6 research outputs found
Economics of Chronic Diseases Protocol: Cost-effectiveness modelling and the future burden of non-communicable disease in Europe
Background: The majority of chronic disease is caused by risk factors which are mostly preventable. Effective
interventions to reduce these risks are known and proven to be applicable to a variety of settings. Chronic disease
is generally developed long before the fatal outcome, meaning that a lot of people spend a number of years in
poor health. Effective prevention measures can prolong lives of individuals and significantly improve their quality of
life. However, the methods to measure cost-effectiveness are a subject to much debate. The Economics of Chronic
Diseases project aims to establish the best possible methods of measuring cost-effectiveness as well as develop
micro-simulation models apt at projecting future burden of chronic diseases, their costs and potential savings after
implementation of cost-effective interventions.
Method: This research project will involve eight European countries: Bulgaria, Finland, Greece, Lithuania, The
Netherlands, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom (UK). A literature review will be conducted to identify
scientific articles which critically review the methods of cost-effectiveness. Contact will be made health economists
to inform and enrich this review. This evidence will be used as a springboard for discussion at a meeting with key
European stakeholders and experts with the aim of reaching a consensus on recommendations for cost-effectiveness
methodology. Epidemiological data for coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, type 2 diabetes and chronic
obstructive pulmonary disease will be collected along with data on time trends in three major risk factors related to
these diseases, specifically tobacco consumption, blood pressure and body mass index. Economic and epidemiological
micro-simulation models will be developed to asses the future distributions of risks, disease outcomes, healthcare costs
and the cost-effectiveness of interventions to reduce the burden of chronic diseases in Europe.
Discussion: This work will help to establish the best methods of measuring cost-effectiveness of health interventions
as well as test a variety of scenarios to reduce the risk factors associated with selected chronic diseases. The modelling
projections could be used to inform decisions and policies that will implement the best course of action to curb the
rising incidence of chronic diseases.The EConDA project is supported by the European Commission Health
Programme and the Executive Agency for Health and Consumers, grant
agreement n0 20121213.www.econdaproject.e
Choosing an epidemiological model structure for the economic evaluation of non-communicable disease public health interventions
Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes in Pre-Diabetic Japanese Individuals Categorized by HbA1c Levels: A Historical Cohort Study
Reducing the costs of chronic kidney disease while delivering quality health care : a call to action
The treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) imposes substantial societal costs. Expenditure is highest for renal replacement therapy (RRT), especially in-hospital haemodialysis. Redirection towards less expensive forms of RRT (peritoneal dialysis, home haemodialysis) or kidney transplantation should decrease financial pressure. However, costs for CKD are not limited to RRT, but also include nonrenal health-care costs, costs not related to health care, and costs for patients with CKD who are not yet receiving RRT. Even if patients with CKD or ESRD could be given the least expensive therapies, costs would decrease only marginally. We therefore propose a consistent and sustainable approach focusing on prevention. Before a preventive strategy is favoured, however, authorities should carefully analyse the cost to benefit ratio of each strategy. Primary prevention of CKD is more important than secondary prevention, as many other related chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, cancer, and pulmonary disorders could also be prevented. Primary prevention largely consists of lifestyle changes that will reduce global societal costs and, more importantly, result in a healthy, active, and long-lived population. Nephrologists need to collaborate closely with other sectors and governments, to reach these aims