ObjectiveTo systematically review the economy of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for COVID-19. MethodsThe Web of Science, PubMed, EMbase, Cochrane Library, INAHTA, CNKI, WanFang Data and SinoMed databases were electronically searched to collect studies on health economic evaluations from 1 January 2020 to 20 August 2022. Then the included materials were reviewed, extracted and data integration analysis were conducted based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. ResultsSeventy-one academic publications were finally included, which contained 25 papers about nucleic acid testing, antigen testing and screening, 5 papers about personal protection, 12 papers about social distancing, quarantine and isolation, 11 papers about regional or national lockdown and 18 papers about multiple NPIs. The results showed that compared with no intervention, nucleic acid testing, antigen testing, screening and personal protection measures were economical. Social distancing, quarantine and isolation were also economical compared with no intervention. However, in low-income countries, movement restriction and factory shutdown may exact a heavy toll on the poorest and most vulnerable. Moreover, compared with a single long-term lockdown, multiple short-term lockdowns could be more economical, but the cost was still huge overall. ConclusionNPIs such as nucleic acid testing, antigen testing, personal protection, social distancing, quarantine, isolation and factory shutdown are economical. Although regional or national lockdown can save lives, it is not suitable for wide use. The researches on specific populations, specific variants (especially Omicron) and in the context of China need to be carried out.
Medicine is a very important health resource in China. Although numerous efforts are paid to pre-marketed medicines, little is done to address practical problems in marketed medicines. The rational use and allocation of marketed medicines remain a major concern for decision-makers in China. It has been recognized that economic evaluation is an efficient tool for prioritizing the choice, and optimizing the use of medicines. This paper has explored the methods and principles for conducting economic evaluation of marketed medicines. Different strategies will be adopted for economic evidence for marketed medicines in terms of adequacy and sufficiency.However, a standard study pathway should be applied in economic evaluation of marketed medicines. Besides, the aspects for developing economic framework and the methods for reviewing existing economic evidence are also introduced in this paper, particularly, for marketed medicines within the same therapeutic group.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the health economic evaluation studies in which externalities of antibacterial drug uses were identified.MethodsPubMed, EMbase, The Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang Data and VIP databases were electronically searched to collect health economic evaluation studies in which externalities of antibacterial drug uses were identified from inception to December 31st, 2020. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of included studies. Descriptive analysis was then performed.ResultsA total of 14 studies were included. Negative externalities and their impacts on costs and/or effectiveness were examined in 13 literature, and positive externalities in terms of an improvement in disease control were included in only one study. No study was found in which both negative and positive externalities were included. The methods used to quantify negative externalities included: only costs associated with drug resistance per prescription or per unit were calculated; both costs and health impacts associated with the second/third line treatments followed a treatment failure (due to drug resistance) were calculated using a decision tree. In one study in which positive externalities were measured, both health gain and cost reduction from an improvement in disease control (as a benefit of antibacterial drug uses) were calculated by constructing a dynamic model at the population level.ConclusionsWe propose that both the positive and negative externalities should be included in health economic evaluation. This can be achieved by measuring the relevant costs and health impacts in a broader perspective, using a disease-transmission dynamic model. In addition, to achieve an improved health utility measurement, disability-adjusted-life years rather than quality-adjusted-life years should be encouraged for use. Finally, both costs and effectiveness should be discounted.
Objective To critically appraise and systematically reviewe the economic evaluations of all alternative interventions for hepatitis B in China. Methods We searched MEDLINE and the four largest Chinese electronic databases. The references of eligible studies were also screened. Economic evaluations of any type, which studied interventions for hepatitis B, were eligible for inclusion. A 25-item quality checklist modified from a BMJ checklist was used to appraise the quality of studies. The overall quality score was calculated against 100 points to indicate the risk of bias. Quality appraisal and data extraction were conducted by two independent reviewers. Results Nineteen full economic evaluations and two cost studies were included of which fourteen studies were scored 25-44 points, and seven scored 45-61 points. Most studies adequately documented effectiveness of interventions. However, the costs of interventions were not well reported in over 50% of studies. Many studies inadequately conducted data analysis, particular in sensitivity analysis and discounting. Ten studies compared lamivudine with interferon or conventional therapy for 1-year (or 6-month) effects, which indicated that lamivudine was generally cost-effective. Three evaluations studied 30-year outcomes of interferon compared with conventional therapy, which suggested that interferon usually saved additional costs and years of life. Another three studies compared interferon with less frequently used antiviral agents, however the comparative cost-effectiveness varied. Two cost studies showed the total costs and the percentage of medical costs increased rapidly in proportion to disease severity.Conclusions Of alternative interventions, lamivudine is cost effective for short-term effects. Interferon is superior to conventional therapy for long-term outcomes. However, the long-term economic outcomes cannot be justified by the current evidence. Quality of methods, particularly, that of costing and analytical methods, is a major limitation. There remains a b need to improve the quality of reporting. Careful considerations should be paid before applying the results to decision making.
Objective To evaluate the ambulatory surgery mode by using health economical mothods and provide reference for optimization and decision of surgical operation mode. Methods The patients who underwent unilateral flexible ureteroscopic holmium laser lithotriphy for ureteral calculi in Xiangya Hospital, Central South University between January 1st to December 31th, 2015 were selected in this study, including 59 with ambulatory surgery mode (the ambulatory group) and 65 with special in-hospital surgery mode (the special group). The differences in average bed occupancy time, cost, therapeutic effect, and satisfaction between the two operation modes were compared. Results The average bed occupancy time in the ambulatory group and the special group was (1.03±0.18) and (6.35±0.74) days, respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). The patients in both groups were followed up for one month after the operation, and the incidence of complications was 6.8% (4/59) in the ambulatory group and 6.2% (4/65) in the special group, without significant difference (P>0.05). The satisfaction score in the ambulatory group and the special group was 96.48±0.23vs. 96.53±0.18 without significant difference (P>0.05). The differences in direct medical cost [(17 738.28±1 027.85)vs. (21 307.67±554.41) yuan], direct non-medical cost [(103.39±18.25) vs. (630.76±78.90) yuan], indirect cost[ (266.93±47.12) vs. (1 640.44±190.55) yuan], and total cost [(18 128.10±1 037.76) vs. (23 558.29±619.20) yuan] between the ambulatory group and the special group were all statistically significant (P<0.05). The treatment effect index in the ambulatory group and the special group was 0.96 and 1.05, respectively; the cost-effect ratio was 18 883.44 and 22 436.47, respectively. Sensitivity analysis showed that the adjusted cost-effect ratio in the ambulatory group (16 629.64) was still lower than that in the special group (20 534.91). Conclusions The cost-effect ratio of ambulatory surgery mode is superior than that of special in-hospital surgery mode, and there is no obvious difference in patients satisfaction between the two modes. Ambulatory surgery mode can be recommended to patients who meet the indications of day surgery.
ObjectiveTo systematically review the health economic evaluation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). MethodsThe PubMed, Web of Science, EMbase, CNKI, WanFang Data and CBM databases were electronically searched to collect the health economic evaluations on NPC from inception to December 18, 2022. Two reviewers independently screened literature, extracted data and assessed the risk of bias of the included studies. A descriptive analysis was performed. ResultsA total of 20 studies were included, which contained 14 about different drug combinations, 6 about chemotherapy and the comparison among intensity modulated radiotherapy, conventional radiotherapy and surgery. The results showed that for patients with recurrent, metastatic, or advanced NPC, compared with docetaxel plus cisplatin, fluorouracil plus cisplatin or docetaxel and cisplatin plus fluorouracil, gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GP) was the most economical, and compared with GP or camrelizumab plus GP, toripalimab plus GP (TGP) was more economical. For early-stage NPC, intensity modulated radiotherapy was not economical compared with conventional radiotherapy and surgery. ConclusionCurrent evidence shows that GP and TGP are economical and can be popularized clinically.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in hospitalized individuals, associated with adverse outcomes and increased cost. Continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is used to treat critically ill patients with AKI, of which the cost in acute phase is higher than that of intermittent renal replacement therapy (IRRT). However, if treatment for subsequent chronic kidney disease or dialysis dependency following AKI is also considered, CRRT might be more cost-effective than IRRT. In this editorial, the cost and health economic evaluation of CRRT for critically ill patients is discussed.
ObjectiveTo evaluate the health economics indexes of day surgery mode and traditional specialist hospitalization mode, and to provide reference for the selection of different hospitalization mode of inguinal-type cryptorchidism in children.MethodsThe patients with unilateral cryptorchidism under 5 years old between January 2017 and January 2018 in Chongqing Children’s Hospital were selected in this study. According to different inpatient surgery modes, the included children were divided into day surgery group (day group) and special in-hospital surgery group (specialty group). The general data of patients, treatment indicators, incidence of complications, postoperative testicular atrophy rate, recurrence, nosocomial infection, hospitalization time, hospitalization cost, satisfaction of patients, and other health effect indicators between the two operation modes were compared. The treatment effect indexes and cost-effect ratio of the two modes were statistically analyzed.ResultsA total of 198 children were included, including 83 in the day group and 115 in the specialty group. The patients in both groups underwent orchiopexy by small inguinal dermatoglyph and scrotal incision. There was no statistically significant difference in the affected side, source area, postoperative complications, or nosocomial infection between the two groups (P>0.05). The patients in the specialty group were older than those in the day group [(27.60±11.04) vs. (20.88±9.48) months old; t=4.586, P<0.001]; the bed occupancy time [(118.60±10.80) vs. (23.95±5.90) h; t=72.353, P<0.001] and operation time [(0.45±0.15) vs. (0.38±0.12) h; t=2.946, P=0.004] in the specialty group were longer than those in the day group. The difference was statistically significant in hospitalization expenses between the two groups (χ2=155.374, P<0.001); 92.8% of the children in the day group spent less than 5 000 yuan, while 95.7% of the children in the specialty group spent more than 5 000 yuan. The American Society of Anesthesiologists scores in the specialty group were higher than those in the day group (χ2=44.870, P<0.001). The treatment effect indexes in the day group and the specialty group were 0.99 and 1.01, respectively, and the cost-effect ratios were 3 850 and 6 657, respectively. The economic benefit of the day group was better.ConclusionsThe cost-effectiveness of day surgery is better than that of specialized inpatient surgery. Therefore, this model can be recommended for children who meet the indications of day surgery.
It is potential for N-of-1 trials to evaluate economics of health care, however, it is still in the exploratory stage. With the advantage of accurate estimation of costs and effects, it is beneficial to promote the application of N-of-1 trials for economic evaluation in the era of precision medicine. In this study, we introduce the necessity, feasibility, selection, calculation of indicators and influence factors of N-of-1 trials for economic evaluation, and in order to provide references for researchers to perform related studies.