Economic evaluation of osteoporosis screening strategy conducted in the Province of Liège with the cooperation of Liège Province Santé

peer reviewedThe Province of Liege has conducted an osteoporosis screening strategy for women aged 50 to 69 years. The objective of this study is to investigate the economic characteristics of the screening strategy and to assess its cost-effectiveness, using a Markov microsimulation model. Our analyses suggest that the osteoporosis screening strategy is efficient if the medical community and the patients fulfill the recommendations of the Province of Liege health authorities and if persistence is optimized. Therefore, bone mineral density (BMD) measurement should be performed in all individuals with positive ultrasound screening; individuals having a positive BMD diagnosis should be treated and adherence to therapy should be increased. Furthermore, to improve the efficiency of the screening strategy, we suggest to target screening on women with one or more clinical risk factors, or on women aged 65 years and older

Anti-fracture efficacy of intravenous ibandronate: how to translate epidemiological studies into daily clinical practice

peer reviewedNumerous epidemiological approaches are used to demonstrate the efficacy of a new chemical entity. In postmenopausal osteoporosis, anti-fracture efficacy can be assessed through prospective, randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses or real-life setting studies. Intravenous ibandronate was recently marketed, with the aim of optimizing drug absorption and adherence to treatment. Furthermore, this new formulation avoids gastrointestinal side effects and constrains linked to the oral intake of the medication. Spinal anti-fracture efficacy of IV ibandronate derives from a non-inferiority bridging study, using surrogate endpoints, i.e., bone mineral density and biochemical markers of bone turnover, compared to the oral daily formulation, previously registered for the treatment of osteoporosis in Europe. Coherent results from two separate meta-analyses have suggested that the non-vertebral anti-fracture efficacy of IV ibandronate is similar to that observed with oral, daily and weekly bisphosphonates. Similarly, a recent real-life setting study, based on claims from an US database, suggests that hip fractures are reduced, with IV ibandronate, to the same extend as they are with oral bisphosphonates. Notwithstanding, those results should probably be confirmed in an European setting, before being extrapolated, in daily practice, to the Belgian population

Quality of life and societal costs in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy:protocol of the AFFECT-HCM study

Background: Ever since the first description of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common genetic cardiac disease, tremendous progress has been made in the evaluation and management of HCM patients, but little attention has been focused on the impact of HCM on societal costs and quality of life (QoL). Aims: This paper describes the study protocol for the AFFECT-HCM study into burden of disease (BoD), which aims to estimate health-related QoL and societal costs in HCM patients and genotype-positive phenotype-negative (G+/P−) relatives during a one-year follow-up study, and relate this to the phenotypical HCM expression. Methods: A total of 400 Dutch HCM patients and 100 G+/P− subjects will be followed for one year in a prospective, multi-centre, prevalence-based BoD study. Societal costs will be measured via a bottom-up approach using the cost questionnaires iMCQ and iPCQ. For QoL, the generic EQ-5D-5L and disease-specific Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire will be used. QoL and societal costs will be compared with phenotype-specific HCM characteristics and other determinants to identify factors that influence BoD. Accelerometry will test the correlation between BoD and physical activity. Conclusion: The AFFECT-HCM study will evaluate the BoD in HCM patients and G+/P− subjects to improve the understanding of the societal and economic impact of HCM.</p

Estimating loss in capability wellbeing in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic:a cross-sectional study of the general adult population in the UK, Australia and the Netherlands

Objectives To estimate capability wellbeing lost from the general adult populations in the UK, Australia and the Netherlands in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated social restrictions, including lockdowns. Design Cross-sectional with recalled timepoints. Setting Online panels in the UK, Australia and the Netherlands conducted in February 2021 (data collected 26 January-2 March 2021). Participants Representative general adult (>= 18 years old) population samples in the UK (n = 1,017), Australia (n = 1,011) and the Netherlands (n = 1,017) Main outcome measure Participants completed the ICECAP-A capability wellbeing measure in February 2021, and for two recalled timepoints during the initial lockdowns in April 2020 and in February 2020 (prior to COVID-19 restrictions in all three countries). ICECAP-A scores on a 0-1 no capability-full capability scale were calculated for each timepoint. Societal willingness to pay estimates for a year of full capability (YFC) was used to place a monetary value associated with change in capability per person and per country. Paired t tests were used to compare changes in ICECAP-A and YFC from pre- to post-COVID-19-related restrictions in each country. Results Mean (standard deviation) loss of capability wellbeing during the initial lockdown was 0.100 (0.17) in the UK, 0.074 (0.17) in Australia and 0.049 (0.12) in the Netherlands. In February 2021, losses compared to pre-lockdown were 0.043 (0.14) in the UK, 0.022 (0.13) in Australia and 0.006 (0.11) in the Netherlands. In monetary terms, these losses were equivalent to 14.8 pound billion, AUD$8.6 billion and euro2.1 billion lost per month in April 2020 and 6.4 pound billion, A$2.6 billion and euro260 million per month in February 2021 for the UK, Australia and the Netherlands, respectively. Conclusions There were substantial losses in capability wellbeing in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future research is required to understand the specific impact of particular COVID-19 restrictions on people's capabilities

Herramienta de retorno de la inversión en control del tabaquismo: ¿qué opinan aquellos que toman decisiones?

ResumenIntroducciónEl Proyecto Europeo EQUIPT pretende adaptar una herramienta de retorno de la inversión en tabaco para varios países, con el fin de proporcionar información sobre el retorno de invertir en estrategias y justificar la toma de decisiones. El objetivo de este estudio es identificar las necesidades de los usuarios en España para documentar la transferibilidad de la herramienta.MétodosEntrevistas telefónicas con actores relevantes sobre la implementación de la Herramienta EQUIPT, intención de uso y estrategias de control del tabaco.ResultadosLa herramienta puede añadir valor a la información utilizada al tomar decisiones y abogar por políticas coste-efectivas. Como inconvenientes, conocer cómo funcionará la herramienta, así como la formación y el tiempo que requerirá la consistencia y los cálculos internos.ConclusiónSe recogen conocimientos e ideas de los potenciales usuarios para ayudar a adaptar la Herramienta EQUIPT, de modo que proporcione ayuda en la toma de decisiones eficientes.AbstractIntroductionThe European EQUIPT study will co-create a return on investment tool in several countries, aiming to provide decision makers with information and justification on the returns that can be generated by investing in tobacco control. This study aimed to identify the needs of potential users in Spain in order to provide information on the transferability of the tool.MethodsTelephone interviews with stakeholders were conducted including questions about the implementation of the tool, intended use and tobacco control interventions.ResultsImplementing the tool could provide added value to the information used in decision-making to advocate for cost-effective policies. The main drawback would be the training and time needed to learn how the tool works and for internal calculations.ConclusionKnowledge and ideas from potential users collected in this study could inform the EQUIPT Tool adaptation. Thus, stakeholders could have an instrument that assists them on making healthcare decisions

Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a nurse-delivered intervention to improve adherence to treatment for HIV : a pragmatic, multicentre, open-label, randomised clinical trial

This trial was funded from public money by the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW; grant number 171002208). Aardex provided support on the development of the study website. We thank all the HIV nurses and physicians from the seven HIV clinics involved in the AIMS study for their input and collaboration (Academic Medical Centre, Slotervaart hospital, and St. Lucas-Andreas hospital, all in Amsterdam; the Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden; HAGA hospital, The Hague; Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam; and Isala clinic, Zwolle), the study participants, and the Stichting HIV Monitoring (SHM) for their support in accessing the SHM database for identifying patient inclusion criteria and developing the Markov model. Finally, we thank and remember Herman Schaalma (deceased) for his contribution to the study design and grant application.Peer reviewedPostprin

A FRAX model for the assessment of fracture probability in Belgium

peer reviewedRESUME : Cette étude a pour but d’adapter à la population belge l’algorithme FRAX® récemment publié par l’Organisation Mondiale de la Santé (OMS) et permettant de calculer, dans les deux sexes, le risque absolu de fractures ostéoporotiques, à 10 ans. Nous nous sommes attachés à quantifier le risque fracturaire correspondant aux critères actuellement appliqués, en Belgique, pour le remboursement des médicaments de l’ostéoporose et à identifier les situations cliniques correspondant à une probabilité équivalente de fracture. Les probabilités fracturaires ont été calculées, à partir des incidences de fractures et de décès publiées, pour la population belge. Ces probabilités prennent en considération l’âge, le sexe, l’existence de facteurs cliniques de risque (FCR) et la densité minérale osseuse (DMO), mesurée au niveau de la zone propre du col fémoral. L’algorithme FRAX® permet d’identifier différents scénarios d’intervention, en Belgique, correspondant à un risque fracturaire identique ou supérieur à celui servant de base aux critères actuels de remboursement des médicaments. Il est donc possible de recommander une modification des attitudes actuelles, délaissant une stratégie basée sur une évaluation dichotomique de la DMO, au profit d’une intégration progressive des FCR qui permettra, in fine, une meilleure identification des patients à risque accru de fracture. Cette approche devra être substantiée par des analyses pharmaco-économiques appropriées

Comparison of statistical analysis methods for object case best–worst scaling

KLC received financial support for his research stay at the Department of Health Economics, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna through the ‘Erasmus+ staff mobility grant’

Novel formulations of oral bisphosphonates in the treatment of osteoporosis.

Oral bisphosphonates are a key intervention in the treatment of osteoporosis and in reducing the risk of fragility fractures. Their use is supported by over 3 decades of evidence; however, patient adherence to oral bisphosphonates remains poor in part due to complex dosing instructions and adverse events, including upper gastrointestinal symptoms. This problem has led to the development of novel oral bisphosphonate formulations. Buffered, effervescent alendronate is dissolved in water and so seeks to reduce upper gastro-intestinal adverse events, and gastro-resistant risedronate aims to reduce the complexity of dosing procedure (e.g. fasting prior to consumption) whilst still maintaining the efficacy of fracture risk reduction. Clinical trials and real-world data have been employed to demonstrate some benefits in terms of reduced upper gastro-intestinal adverse events, adherence, persistence and health economic outcomes. This report describes the result of an ESCEO (European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis and Osteoarthritis) expert working group, which explores where oral bisphosphonates sit in current clinical practice guidelines, review their risk-benefit profile and the consequences of poor adherence before exploring novel oral bisphosphonate formulations and their potential clinical and health economic impact. Further research is required but there are signs that these novel, oral bisphosphonate formulations may lead to improved tolerance of oral bisphosphonates and thus, improved adherence and fracture outcomes