propose an approach for cost-effectiveness analysis of designs of future studies that are required to evaluate health technologies for reimbursement.

Impact of smoking on asthma symptoms, healthcare resource use, and quality of life outcomes in adults with persistent asthma.

Background: Smoking habits of asthmatics are similar to those of the general population. However, little attention has been paid to the associations between smoking and asthma-related outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate relationships between cigarette smoking, asthma symptoms, and asthma-related resource utilization in subjects with persistent asthma.