Developing a cross-validation tool for evaluating economic evidence in rapid literature reviews.

Rapid economic reviews efficiently summarize economic evidence. However, reporting main findings without assessing quality and credibility can be misleading. The objective of this study was to develop a rapid cross-validation screening tool to evaluate economic evidence when conducting rapid economic literature reviews.

Developing Economic Models for Assessing the Cost-Effectiveness of Multiple Diagnostic Tests: Methods and Applications.

Background: Clinical pathways with multiple diagnostic tests are complex to model, but problematic and simplistic approaches are often used in economic evaluations.

Methods: We analyzed statistical methods of handling multiple diagnostic tests and provided guidance on applying these methods in economic modeling. We first introduced a statistical model to quantify the correlations between 2 tests and how those correlations can be incorporated within an economic model.

Economic modelling of costs associated with outcomes reported for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients in the CANVAS and EMPA-REG cardiovascular outcomes trials.

Aims: To model direct medical costs associated with reductions in cardiovascular disease (CVD) events in T2DM patients reported in the CANVAS and EMPA-REG trials, which assessed the cardiovascular safety of canagliflozin and empagliflozin, respectively.

Materials And Methods: Costs were modeled from a US managed care organization (MCO) perspective for the CVD outcomes included in both trials: three-point major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) and its components (cardiovascular-related death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke), as well as heart failure requiring hospitalization. The rate of CVD events averted (difference between study drug and placebo) was projected to the portion of an MCO T2DM population matching the respective trial's inclusion criteria.

Health characteristics of patients with asthma, COPD and asthma-COPD overlap in the NHANES database.

Introduction: Asthma and COPD have overlapping characteristics. As there are limited data on whether asthma-COPD overlap (ACO) represents a distinct condition, this study aimed to determine the similarities and differences of ACO with asthma and COPD.

Methods: US population-based, cross-sectional study using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (2009-2012) compared participants with ACO vs those with asthma or COPD, each as mutually exclusive disease states.

Economic Impact in Medicaid Beneficiaries with Schizophrenia and Cardiometabolic Comorbidities Treated with Once-Monthly Paliperidone Palmitate vs. Oral Atypical Antipsychotics.

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare persistence, costs, and healthcare resource utilization in patients with schizophrenia and cardiometabolic comorbidities treated with once-monthly paliperidone palmitate or an oral atypical antipsychotic.

Methods: Medicaid data from six states (07/2009-03/2015) were used to identify adults with schizophrenia and cardiometabolic comorbidities initiated on once-monthly paliperidone palmitate or an oral atypical antipsychotic (index date) on 01/2010 or after. Persistence to index medication at 12 months (no gap ≥ 90 days) was compared between patients taking once-monthly paliperidone palmitate and an oral atypical antipsychotic using Chi-squared tests.

Real-world adherence and economic outcomes associated with paliperidone palmitate versus oral atypical antipsychotics in schizophrenia patients with substance-related disorders using Medicaid benefits.

Aim: Compare medication utilization, costs and healthcare resource use in schizophrenia patients with substance-related disorders initiated on once-monthly paliperidone palmitate (PP1M) or an oral atypical antipsychotic (OAA).

Materials & Methods: Data from six Medicaid states (07/2009-03/2015) were used to compare outcomes between PP1M and OAA patients.

Results: PP1M patients had higher 12-month antipsychotic adherence and persistence than OAA patients.