Expert review of pharmacoeconomics & outcomes research
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Dec 2011
ReviewThe impact of diabetes mellitus on healthcare costs in Italy.
Diabetes mellitus is an increasingly common chronic disease that has a great impact not only in terms of clinical effects, but also in terms of economic burden worldwide. Expenditures due to diabetes derive essentially from direct and indirect costs. Current estimates of global healthcare expenditures due to diabetes are US$376 billion and are expected to increase to US$490 billion by 2030. ⋯ Current estimates for 2010 healthcare expenditure for diabetes are US$105 billion (10% of total healthcare expenditure, US$2046 per person) for the whole European region, and US$11 billion (9% of total healthcare expenditure, US$2087 per person) for Italy. More studies are needed in order to better define the real significance of the healthcare costs of diabetes in Italy. An effective therapy with a good metabolic control can reduce the risk of complications and represents a valid strategy from an economic point of view.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Dec 2011
ReviewAdherence to long-term adjuvant hormonal therapy for breast cancer.
Tamoxifen is an essential drug in treating hormone receptor-positive breast cancer and has been used successfully for the past three decades. More recently, aromatase inhibitors (AIs) have also shown great promise in reducing breast cancer recurrence. ⋯ This article reviews the most recent literature reporting adherence rates for tamoxifen and AIs, as well as correlates of adherence. Factors that help to explain nonadherence are reviewed, including the side-effect profile, and approaches to intervention to enhance adherence are discussed.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Dec 2011
Universal coverage with rising healthcare costs; health outcomes research value in decision-making in Latin America.
This is a short summary of the two plenary sessions held at the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Latin American Conference in Mexico City (Mexico) in September 2011, with 477 registrants and 235 accepted abstract submissions. The first asked how attainable universal coverage is in the face of rising costs of health technologies; and the second considered the value of health outcomes research to decision-makers. This conference provided a scientific forum where researchers, health technology producers and public and private decision-makers shared their experiences and research in the field of health economic evaluations, health technology assessment and patient-reported outcomes/health-related quality of life studies. It was the third biennial regional meeting in Latin America, the next one being in Buenos Aires (Argentina) in 2013.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Oct 2011
ReviewA literature review of symptom clusters in patients with breast cancer.
The aim of this article is to present a review reporting empirically determined symptom clusters in breast cancer patients. We conducted a literature search on symptom clusters in breast cancer patients using PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL. Studies examining the presence of predetermined clusters were excluded. ⋯ Although there were common symptoms assessed across the five studies, no common symptom clusters could be derived from these reports. This lack of commonality may result from the disparities in subpopulations of patients, assessment tools, and analytical and methodological approaches. As symptom cluster research continues to develop towards a clearer consensus on guidelines, the findings of symptom clusters may provide clinically valuable information regarding diagnosis, prognostication, prioritizing and managing symptoms in breast cancer patients.
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Expert Rev Pharmacoecon Outcomes Res · Oct 2011
Examining the relationships among health-related quality-of-life indicators in cancer patients participating in clinical trials: a pooled study of baseline EORTC QLQ-C30 data.
Cancer patients experience multiple and concurrent health-related problems and symptoms due to their illness and therapies. The first objective of this analysis was to identify how health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) indicators cluster among cancer patients and how possible clusters change across patients with different sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. The second objective of this study was to identify which HRQoL indicators are linked to patients' perception of overall quality of life. ⋯ Our findings suggest that HRQoL indicators are interrelated. Understanding these relationships may aid clinicians in managing the symptom burden experienced by patients, as well as policy-makers, in defining psychosocial support plans.