Analysis of real-world length of stay data and costs associated with use of autologous skin cell suspension for the treatment of small burns in U.S. centers.

Background: Autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) is a treatment for acute thermal burn injuries associated with significantly lower donor skin requirements than conventional split-thickness skin grafts (STSG). Projections using the BEACON model suggest that among patients with small burns (total body surface area [TBSA]<20 %), use of ASCS± STSG leads to a shorter length of stay (LOS) in hospital and cost savings compared with use of STSG alone. This study evaluated whether data from real-world clinical practice corroborate these findings.

Length of Stay and Costs with Autologous Skin Cell Suspension Versus Split-Thickness Skin Grafts: Burn Care Data from US Centers.

Introduction: Autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) significantly reduces donor skin requirements versus conventional split-thickness skin grafts (STSG) for thermal burn treatment. In analyses using the Burn-medical counter measure Effectiveness Assessment Cost Outcomes Nexus (BEACON) model, ASCS was associated with shorter hospital length of stay (LOS) and cost savings versus STSG. This study hypothesized that daily practice data from the USA would support these findings.

The cost-effectiveness of therapeutic drug monitoring for the prescription drug-based treatment of chronic myeloid leukemia.

A recent study demonstrating the use of Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) resulted in a higher response rate with imatinib (IM) than demonstrated in second-generation tyrosine kinase inhibitor studies. The cost-effectiveness of TDM combined with IM (IM TDM) in first-line CML treatment has not yet been studied. To determine the cost-effectiveness of IM TDM for the first-line treatment of CML compared to tyrosine kinase inhibitor only treatment.

Impact of adherence to antidepressants on healthcare outcomes and costs among patients with type 2 diabetes and comorbid major depressive disorder.

Objective: To evaluate the association between adherence to antidepressants and an effect on clinical outcomes and healthcare costs in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and comorbid type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods: This retrospective study used MarketScan claims data from January 2012 to March 2014. Study entry was the first claim for an antidepressant and a diagnosis code for MDD and T2D in the prior 6 months.

Effects of cohort selection on the results of cost-effectiveness analysis of disease-modifying drugs for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Background: Decision-analytic cost-effectiveness models are used to determine the most cost-effective treatment option on the basis of the best available data. Guidelines for pharmacoeconomic model development indicate that models should be updated as new evidence becomes available.

Objective: To evaluate the appropriateness of the clinical data that were selected for Goldberg et al.

A model analysis of costs of blood pressure destabilization and edema associated with rofecoxib and celecoxib among older patients with osteoarthritis and hypertension in a Medicare Choice population.

Background: Economic analyses consider all costs relevant to the use of a particular treatment or treatments. Recently, head-to-head, randomized, controlled trials have shown a significantly higher incidence of blood pressure (BP) destabilization and clinically significant edema with rofecoxib than with celecoxib among older, hypertensive patients with osteoarthritis (OA).

Objective: The objective of this analysis was to estimate the COX-2 specific inhibitor medication costs, in addition to the costs of drugs and physicians' fees, for BP destabilization and clinically significant edema associated with the use of rofecoxib 25 mg QD and celecoxib 200 mg QD in patients with OA and hypertension in a Medicare Choice population (aged > or = 65 years).