Costs of Treating Lymphoproliferative Disorders in Ukraine: a Pilot Evaluation

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and multiple myeloma (MM) are two of the most widespread lymphoproliferative disorders among the adult population of Ukraine and other Central and Western European countries. Considering that pharmaceutical treatment accounts for the major part of medical expenses in the management of these conditions, the aim of this study was to assess the costs of pharmacotherapy of CLL and MM. The analysis was performed retrospectively using the results of our own pilot study, in which we examined medical histories of the patients treated at a specialized medical center in Kiev. The average annual cost of pharmacotherapy of all Ukrainian patients was 340 750 162 RUB for CLL and 89 184 759 RUB for MM. We found a negative correlation between the patient’s age and the cost of pharmacotherapy

Impact of hypoglycemia on daily life of type 2 diabetes patients in Ukraine

This study evaluates the impact of hypoglycemia on the lives of Ukrainian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The secondary objective was to explore patient-physician relationships and the attitudes of patients towards various informational resources on diabetes management. Three focus groups with 26 patients were conducted. Qualitative information was evaluated using content analysis. The results show that patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Ukraine are adapting to potential attacks of hypoglycemia; however, they still experience periodic manifestations of hypoglycemia that significantly affect their psychological well-being. This result is similar to observations made in other countries. Ukrainian patients >40 years old mainly receive information on disease management from endocrinologists, and rarely use internet resources on diabetes management. Information provision was especially important at the early stage of the disease, when patients lack information on hypoglycemia manifestations and could therefore fail to identify and manage it properly