Value in health : the journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research
-
Meta Analysis Comparative Study
Cost-effectiveness analysis of LHRH agonists in the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer in Italy.
Luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists represent one of the main cost factors in the management of patients with metastatic prostate cancer. We compared the cost-effectiveness of the five different 3-month formulations of LHRH agonists currently available for advanced prostate cancer in Italy, because these differ both in their capacity to suppress testosterone and in their acquisition costs. ⋯ Based on modelling with meta-analysis of comparative survival data, leuprorelin 22.5 mg was the most cost-effective treatment of the available depot formulation LHRH agonists.
-
Randomized Controlled Trial
Effect of subcutaneous methylnaltrexone on patient-reported constipation symptoms.
Methylnaltrexone, a selective peripheral acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist, alleviates the constipating effects of opioids without affecting centrally mediated analgesia. ⋯ The results of our study indicate significant improvement in constipation symptoms with methylnaltrexone QD or QOD dosing compared to placebo without a significant effect on pain scores.
-
To review the selection and use of health-related utility values for economic models included in National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Technology Appraisals. ⋯ Only 56% of submissions to NICE and assessment reports included utility values that met the NICE 2004 reference case. This highlights variation in the methods used to select and incorporate utility values in economic models for NICE Technology Appraisals.
-
Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities (OPIC) is a community-based intervention project targeting adolescent obesity in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tonga. The Assessment of Quality of Life Mark 2 (AQoL-6D) instrument was completed by 15,481 adolescents to obtain a description of the quality of life associated with adolescent overweight and obesity, and a corresponding utility score for use in a cost-utility analysis of the interventions. This article describes the recalibration of this utility instrument for adolescents in each country. ⋯ Statistical results indicate that the AQoL-6D can be validly used in the economic evaluation of both the OPIC interventions and other adolescent programs.
-
The Patient-Reported Indices for Multiple Sclerosis (PRIMUS) comprises a suite of three scales for assessing symptoms, activity limitations, and quality of life in multiple sclerosis (MS). It was developed in the UK and has been shown to have excellent psychometric properties. This study describes the adaptation of eight language versions for Canadian English, Canadian French, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Swedish, and US English. ⋯ The PRIMUS was successfully adapted into eight new languages. Most of the tests showed the PRIMUS to have good unidimensionality and to have good internal consistency, reproducibility, and construct validity. The measure is now available for use in clinical studies and trials involving these countries and the UK. Further work is required to assess the measure's responsiveness.