Quality of prescribing and health-related quality of life in older adults: a narrative review with a special focus on patients with atrial fibrillation and multimorbidity.

Purpose: To summarise the association between potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in older adults, with a special focus on those with atrial fibrillation (AF) and multimorbidity, while exploring potential interventions to improve prescribing quality and their impact on HRQOL.

Methods: A comprehensive search strategy was conducted in MEDLINE using the PubMed interface on August 16th, 2024, focusing on key terms related to "potentially inappropriate prescribing" and "quality of life". Additionally, the reference lists of included studies were screened.

Burden of disease attributable to high body mass index in Belgium: a comparative risk assessment analysis.

Background And Methods: High body mass index (BMI) is a major risk factor for several non-communicable diseases. The increasing concern about the health and economic burden of BMI makes it essential for countries to track their progress on major modifiable risk exposures. The aim of the study is to estimate the burden attributable to high BMI in Belgium, in terms of years of life lost due to disability (YLD), years of life lost due to premature mortality (YLL) and disease costs, using comparative risk assessment.

Cost-effectiveness of a digital supportive healthcare pathway for type 2 diabetes compared to usual care in Belgium.

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a digital supportive healthcare pathway in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to usual care.

Methods: An age-dependent Markov model was applied from a healthcare payer perspective projecting results of a clinical trial study over a time horizon of 22 years assuming a continuous implementation of the intervention every year, 24/7. The setting was Flanders (Belgium).

Therapeutic drug monitoring versus Bayesian AUC-based dosing for vancomycin in routine practice: a cost-benefit analysis.

Background: AUC-based dosing with validated Bayesian software is recommended as a good approach to guide bedside vancomycin dosing.

Objectives: To compare treatment and vancomycin-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) costs between Bayesian AUC-based dosing and conventional therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) using steady-state plasma concentrations of vancomycin administered as continuous infusion in hospitalized non-critically ill patients with severe Gram-positive infection.

Methods: A cost-benefit analysis presented as a return on investment (ROI) analysis from a hospital perspective was conducted using a decision tree model (TDM versus AUC-based dosing) to simulate treatment cost (personnel, serum sampling and drug cost), vancomycin-associated AKI risk and cost up to 14 days.

A Nationwide Exploration of Social Inequalities in Cancer Mortality Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in Belgium.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted global health systems, impacting cancer care and potentially increasing cancer mortality, especially among socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. We aimed to assess changes in cancer mortality from March 1 to December 31, 2020 relative to the same period in 2019, and to examine potential shifts in cancer mortality's social disparities during the same time frame.

Methods: We used nationwide individually linked cancer mortality data from the Belgian National Register, the Census 2011, and the tax register.

Potentially inappropriate prescribing in polymedicated older adults with atrial fibrillation and multimorbidity: a Swedish national register-based cohort study.

Introduction: Current research on potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) in polymedicated older adults with atrial fibrillation (AF) and multimorbidity is predominantly focused on PIP of oral anticoagulants (OAC). Our study aimed to assess (i) the overall prevalence of PIP in older multimorbid adults with AF, (ii) potential associated factors of PIP, and (iii) the association of PIP with adverse health outcomes in a nationwide sample of Swedish older adults.

Methods: Swedish national registries were linked to establish a cohort with a 2-year follow-up of older adults (≥65y) who, on 1 January 2017, had a diagnosis of AF and had at least one comorbidity (n = 203,042).

European Society of Cardiology: the 2023 Atlas of Cardiovascular Disease Statistics.

This report from the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Atlas Project updates and expands upon the 2021 report in presenting cardiovascular disease (CVD) statistics for the ESC member countries. This paper examines inequalities in cardiovascular healthcare and outcomes in ESC member countries utilizing mortality and risk factor data from the World Health Organization and the Global Burden of Disease study with additional economic data from the World Bank. Cardiovascular healthcare data were collected by questionnaire circulated to the national cardiac societies of ESC member countries.

Cognition and communication in patients with spinal muscular atrophy: A systematic review.

•Synthesizes evidence from 12 studies on cognitive and communicative impacts in SMA, focusing on nuanced functional outcomes.•Highlights cognitive variability in SMA1, revealing subtle challenges in SMA2 and 3, and stresses tailored assessment methodologies.•Identifies communication barriers in SMA, emphasizing the urgency of investigating their potential interplay with cognitive functions.

Correction: Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Applicability of STOPP/START prescribing criteria in integrated Swedish administrative health registries and a Swedish population-based cohort.

Purpose: The STOPP/START criteria are frequently applied in observational studies to assess potentially inappropriate prescribing in older adults. This study aimed to assess the applicability of the three available STOPP/START versions in two distinct data sources.

Methods: To evaluate the applicability of the three versions of STOPP/START criteria, we used two observational data sources: (i) Integrated Swedish administrative health registries (ISHR) encompassing routinely collected health data and (ii) the population-based Swedish National study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K), based on health professional-led clinical assessments.

COCCOS study: Developing a transition program for adolescents with chronic conditions using Experience-Based Co-Design. A study protocol.

Background: During adolescence, adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are expected to transfer their care from the pediatric environment towards an adult-focused setting. To prevent an abrupt transfer of care, it is recommended to provide AYAs with chronic conditions an adequate transition program. The aim of this paper is to describe the study protocol for the development of a transition program for AYAs with common chronic conditions (COCCOS study), using the Experience-Based Co-Design (EBCD) methodology.

The Cost of Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia, with an increasing incidence and prevalence because of progressively aging populations. Costs related to AF are both direct and indirect. This systematic review aims to identify the main cost drivers of the illness, assess the potential economic impact resulting from changes in care strategies, and propose interventions where they are most needed.

The incremental healthcare cost associated with cancer in Belgium: A registry-based data analysis.

Background: Similar to many countries, Belgium experienced a rapid increase in cancer diagnoses in the last years. Considering that a large part of cancer types could be prevented, our study aimed to estimate the annual healthcare burden of cancer per site, and to compare cost with burden of disease estimates to have a better understanding of the impact of different cancer sites in Belgium.

Methods: We used nationally available data sources to estimate the healthcare expenditure.

Correction: Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed care of cardiovascular diseases in Europe: a systematic review.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases remain the foremost global cause of death. The COVID-19 pandemic has strained health-care systems, leading to delays in essential medical services, including treatment for cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to examine the impact of the pandemic on delayed cardiovascular care in Europe.

Evaluating the health and health economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed cancer care in Belgium: A Markov model study protocol.

Introduction: Cancer causes a substantial burden to our society, both from a health and an economic perspective. To improve cancer patient outcomes and lower society expenses, early diagnosis and timely treatment are essential. The recent COVID-19 crisis has disrupted the care trajectory of cancer patients, which may affect their prognosis in a potentially negative way.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on delayed care of cardiovascular diseases in Europe: a systematic review.

Aims: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death worldwide. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems, causing delays in essential medical services, and potentially impacting CVD treatment. This study aims to estimate the impact of the pandemic on delayed CVD care in Europe by providing a systematic overview of the available evidence.

Personalized remotely guided preventive exercise therapy for a healthy heart (PRIORITY): protocol for an assessor-blinded, multicenter randomized controlled trial.

Aims: A key treatment for patients with varying stages of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is exercise. Yet, despite a Class 1A recommendation, only one-third of patients exercise sufficiently. A huge treatment gap exists between guidelines and clinical practice.

Social inequalities and long-term health impact of COVID-19 in Belgium: protocol of the HELICON population data linkage.

Introduction: Data linkage systems have proven to be a powerful tool in support of combating and managing the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the interoperability and the reuse of different data sources may pose a number of technical, administrative and data security challenges.

Methods And Analysis: This protocol aims to provide a case study for linking highly sensitive individual-level information.

The health and economic burden of musculoskeletal disorders in Belgium from 2013 to 2018.

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP), neck pain (NKP), osteoarthritis (OST) and rheumatoid arthritis (RHE) are among the musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders causing the greatest disability in terms of Years Lived with Disability. The current study aims to analyze the health and economic impact of these MSK disorders in Belgium, providing a summary of morbidity and mortality outcomes from 2013 to 2018, as well as direct and indirect costs from 2013 to 2017.

Methods: The health burden of LBP, NKP, OST and RHE in Belgium from 2013 to 2018 was summarized in terms of prevalence and disability-adjusted life years (DALY) using data from the Belgian health interview surveys (BHIS), the INTEGO database (Belgian registration network for general practitioners) and the Global Burden of Diseases study 2019.

Optimizing non-pharmaceutical intervention strategies against COVID-19 using artificial intelligence.

One key task in the early fight against the COVID-19 pandemic was to plan non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce the spread of the infection while limiting the burden on the society and economy. With more data on the pandemic being generated, it became possible to model both the infection trends and intervention costs, transforming the creation of an intervention plan into a computational optimization problem. This paper proposes a framework developed to help policy-makers plan the best combination of non-pharmaceutical interventions and to change them over time.

Promotion of healthy nutrition in primary and secondary cardiovascular disease prevention: a clinical consensus statement from the European Association of Preventive Cardiology.

Background: Poor dietary habits are common and lead to significant morbidity and mortality. However, addressing and improving nutrition in various cardiovascular settings remain sub-optimal. This paper discusses practical approaches to how nutritional counselling and promotion could be undertaken in primary care, cardiac rehabilitation, sports medicine, paediatric cardiology, and public health.

Gender differences in risk factor management and pharmacological treatment among CHD patients: Belgian results of the EUROASPIRE IV and EUROASPIRE V surveys.

Aims: The aim of this study was to provide an up-to-date overview of gender differences or similarities in risk factor control and medical management in the Belgian CHD population.

Methods: All analyses are based on the ESC EORP EUROASPIRE IV and EUROASPIRE V (European Survey Of Cardiovascular Disease Prevention And Diabetes) surveys. Patients between 18 and 80 years old, hospitalised for a first or recurrent coronary event, were included in the survey.

Changes in quality-adjusted life expectancy in Belgium, 2013 and 2018.

Introduction: No information is available in Belgium on life expectancy adjusted for health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Quality-adjusted life expectancy (QALE) captures the multidimensionality of health by accounting for losses in mortality and HRQoL linked to physical, mental, and social impairments. The objective of this study is to estimate for Belgium QALE, the changes in QALE between 2013 and 2018 and the contribution of mortality, HRQoL and its dimensions to this trend.