Do economic evaluations of TAVI deal with learning effects, innovation, and context dependency? A review

Introduction: Most collectively funded healthcare systems set limits to their benefit package. Doing so require

Induction versus expectant monitoring for intrauterine growth restriction at term: randomised equivalence trial (DIGITAT)

Objective To compare the effect of induction of labour with a policy of expectant monitoring for intrauterine growth restriction near term

Induction versus expectant monitoring for intrauterine growth restriction at term: Randomised equivalence trial (DIGITAT)

Objective: To compare the effect of induction of labour with a policy of expectant monitoring for intrauterine growth restriction near term. Design: Multicentre randomised equivalence trial (the Disproportionate Intrauterine Growth Intervention Trial At Term (DIGITAT)). Setting: Eight academic and 44 non-academic hospitals in the Netherlands between November 2004 and November 2008. Participants: Pregnant women who had a singleton pregnancy beyond 36+0 weeks' g

Kosteneffectiviteit en gezondheidswinst van behalen beleidsdoelen bewegen en overgewicht : onderbouwing Nationaal Actieplan Sport en Bewegen

De ongunstige ontwikkeling in beweeggedrag en overgewicht van de afgelopen jaren kan gedeeltelijk worden gekeerd door intensief interventiebeleid. De kosten hiervan zijn hoog, maar de gezondheidswinst weegt daar tegenop. Dit onderzoek is een onderbouwing van het Nationaal Actieplan Sport en Bewegen van het Ministerie van Volksgezondheid Welzijn en Sport. Dit plan moet vanaf 2006 de lichamelijke activiteit in Nederland bevorderen. Het rapport beschrijft de randvoorwaarden voor succesvol beweegbeleid. Het moet een geïntegreerde aanpak zijn die door meer partijen wordt uitgevoerd en dat bestaat uit een mix van interventiemaatregelen voor verschillende doelgroepen. Voldoende budget en goede coördinatie zijn hierbij vereist, ook ten aanzien van verder wetenschappelijk onderzoek. Vervolgens is een realistisch beleidsdoel voor beweeggedrag vastgesteld op grond van twee interventiemaatregelen met bewezen effecten, namelijk een wijkgerichte benadering en een intensief leefstijlprogramma. Daling in het percentage inactieven van 1% tot 2% over vijf jaar en het percentage overgewicht met 1% tot 3% wordt realistisch geacht. Het behalen van deze beleidsdoelen voorkomt duizenden ziektegevallen in de komende twintig jaar. Voorwaarde is wel een grootschalig inzet van de interventiemaatregelen. De kosten per gewonnen levensjaar bedragen omstreeks 6000 euro, rekening houden met kosten in gewonnen levensjaren. Ze liggen daarmee onder de maatschappelijk aanvaarde grens

Cost-effectiveness of cardiotocography plus ST analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram compared with cardiotocography only

OBJECTIVE. To assess the cost-effectiveness of addition of ST analysis of the fetal electrocardiogram (ECG; STAN®) to cardiotocography (CTG) for fetal surveillance during labor compared with CTG only. DESIGN. Cost-effectiveness analysis based on a randomized clinical trial on ST analysis of the fetal ECG. SETTING. Obstetric departments of three academic and six general hospitals in The Netherlands. POPULATION. Laboring women with a singleton high-risk pregnancy, a fetus in cephalic presentation, a gestational age > 36 weeks and an indication for internal electronic fetal monitoring. METHODS. A trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis was performed froma health-care provider perspective. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES. Primary health outcome was the incidence of metabolic acidosis measured in the umbilical artery. Direct medical costswere estimated fromstart of labor to childbirth. Cost-effectiveness was expressed as costs to prevent one case of metabolic acidosis. RESULTS. The incidence of metabolic acidosis was 0.7% in the ST-analysis group and 1.0% in the CTG-only group (relative risk 0.70; 95% confidence interval 0.38–1.28). Per delivery, the mean costs per patient of CTG plus ST analysis (n = 2 827) were €1 345 vs. €1 316 for CTG only (n=2 840), with a mean difference of €29 (95% confidence interval −€9 to €77) until childbirth. The incremental costs of ST analysis to prevent one case of metabolic acidosis were €9 667. CONCLUSIONS. The additional costs of monitoring by ST analysis of the fetal ECG are very limited when compared with monitoring by CTG only and very low compared with the total costs of delivery.Sylvia M.C. Vijgen ... Ben Willem J. Mol ... et al

Contributions To Oral Anatomy Structural And Applied Volume II

Research into fetal development and medicin

Induction of labour versus expectant monitoring for gestational hypertension or mild pre-eclampsia after 36 weeks' gestation (HYPITAT): a multicentre, open-label randomised controlled trial

Background Robust evidence to direct management of pregnant women with mild hypertensive disease at term is scarce. We investigated whether induction of labour in women with a singleton pregnancy complicated by gestational hypertension or mild pre-eclampsia reduces severe maternal morbidity. Methods We undertook a multicentre, parallel, open-label randomised controlled trial in six academic and 32 non-academic hospitals in the Netherlands between October, 2005, and March, 2008. We enrolled patients with a singleton pregnancy at 36-41 weeks gestation, and who had gestational hypertension or mild pre-eclampsia. Participants were randomly allocated in a 1:1 ratio by block randomisation. with a web-based application system to receive either induction of labour or expectant monitoring. Masking of intervention allocation was not possible. The primary outcome was a composite measure of poor maternal outcome-maternal mortality, maternal morbidity (eclampsia, HELLP syndrome, pulmonary oedema, thromboembolic disease, and placental abruption), progression to severe hypertension or proteinuria, and major post-partum haemorrhage (>1000 ml, blood loss). Analysis was by intention to treat and treatment effect is presented as relative risk. This study is registered, number ISRCTN08132825. Findings 756 patients were allocated to receive induction of labour (n=377 patients) or expectant monitoring (n=379). 397 patients refused randomisation but authorised use of their medical records. Of women who were randomised, 117 (31%) allocated to induction of labour developed poor maternal outcome compared with 166 (44%) allocated to expectant monitoring (relative risk 0.71, 95% CI 0.59-0.86, p<0.0001). No cases of maternal or neonatal death or eclampsia were recorded. Interpretation Induction of labour is associated with improved maternal outcome and should be advised for women with mild hypertensive disease beyond 37 weeks' gestation. Funding ZonMw

An economic analysis of induction of labour and expectant monitoring in women with gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia at term (HYPITAT trial)

Objective To assess the economic consequences of labour induction compared with expectant monitoring in women with gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia at term. Design An economic analysis alongside the Hypertension and Preeclampsia Intervention Trial At Term (HYPITAT). Setting Obstetric departments of six university and 32 teaching and district hospitals in the Netherlands. Population Women diagnosed with gestational hypertension or pre-eclampsia between 36(+0) and 41(+0) weeks of gestation, randomly allocated to either induction of labour or expectant monitoring. Methods A trial-based cost-effectiveness analysis was performed from a societal perspective during a 1-year time horizon. Main outcome measures One-year costs were estimated and health outcomes were expressed as the prevalence of poor maternal outcome defined as either maternal complications or progression to severe disease. Results The average costs of induction of labour (n = 377) were (sic)7077 versus (sic)7908 for expectant monitoring (n = 379), with an average difference of -(sic)831 (95% CI -(sic)1561 to -(sic)144). This 11% difference predominantly originated from the antepartum period: per woman costs were (sic)1259 for induction versus (sic)2700 for expectant monitoring. During delivery, more costs were generated following induction ((sic)2190) compared with expectant monitoring ((sic)1210). No substantial differences were found in the postpartum, follow-up and for non-medical costs. Conclusion In women with gestational hypertension or mild pre-eclampsia at term, induction of labour is less costly than expectant monitoring because of differences in resource use in the antepartum period. As the trial already demonstrated that induction of labour results in less progression to severe disease without resulting in a higher caesarean section rate, both clinical and economic consequences are in favour of induction of labour in these women