Reducción de la cobertura social para los fármacos antiartrósicos sintomáticos de acción lenta: una iniciativa de desinversión en Argentina, 2015-2017

In April 2016, the National Institute of Social Services for Retirees and Pensioners discontinued its policy of 100% coverage for 159 drugs (the “social subsidy”), including symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SYSADOAs), due to insufficient evidence of significant clinical benefit. We evaluated the effect of this measure on the use of SYSADOAs as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which were unaffected by this policy change. We compared outpatient dispensations of SYSADOAs and NSAIDs from 2015 to 2017, measuring dispensed units, retail price, and out-of-pocket expenses for beneficiaries each month. After the change in coverage, there was a 61.6% total decrease in SYSADOA units dispensed, and a 63.4% decrease in the final sales price to the public, measured in constant values. Dispensation was not reoriented towards NSAIDs, which fell by 6.1%. The incidence of new treatments decreased (from 6.4 to 3.3 treatments per 1,000 beneficiaries per month), as did their continuity. Beneficiaries’ out-of-pocket spending on SYSADOAs increased by 75.8% (at constant values). Disinvestment in interventions with questionable therapeutic value is an important tool in working toward the sustainability of health systems.En abril de 2016, el Instituto Nacional de Servicios Sociales para Jubilados y Pensionados excluyó del subsidio social la cobertura al 100% de 159 fármacos, entre ellos, los antiartrósicos sintomáticos de acción lenta o symptomatic slow-acting drugs for osteoarthritis (SySADOA), por insuficiente evidencia de beneficio clínico significativo. Evaluamos el efecto de esta medida sobre la utilización de SySADOA y de los antiinflamatorios no esteroides (AINE), no afectados por la medida. Se compararon las dispensas ambulatorias de los SySADOA y los AINE de 2015 a 2017, midiendo unidades dispensadas, precio de venta al público y gasto de bolsillo del beneficiario para cada mes. Luego de la medida, descendieron un 61,6% los envases de SySADOA dispensados y un 63,4% el monto total del precio de venta al público, medido en valores constantes. La dispensa no se reorientó hacia los AINE, que descendieron un 6,1%. Disminuyó tanto la incidencia de nuevos tratamientos (de 6,4 a 3,3 tratamientos por 1.000 beneficiarios por mes) como su continuidad. El gasto de bolsillo de los beneficiarios en SySADOA aumentó un 75,8% (a valores constantes). La desinversión en intervenciones de valor terapéutico cuestionable es una herramienta valiosa para la sustentabilidad de los sistemas de salud

Liver Transplantation without Perioperative Transfusions Single-Center Experience Showing Better Early Outcome and Shorter Hospital Stay

Background. Significant amounts of red blood cells (RBCs) transfusions are associated with poor outcome after liver transplantation (LT). We report our series of LT without perioperative RBC (P-RBC) transfusions to evaluate its influence on early and long-term outcomes following LT. Methods. A consecutive series of LT between 2006 and 2011 was analyzed. P-RBC transfusion was defined as one or more RBC units administrated during or ≤48 hours after LT. We divided the cohort in “No-Transfusion” and “Yes-Transfusion.” Preoperative status, graft quality, and intra- and postoperative variables were compared to assess P-RBC transfusion risk factors and postoperative outcome. Results. LT was performed in 127 patients (“No-Transfusion” = 39 versus “Yes-Transfusion” = 88). While median MELD was significantly higher in Yes-Transfusion (11 versus 21; P=0.0001) group, platelet count, prothrombin time, and hemoglobin were significantly lower. On multivariate analysis, the unique independent risk factor associated with P-RBC transfusions was preoperative hemoglobin (P<0.001). Incidence of postoperative bacterial infections (10 versus 27%; P=0.03), median ICU (2 versus 3 days; P=0.03), and hospital stay (7.5 versus 9 days; P=0.01) were negatively influenced by P-RBC transfusions. However, 30-day mortality (10 versus 15%) and one- (86 versus 70%) and 3-year (77 versus 66%) survival were equivalent in both groups. Conclusions. Recipient MELD score was not a predictive factor for P-RBC transfusion. Patients requiring P-RBC transfusions had worse postoperative outcome. Therefore, maximum efforts must be focused on improving hemoglobin levels during waiting list time to prevent using P-RBC in LT recipients

Latin American Association for the Study of the Liver (LAASL) Clinical Practice Guidelines: Management of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the third most common cause of cancer death, and accounts for 5.6% of all cancers. Nearly 82% of the approximately 550,000 liver cancer deaths each year occur in Asia. In some regions, cancer-related death from HCC is second only to lung cancer. The incidence and mortality of HCC are increasing in America countries as a result of an ageing cohort infected with chronic hepatitis C, and are expected to continue to rise as a consequence of the obesity epidemic. Clinical care and survival for patients with HCC has advanced considerably during the last two decades, thanks to improvements in patient stratification, an enhanced understanding of the pa-thophysiology of the disease, and because of developments in diagnostic procedures and the introduction of novel therapies and strategies in prevention. Nevertheless, HCC remains the third most common cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. These LAASL recommendations on treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma are intended to assist physicians and other healthcare providers, as well as patients and other interested individuals, in the clinical decision-making process by describing the optimal management of patients with liver cancer