Alessandra Maciel Almeida

Determinants of expenditures on dialysis in the Unified National Health System, Brazil, 2000 to 2004

The aim of this study was to compare total outpatient expenditures on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis from 2000 to 2004 in patients that began dialysis in 2000 under the Unified National Health System (SUS). A historical cohort was developed, consisting of patients that began dialysis in 2000, identified by probabilistic matching in the database of Authorizations for High-Complexity/High-Cost Procedures (APAC). A multiple linear regression model was used, including individual and clinical attributes and health services supply variables. The cohort included 10,899 patients, 88.5% of whom began hemodialysis and 11.5% peritoneal dialysis. The dialysis modality explains 12% of the variance in expenditures, and patients in peritoneal dialysis showed 20% higher mean annual expenditure. The differences in expenditures are explained according to the State of Brazil and health services supply level. Individual risk variables did not alter the models explanatory power, while age and diabetes mellitus were significant. The study showed the importance of the National Health Systems payment mechanism for explaining differences in expenditures on dialysis treatment in Brazil.

Perfil demográfico e epidemiológico dos usuários de medicamentos de alto custo no Sistema Único de Saúde

The Program for High-Cost Medicines of the Brazilian Health Ministry was set up to respond to the demand for high unit-cost medication or for medication used for chronic diseases that imply a high overall cost for treatment. To describe the epidemiological and demographic profiles of patients enrolled in the program, a probabilistic-deterministic connection was made between data in sections of the Health Ministrys databases (DATASUS), namely, the Outpatient Information System (APAC/SIA) and the Mortality Information System (SIM). The cohort formed by linking databases identified 611,419 individuals who began treatment between 2000 and 2004. The analyses were disaggregated by sex, region of residence, diagnoses and most widely used drugs.The construction of this historical cohort made possible a description of the epidemiological characteristics and drugs used by the programs users. The database generated can also provide analyses for specific diseases, with results that can contribute to evaluations of effectiveness and efficiency of clinical protocols, in order to better inform decision-makers regarding the planning and supplying of high-cost medication by the Brazilian Health Ministry.The Program for High-Cost Medicines of the Brazilian Health Ministry was set up to respond to the demand for high unit-cost medication or for medication used for chronic diseases that imply a high overall cost for treatment. To describe the epidemiological and demographic profiles of patients enrolled in the program, a probabilistic-deterministic connection was made between data in sections of the Health Ministry’s databases (DATASUS), namely, the Outpatient Information System (APAC/SIA) and the Mortality Information System (SIM). The cohort formed by linking databases identified 611,419 individuals who began treatment between 2000 and 2004. The analyses were disaggregated by sex, region of residence, diagnoses and most widely used drugs.The construction of this historical cohort made possible a description of the epidemiological characteristics and drugs used by the program’s users. The database generated can also provide analyses for specific diseases, with results that can contribute to evaluations of effectiveness and efficiency of clinical protocols, in order to better inform decision-makers regarding the planning and supplying of high-cost medication by the Brazilian Health Ministry.

Budget impact analysis of medicines: updated systematic review and implications

ABSTRACT This evaluation determines whether published studies to date meet the key characteristics identified for budget impact analyses (BIA) for medicines, accomplished through a systematic review and assessment against identified key characteristics. Studies from 2001–2015 on ‘budget impact analysis’ with ‘drug’ interventions were assessed, selected based on their titles/abstracts and full texts, and their characteristics checked according to key criteria. Out of 1,984 studies, 92 were subsequently identified for review. Of these, 95% were published in Europe and the USA. 2012 saw the largest number of publications (16%) with a decline thereafter. 48% met up to 7 out of the 9 key characteristics. Only 22% stated no conflict of interest. The results indicate low adherence to the key characteristics that should be considered for BIAs and strong conflict of interest. This is an issue since BIAs can be of fundamental importance in managing the entry of new medicines including reimbursement decisions.

Economic analysis of surgical treatment of hip fracture in older adults.

OBJECTIVE To analyze the incremental cost-utility ratio for the surgical treatment of hip fracture in older patients. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study of a systematic sample of patients who underwent surgery for hip fracture at a central hospital of a macro-region in the state of Minas Gerais, Southeastern Brazil between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2011. A decision tree creation was analyzed considering the direct medical costs. The study followed the healthcare provider’s perspective and had a one-year time horizon. Effectiveness was measured by the time elapsed between trauma and surgery after dividing the patients into early and late surgery groups. The utility was obtained in a cross-sectional and indirect manner using the EuroQOL 5 Dimensions generic questionnaire transformed into cardinal numbers using the national regulations established by the Center for the Development and Regional Planning of the State of Minas Gerais. The sample included 110 patients, 27 of whom were allocated in the early surgery group and 83 in the late surgery group. The groups were stratified by age, gender, type of fracture, type of surgery, and anesthetic risk. RESULTS The direct medical cost presented a statistically significant increase among patients in the late surgery group (p < 0.005), mainly because of ward costs (p < 0.001). In-hospital mortality was higher in the late surgery group (7.4% versus 16.9%). The decision tree demonstrated the dominance of the early surgery strategy over the late surgery strategy: R

Cyclosporine versus tacrolimus: cost-effectiveness analysis for renal transplantation in Brazil

9,854.34 (USD4,387.17) versus R

Fatores associados à qualidade de vida de pacientes em terapia renal substitutiva no Brasil

26,754.56 (USD11,911.03) per quality-adjusted life year. The sensitivity test with extreme values proved the robustness of the results. CONCLUSIONS After controlling for confounding variables, the strategy of early surgery for hip fracture in the older adults was proven to be dominant, because it presented a lower cost and better results than late surgery.

The efficacy of adefovir dipivoxil, entecavir and telbivudine for chronic hepatitis B treatment: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE To analyze the cost-effectiveness of treatment regimens with cyclosporine or tacrolimus, five years after renal transplantation. METHODS This cost-effectiveness analysis was based on historical cohort data obtained between 2000 and 2004 and involved 2,022 patients treated with cyclosporine or tacrolimus, matched 1:1 for gender, age, and type and year of transplantation. Graft survival and the direct costs of medical care obtained from the National Health System (SUS) databases were used as outcome results. RESULTS Most of the patients were women, with a mean age of 36.6 years. The most frequent diagnosis of chronic renal failure was glomerulonephritis/nephritis (27.7%). In five years, the tacrolimus group had an average life expectancy gain of 3.96 years at an annual cost of R

Tratamento da artrite reumatoide no Sistema Unico de Saude, Brasil: gastos com infliximabe em comparacao com medicamentos modificadores do curso da doenca sinteticos, 2003 a 2006

78,360.57 compared with the cyclosporine group with a gain of 4.05 years and an annual cost of R

Efficacy of interferon (conventional, pegylated) and lamivudine for treatment of chronic hepatitis B: a systematic review

61,350.44. CONCLUSIONS After matching, the study indicated better survival of patients treated with regimens using tacrolimus. However, regimens containing cyclosporine were more cost-effective.

Rituximab for rheumatoid arthrits treatment: a systematic review

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a serious public health problem. The study of the impact of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in quality of life (QoL) has become increasingly important. The aim of this study was to evaluate the QoL of patients on RRT and associated factors. 3036 patients on RRT in Brazil were interviewed in relation to socioeconomic, demographic, clinical and QoL aspects. Patients were randomly selected after a cluster sampling process on two levels: health services and patients. QoL was measured by Eq5D. The instrument allows the indirect measurement of QoL and utility calculation, in addition to the direct measurement of QoL by a visual analog scale (VAS). It was observed that transplant patients have better QoL and that the most prejudicial aspects are pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The main factors associated with QOL are age, female gender, variables associated with the clinical condition of the patient such as the need for hospitalization and the presence of comorbidities, social class and variables associated with the health service use. The correlation between VAS and utility calculated was moderate and the 5 Eq5D questions explain 43% of the variability of VAS. The calculated utility can be used in cost-utility analysis.