Economic impact of pharmaceutical services on polymedicated patients: A systematic review

BackgroundPolypharmacy is commonly related to poor drug adherence, decreased quality of life and inappropriate prescribing in eldery. Furthermore, this condition also leads to a higher utilization of health services resources, due to the increased risk of adverse drug events, length of stays in hospitals and readmissions rates after discharge.ObjectiveThis Systematic Review aimed to synthesize the current evidence that evaluates pharmaceutical services on polymedicated patients, from an economic perspective.MethodsSystematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Cochrane Library databases to identify studies that were published until January 2021. Experimental and observational studies were included in this review, using strict inclusion/exclusion criteria and were assessed for quality using the following tools: RoB and ROBINS-I. Two independent reviewers selected the articles and extracted the data.Results3,662 articles were retrieved from the databases. After the screening, 18 studies were included: 9 experimental and 9 observational studies. The studies reported that the integration of the pharmacist as a member of the healthcare team provides an optimized use of pharmacotherapy to polymedicated patients and contributes to health promotion, providing reduction of spending on medication, reduction of expenses related to emergency care and hospitalizations and other medical expenses. The ECRs made cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit analysis, and most of the Non Randomized studies had statistically significant cost savings even considering the expenses of pharmaceutical assistance. Experimental studies reported a cost reduction varying between US$ 193 to US$ 4,966 per patient per year. Furthermore, observational studies estimated a cost reduction of varying from US$ 3 to US$ 2,505 per patient per year. The cost savings are related to decrease in emergency visits and hospitalizations, through pharmacist intervention (medication review and pharmacotherapy follow-up).ConclusionsConsidering the set of studies included, pharmaceutical care services directed to polymedicated patients may cooperate to save financial resources. Most of the interventions showed positive economic trends and also contributed to improving clinical parameters and quality of life. However, due to the majority of the studies having exploratory or qualitative methodology, it is essential to carry out more robust studies, based on full economic evaluation.     

会所康复模式在女性精神分裂症恢复期病人中的应用

目的:探讨会所康复模式在女性精神分裂症恢复期病人中的应用效果。方法:选取2019年2月—2020年3月精神科收治的100例女性精神分裂恢复期病人作为研究对象,按随机数字表法分为对照组、观察组各50例,对照组采取常规康复治疗,观察组在常规康复治疗基础上应用会所多维度康复治疗模式。采用阳性和阴性症状量表(PANSS)、疾病家庭负担量表(FBS)、日常生活能力量表(ADL)、生活满意度指数B量表(LSIB)评价两组病人干预前、干预3个月、干预6个月精神症状、家庭负担、日常生活能力、生活自理能力。结果:两组病人干预3个月、干预6个月PANSS、FBS、ADL及LSIB评分比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);两组组内干预前后PANSS、FBS、ADL及LSIB评分比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论:女性精神分裂症病人在恢复阶段应用会所康复模式进行干预可改善其精神症状,缓解其家庭负担,调节其日常生活能力和生活自理能力,提升其生活满意度。     

Effectiveness of anabolic steroids in improving outcomes for post-operative hip fracture patients: A randomized controlled trial

BackgroundPost-operative elderly hip fracture patients require significant rehabilitation. Nandrolone is an anabolic steroid used to promote muscle growth. This study aims to examine the effect of nandrolone in improving rehabilitation and quality of life in elderly female patients with hip fractures undergoing hemiarthroplasty.MethodsThis is a double-blinded prospective randomized-controlled-trial consisting of female patients above the age of 65 with an isolated neck of femur fracture planned for a hip hemiarthroplasty. Participants were randomized into two arms of the study – 50 mg intramuscular nandrolone vs normal saline placebo administered on post-operative day 0, and weeks 2, 6 and 12. The participants were followed up across a 1-year period following the surgery. Clinical outcomes such as time taken to achieve rehabilitation milestones, distance of ambulation and thigh muscle girth, and functional scoring with SF-36 questionnaire were recorded at intervals of 2, 6 and 12 weeks, 6 months and 1 year following the surgery.ResultsThere were a total of 23 subjects with 11 in the steroid group and 12 in the placebo group. There was no significant difference in demographics and injury patterns between both groups. There was no significant difference for time taken to achieve various rehabilitation milestones and distance of ambulation. SF-36 scores on discharge and at 1-year follow-up mark were comparable. There was no difference in the complication rate between both groups.ConclusionIntra-muscular Nandrolone after hip surgery in elderly female patients does not result in short to mid-term improved rehabilitation or functional outcomes. Nandrolone did not result in increased short-term complications after hip surgery.Level of evidenceI.     

前列腺癌根治术患者采用围术期康复干预对尿失禁的预防效果

目的分析前列腺癌根治术患者采用围术期康复干预对尿失禁的预防效果。方法 42例行前列腺癌根治术的患者,随机分为研究组与对照组,每组21例。对照组患者给予常规干预,研究组患者采取围术期康复干预。对比两组患者的尿失禁发生率,下尿路症状改善情况,生活质量。结果研究组患者的尿失禁发病率14.29%明显低于对照组的47.62%,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。干预后,两组患者的下尿路症状评估量表(LUTS)评分均低于本组干预前,且研究组患者的LUTS评分(10.25±2.02)分明显低于对照组的(15.63±2.59)分,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。研究组患者的生理功能、情感职能、社会功能、总体健康评分分别为(75.14±4.28)、(76.67±4.31)、(74.98±4.25)、(75.87±4.26)分,均高于对照组的67.21±4.35)、(68.22±4.39)、(66.58±4.37)、(68.01±4.36)分,差异具有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论前列腺癌根治术患者采用围术期康复干预可以有效降低术后并发症发生率,改善患者临床症状,提高患者生活质量,效果显著,值得在临床上进一步推广应用。     

The role of payment and financing in achieving health equity

Objective

The aim was to identify healthcare payment and financing reforms to promote health equity and ways that the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) may promote those reforms.

Data Sources and Study Setting

AHRQ convened a payment and financing workgroup–the authors of this paper–as part of its Health Equity Summit held in July 2022. This workgroup drew from its collective experience with healthcare payment and financing reform, as well as feedback from participants in a session at the Health Equity Summit, to identify the evidence base and promising paths for reforms to promote health equity.

Study Design

The payment and financing workgroup developed an outline of reforms to promote health equity, presented the outline to participants in the payment and financing session of the July 2022 AHRQ Health Equity Summit, and integrated feedback from the participants.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

This paper did not require novel data collection; the authors collected the data from the existing evidence base.

Principal Findings

The paper outlines root causes of health inequity and corresponding potential reforms in five domains: (1) the differential distribution of resources between healthcare providers serving different communities, (2) scarcity of financing for populations most in need, (3) lack of integration/accountability, (4) patient cost barriers to care, and (5) bias in provider behavior and diagnostic tools.

Conclusions

Additional research is necessary to determine whether the proposed reforms are effective in promoting health equity.     

弹性抗阻运动对慢性阻塞性肺疾病康复疗效的Meta分析

目的 系统评价弹性抗阻运动(弹力带/弹力管)对慢性阻塞性肺疾病(COPD)患者康复疗效的影响。方法 检索Cochrane Library、PubMed、Web of Science、中国知网、维普、万方和生物医学文献数据库中关于弹性抗阻运动治疗COPD患者的临床随机对照试验,检索时限自建库至2020年9月。最后纳入文献11篇,其中英文9篇,中文2篇,共485例患者。采用Cochrane风险偏倚评估工具及物理治疗证据数据库量表进行质量评价,采用RevMan 5.2软件进行分析。这一系统评价在PROSPERO(CRD42020208659)上登记。结果 弹性抗阻运动组与传统抗阻运动组(如举重训练机、体重训练) 6 min步行试验距离(6WMD) (MD = 1.19, 95%CI -7.02~9.39, P = 0.78)、COPD患者自我评估测试(CAT) (MD = -0.43, 95%CI -2.42~1.57, P = 0.68)和肌力(MD = 0.23, 95%CI -1.06~1.52, P = 0.73)无显著性差异,两组间异质性不高。弹性抗阻运动组与非抗阻运动组6MWD (MD = 18.30, 95%CI -8.92~45.52, P = 0.19)和CAT (MD = -0.59, 95%CI -3.78~2.60, P = 0.72)无显著性差异,研究间异质性较高。结论 弹性抗阻运动也许是一种潜在的替代传统抗阻训练的方法,但弹性抗阻运动对运动耐力、生活质量、肺功能的影响尚不明确。     

杨宇飞教授舌癌的中医康复治疗与验案两则＊

舌癌患者手术及放化疗后会出现构音障碍、吞咽困难、口腔黏膜炎、口干、营养不良等并发症，使患者生存质量下降，甚至导致肿瘤的复发转移，影响生存期，单一方法往往顾此失彼。依托于中国中医科学院西苑医院肿瘤康复基地，杨宇飞教授在国内外调研考察基础上，结合中国国情，构建了一种“门诊多学科肿瘤康复模式”，在舌癌康复方面，以患者为中心，以中医肿瘤内科为主导，多学科共同参与，结合康复科、口腔科、营养科、药剂科等各科优势，形成全程个体化规范序贯康复方案，对患者及早进行康复，在放疗前进行预防性干预尤其重要，使患者能够快速缓解手术和放疗的不良反应，患者获益明显。现取两个典型案例总结其舌癌多学科康复的经验，以期为舌癌的康复提供借鉴。