Comorbidities in people living with HIV: An epidemiologic and economic analysis using a claims database in France

International audienceObjectives: As people living with HIV (PLHIV) age, the burden of non-HIV related comorbidities increases resulting in additional healthcare costs. The present study aimed to describe the profile, the prevalence and the incremental costs of non-HIV related comorbidities in PLHIV compared to non-HIV matched controls (1:2 ratio) in France.Methods: The French permanent sample of health beneficiaries (Echantillon généraliste de bénéficiaires [EGB]), a claims database representative of the national population, was used to assess comorbidities in PLHIV which were identified by the ICD-10 diagnosis codes of hospitalization, full healthcare coverage, and drug reimbursements between 2011 and 2014. The control group was matched by year of birth, gender, region of residence, and economic status. Total costs of outpatient care and hospitalizations were analysed from a societal perspective. A general linear model was used to assess the incremental cost per patient in PLHIV.Results: A total of 1,091 PLHIV and 2,181 matched controls were identified with a mean ± standard deviation age of 46.7 ± 11.5 years. The prevalence of alcohol abuse (5.8% vs 3.1%; p<0.001), chronic renal disease (1.2% vs 0.3%; p = 0.003), cardiovascular disease (7.4% vs 5.1%; p = 0.009), dyslipidaemia (22% vs 15.9%; p<0.001), hepatitis B (3.8% vs 0.1%; p<0.001) and hepatitis C (12.5% vs 0.6%; p<0.001) was significantly higher in PLHIV compared with non-HIV controls. Other comorbidities such as anaemia, malnutrition, psychiatric diseases, and neoplasms were also more prevalent in PLHIV. Hospitalizations were significantly increased in PLHIV compared to controls (33.2% vs 16%; p<0.001). Mean total cost was 6 times higher for PLHIV compared to controls and 4 times higher after excluding antiretroviral drugs (9,952€ vs. 2,593€; p<0.001). Higher costs per person in PLHIV were significantly associated to aging (42€ per patient/year), chronic cardiovascular disease (3,003€), hepatitis C (6,705€), metastatic carcinoma (6,880€) and moderate or severe liver disease (6,299€).Conclusion: Our results demonstrated an increase in non-HIV related comorbidities among PLHIV compared to matched controls. This study contributes to raise awareness on the burden of chronic comorbidities

Long-term outcomes and risk factors for failure with the EX-press glaucoma drainage device

PURPOSE: To report on the long-term outcomes and risk factors for failure with the EX-PRESS shunt implanted under a scleral flap. SETTINGS: Eye Department, University of Ancona, Ancona, Italy and the Oxford Eye Center, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. METHODS: The medical records of glaucoma patients who underwent consecutive EX-PRESS implantations under a scleral flap between 2000 and 2009 were reviewed. The operations were performed by two experienced surgeons using an identical surgical technique. The potential risk factors for failure that were analysed included age, sex, race, glaucoma type, previous antiglaucoma medications, previous glaucoma surgeries, diabetes, and smoking. Complete success was defined as postoperative intraocular pressure (IOP) 5 mm Hg>IOP<18 mm Hg without antiglaucoma medications. Qualified success was defined as 5 mm Hg>IOP<18 mm Hg with or without antiglaucoma medications. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-eight eyes of 211 consecutive patients were included. The mean IOP was reduced from 27.63±8.26 mm Hg preoperatively (n=248) to 13.95±2.70 mm Hg at 5 years (n=95). The mean follow-up was 3.46±1.76 years. Complete and qualified success rates decreased gradually from 83% and 85% at 1 year to 57% and 63% at 5 years follow-up, respectively. The risk factors for failure were diabetes, non-Caucasian race, and previous glaucoma surgery. Complete success rates of diabetic patients and non-Caucasian patients decreased from 63% and 75% at 1 year to 42% and 40% at 5 years follow-up, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: EX-PRESS success rates decrease over time but compare favourably with trabeculectomy literature data. The main identifiable risk factors for failure are diabetes, non-Caucasian race, and previous glaucoma surgery

Estimation of direct unit costs associated with non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures in five European countries

peer reviewedThe objective of this study was to estimate the unit costs of non-vertebral osteoporotic fractures in five European countries based on the results of the SOTI and TROPOS clinical trials in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. The information recorded in the Case Report Forms was used. The perspective of third party payers was adopted. Hip fracture unit cost was the highest. The ranges of costs among countries was narrow for hip from 8,346 euro (Italy) to 9,907 euro (France), but wider for other fractures: 890 euro (Spain) to 2,022 euro (Italy) for wrist, 1,167 euro (Spain) to 3,268 euro (Italy) for pelvis, 837 euro (Spain) to 2,116 euro (Italy) for sternum/clavicle, 565 euro (Spain) to 908 euro (France) for rib, 1,518 euro (Spain) to 3,651 euro (Belgium) for humerus, 1,805 euro (Spain) to 3,521 euro (Italy) for leg. The costs of those fractures should be considered when estimating the cost of osteoporosis