Introduction: Diabetes is difficult to manage and treatment involves significant lifestyle adjustments. Unlike the traditional method of insulin administration via the vial and syringe method, insulin pens might be perceived as less cumbersome and have potential to significantly increase patient adherence.
Methods: Using "real world" data, we examined the differences in adherence and costs between diabetic patients using an insulin FlexPen (Novo Nordisk Inc, Princeton, NJ, USA) and those using traditional vial and syringe administration. Using a retrospective analysis of health insurance claims data between the years 2003 and 2008, we examined patients in the FlexPen cohort and analog vial cohort. Propensity score matching was used to match these cohorts (n=532 in each) according to baseline characteristics.
Results: Adjusted mean medication possession ratio when switched to FlexPen improved by 22 percentage points versus 13 percentage points when continuing to use vials (P=0.001). Diabetes-related healthcare costs when switched to FlexPen versus continuing on to use vials ($3970 vs. $4838, respectively, P=0.9368) and total healthcare costs ($13,214 vs. $13,212, respectively, P=0.9473) were not statistically different.
Conclusion: Without significant addition to the cost, insulin administration with FlexPen is associated with an improved adherence among patients who switched from vial-based insulin administration.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12325-010-0009-6 | DOI Listing |
JMIR Cardio
January 2025
Medicine Faculty, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
Background: Medication nonadherence remains a significant challenge in the management of chronic conditions, often leading to suboptimal treatment outcomes and increased health care costs. Innovative interventions that address the underlying factors contributing to nonadherence are needed. Gamified mobile apps have shown promise in promoting behavior change and engagement.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWest Afr J Med
September 2024
Health Policy Research Group, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria Enugu-Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
Background: This study estimated the cost of providing free maternal and child health (MCH) services at the primary health centre (PHC) level in southeast Nigeria. The costs of providing an essential benefit package of maternal and child health (MCH) services are unknown. Such information is required for optimal resource allocation decisions and for replicating similar programmes in different settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMC Health Serv Res
January 2025
Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, P.O. Box 1, Bilthoven, 3720 BA, The Netherlands.
HIV self-sampling and -testing (HIVSS/ST) reduces testing barriers and potentially reaches populations who may not test otherwise. In the Netherlands, at-home HIV tests became commercially available around 2016, but data on user experiences are limited. This study aimed to explore characteristics of users and their experiences with HIVSS/ST.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Open
January 2025
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Environment Factors and Cancer, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian, China
Aims: To investigate the associations between influencing factors with length of stay (LOS) and hospitalisation expenses in oral cancer (OC) patients, and to explore the potential pathways through which these factors influence hospitalisation expenses using path analysis.
Design: Cross-sectional.
Setting: A comprehensive tertiary hospital in southeastern China.
Gastroenterology
February 2025
Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Veterans Affairs Northeast Ohio Health Care System, Cleveland, Ohio; Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
Background & Aims: Hepatitis B reactivation (HBVr) can occur due to a variety of immune-modulating exposures, including multiple drug classes and disease states. Antiviral prophylaxis can be effective in mitigating the risk of HBVr. In select cases, clinical monitoring without antiviral prophylaxis is sufficient for managing the risk of HBVr.
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