Impact of wound duration on diabetic foot ulcer healing: evaluation of a new sucrose octasulfate wound dressing.

Objective: A common and frequent complication of diabetes is diabetic foot ulcers (DFU), which can have high treatment costs and severe adverse events. This study aims to evaluate the effects of wound duration on wound healing and the impact on costs, including treatment with a new sucrose octasulfate dressing compared with a control dressing.

Method: Based on the Explorer study (a two-armed randomised double-blind clinical trial), a cost-effectiveness analysis compared four different patient groups distinguished by their wound duration and additionally two DFU treatment options: a sucrose octasulfate dressing and a neutral dressing (as control).

Hospitalization rates and resource utilization of schizophrenic patients switched from oral antipsychotics to aripiprazole-depot in Germany.

Objective: Examine cost-driving factors of schizophrenia in Germany for patients prior- and post-switch from an oral antipsychotic therapy to aripiprazole-depot and perform a budget impact analysis (BIA) referring to the context of German health care.

Methods: A single-armed, retrospective, non-interventional pre-post comparison study with 132 patients to compare the total psychiatric hospitalization rates and the associated costs of both, the treatment with oral antipsychotics and aripiprazole-depot. The BIA was performed to compare both treatment periods with respect to health-related costs.

Elevating the use of sugar-free chewing gum in Germany: cost saving and caries prevention.

Objective: To analyse the lifetime monetary and health related effects of the consumption of sugar-free chewing gum.

Material And Methods: Using a Markov model we assumed that the German consumption of sugar-free chewing gum (111 gums/year) could be elevated to the level of Finland (202 gums/year). The calculation was based on a model patient representing the development of oral health from the age of 12 to 74 years and clinical data on the effectiveness of chewing sugar-free gum.

A global approach to assess the economic benefits of increased consumption of sugar-free chewing gum.

Purpose: To analyze the influence of increasing the average consumption of sugar-free gum (SFG) in 25 industrialized countries on dental expenditures due to caries by the national health care systems. It was assumed that large cost savings were possible, because the regular consumption of SFG significantly reduces the relative risk of caries and therefore, improves dental health, which reduces expenditures on dental treatments.

Methods: A budget impact analysis (BIA) was performed to model the decrease in the relative risk of caries and the subsequent cost savings for dental care.

Quality of life and costs of spasticity treatment in German stroke patients.

Objective: To gather data about the medical and non-medical health service in patients suffering from post-stroke spasticity of the upper limb and evaluate treatment effectiveness and tolerability as well as costs over the treatment period of one year.

Methods: Prospective, non-interventional, multicenter, parallel-group study comparing effectivenessand costs of incobotulinumtoxinA (INCO) treatment (n = 118) to conventional (CON) antispastic therapy (n = 110) for upper limb spasticity after stroke in 47 clinical practices across Germany over a 1-year treatment period. IncobotulinumtoxinA was applied according to the individual treatment algorithms of each participating site and additional antispastic treatments were allowed.

Long-term efficacy and safety of incobotulinumtoxinA and conventional treatment of poststroke arm spasticity: a prospective, non-interventional, open-label, parallel-group study.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of incobotulinumtoxinA with conventional antispastic therapy for poststroke arm spasticity in routine clinical practice over a 1-year period.

Design: Prospective, non-interventional, open-label, parallel-group study.

Setting: 47 centres in Germany.

Cost-effectiveness of treating vascular leg ulcers with UrgoStart(®) and UrgoCell(®) Contact.

Although chronic wounds have a high socio-economic impact, data on comparative effectiveness of treatments are rare. UrgoStart(®) is a hydroactive dressing containing a nano-oligosaccharide factor (NOSF). This study aimed at evaluating the cost-effectiveness of this NOSF-containing wound dressing in vascular leg ulcers compared with a similar neutral foam dressing (UrgoCell(®) Contact) without NOSF.

Cost-effectiveness analysis, prevention of atopic dermatitis by oral application of bacterial lysate in newborns/small children.

Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to determine the cost-effectiveness compared to placebo of prophylactic treatment with sterile bacterial lysate (Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis) (verum) of newborns/small children with heredity for atopy [atopic dermatitis (AD)]. Infants were followed from the age of 5 weeks until 3 years of age. During this time, the number of children with AD who were treated with verum or placebo was observed at eight visits.

New-onset diabetes and antihypertensive treatment.

Introduction: Chronic diseases substantially contribute to the continuous increase in health care expenditures, including type-2 diabetes mellitus as one of the most expensive chronic diseases. Arterial hypertension presents a risk factor for the development of type-2 diabetes mellitus. Numerous analyses have demonstrated that antihypertensive therapies promote the development of type-2-diabetes mellitus.

Direct costs of Alzheimer's disease in Germany.

Objectives: The aim of this analysis was to determine the direct costs for patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on data supplied by a large German statutory health insurance (BARMER). Focus of the present evaluation is the exposure of total direct costs, survival rates and the types of care distribution of patients with AD.

Methods: The analysis was based on anonymised data of patients with Alzheimer's disease who were insured by a large German statutory health insurance (Barmer Ersatzkasse-BEK) in 2005 over 12 months (n = 35.

Added therapeutic value of memantine in the treatment of moderate to severe Alzheimer's disease.

When evaluating the added therapeutic value of a drug, evidence of greater overall benefit or at least an add-on benefit is increasingly being required. Therefore, cost-effectiveness in addition to clinical efficacy is an important consideration. The efficacy of a drug must be examined on the basis of clinical trials by measuring specific parameters that are affected by the drug (for example blood pressure with antihypertensive treatment).

Socioeconomic relevance of selected treatment strategies in patients with chronic heart failure.

More than 2.8% of the population in the USA suffer from chronic heart failure, a condition that primarily afflicts people above the age of 60 years, and results in major expenses for social and health care of affected patients, their caregivers and families. The mainstay of treatment is drug therapy, complemented by comprehensive rehabilitation, invasive procedures, palliative treatment and monitoring.

Cost-effectiveness of adjuvant treatment with acamprosate in maintaining abstinence in alcohol dependent patients.

An open prospective cohort study was performed in Germany in order to evaluate the costs of treating alcohol dependence under real-world conditions. Eight hundred and fourteen recently detoxified alcohol-dependent patients were provided with psychosocial rehabilitation support. In addition, 540 alcohol-dependent patients treated with adjuvant acamprosate therapy were compared with 274 patients without pharmacotherapy.