The Estimation and Inclusion of Presenteeism Costs in Applied Economic Evaluation: A Systematic Review

Objective

Given the significant costs of reduced productivity (presenteeism) in comparison to absenteeism, and overall societal costs, presenteeism has a potentially important role to play in economic evaluations. However, these costs are often excluded. The objective of this study is to review applied cost of illness studies and economic evaluations to identify valuation methods used for, and impact of including presenteeism costs in practice.

我国肿瘤免疫治疗经济学评价研究现状与挑战

随着肿瘤免疫治疗的快速发展,其经济学评价也在逐步推进.由于免疫疗法与传统治疗在作用机制、临床效果等方面均有较大差异,不同药物之间的药学特征和临床疗效也不同,因此在进行经济学评价时应做出相应的调整.以目前在我国上市的PD-1/PD-L1抑制剂为例,对国内现有药物经济学评价进行总结,分析肿瘤免疫疗法经济学评价面临的挑战,如...     

Measurement Instruments of Productivity Loss of Paid and Unpaid Work: A Systematic Review and Assessment of Suitability for Health Economic Evaluations From a Societal Perspective

ObjectivesThis study aimed (1) to perform a systematic literature review of instruments for measuring productivity loss of paid and unpaid work and (2) to assess the suitability (in terms of identification, measurement, and valuation) of these instruments for use in health economic evaluations from a societal perspective.MethodsArticles published from 2018 were sourced from PubMed/Medline, PsycInfo, Embase, and Econlit. Using 2 separate search strategies, eligible economic evaluations and validation studies were selected and unique measurement instruments identified. A data-extraction form was developed by studying previous literature and consulting an international panel of experts in the field of productivity costs. This data-extraction form was applied to assess the suitability of instruments for use in economic evaluations.ResultsA total of 5982 articles were retrieved from the databases, of which 99 economic evaluations and 9 validation studies were included in the review. A total of 42 unique measurement instruments were identified. Nine instruments provided quantified measures of absenteeism, presenteeism, and unpaid work. Five instruments supplied the necessary information to enable the use of at least 1 common valuation method. The Health and Labour Questionnaire-Short Form, Health and Labour Questionnaire, and Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire met both criteria. Nevertheless, the developers replaced the Health and Labour Questionnaire-Short Form and Health and Labour Questionnaire by the more recently developed Institute for Medical Technology Assessment Productivity Cost Questionnaire.ConclusionsAlthough many instruments for measuring productivity loss were identified, most were not suitable for capturing productivity changes for economic evaluations from a societal perspective. Future research can benefit from this study by making an informed instrument choice for the measurement of productivity loss of paid and unpaid work.     

The Impact of Broader Value Elements on Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: Two Case Studies

ObjectivesThis study aimed to explore the impact of including broader value elements in cost-effectiveness analyses by presenting 2 case studies, one on human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and one on early-stage Hodgkin’s lymphoma (ESHL).MethodsWe identified broader value elements (eg, patient and caregiver time, spillover health effects, productivity) from the Second Panel’s Impact Inventory and the ISPOR Special Task Force’s value flower. We then evaluated the cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination versus no vaccination (case 1) and combined modality therapy (CMT) versus chemotherapy alone for treatment of adult ESHL (case 2) using published simulation models. For each case study, we compared incremental cost-effectiveness ratios considering health sector impacts only (the “base-case” scenario) with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios incorporating broader value elements.ResultsFor vaccination of US girls against HPV before sexual debut versus no vaccination, the base-case result was $38 334 per disability-adjusted life-year averted. Including each broader value element made cost-effectiveness progressively more favorable, with HPV vaccination becoming cost-saving (ie, reducing costs and averting more disability-adjusted life-years) when the analysis incorporated productivity costs. For CMT versus chemotherapy alone in patients with ESHL, the base-case result indicated that CMT was cost-saving. Including all elements made this treatment’s net monetary benefits (the sum of its averted resource costs and the net value of its health impacts) less favorable, even as the contribution from CMT’s near-term health benefits grew.ConclusionsIncluding broader value elements can substantially influence cost-effectiveness ratios, although the direction and the magnitude of their impact can differ across interventions and disease context.     

用净现值法预测分析大型医疗设备的单机使用效益

目的以A医院购置64排螺旋CT为例,预测分析大型医疗设备的单机使用效益,为医院的设备购置提供借鉴。方法建立设备效益评价指标体系,用净现值法预测分析CT设备的效益现值和费用现值。结果在10年使用期限内,CT设备的效益现值、费用现值、残值现值、净现值分别为1917.10万元、989.64万元、36.63万元和14.09万元,净现值为正,A医院购置CT设备的前景不容乐观。结论医院的设备购置一定要进行科学论证,避免盲目决策、盲目投资,以求最大限度地发挥资金的社会效益和经济效益。     

Economic Evaluation of Palliative Management versus Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis for End-Stage Renal Disease: Evidence for Coverage Decisions in Thailand

OBJECTIVE: To examine the value for money of including peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD) into the universal health insurance scheme of Thailand. METHODS: A probabilistic Markov model applied to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients aged 20 to 70 years was developed to examine the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of palliative care versus 1) providing PD as an initial treatment followed by HD if complications/switching occur; and 2) providing HD followed by PD if complications/switching occur. Input parameters were extracted from a national cohort, the Thailand Renal Replacement Therapy Registry, and systematic reviews, where possible. The study explored the effects of uncertainty around input parameters, presented as cost-effectiveness acceptability frontier, as well as the value of obtaining further information on chosen parameters, i.e., partial expected value of perfect information. RESULTS: Using a societal perspective, the average ICER of initial treatment with PD and the average ICER of initial treatment with HD were 672,000 and 806,000 Baht per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) gained (52,000 and 63,000 purchasing power parity [PPP] US$/QALY) compared with palliative care. Providing treatments for younger ESRD patients resulted in a significant improvement of survival and gain of QALYs compared with the older aged group. The cost-effectiveness and cost-utility ratios of both options for the older age group were relatively similar. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that offering PD as initial treatment was a better choice than offering HD, but it would only be considered a cost-effective strategy if the social willingness-to-pay threshold was at or higher than 700,000 Baht per QALY (54,000 PPP US$/QALY) for the age 20 group and 750,000 Baht per QALY (58,000 PPP US$/QALY) for age 70 years.     

Defining a Core Data Set for the Economic Evaluation of Precision Oncology

ObjectivesPrecision oncology is generating vast amounts of multiomic data to improve human health and accelerate research. Existing clinical study designs and attendant data are unable to provide comparative evidence for economic evaluations. This lack of evidence can cause inconsistent and inappropriate reimbursement. Our study defines a core data set to facilitate economic evaluations of precision oncology.MethodsWe conducted a literature review of economic evaluations of next-generation sequencing technologies, a common application of precision oncology, published between 2005 and 2018 and indexed in PubMed (MEDLINE). Based on this review, we developed a preliminary core data set for informal expert feedback. We then used a modified-Delphi approach with individuals involved in implementation and evaluation of precision medicine, including 2 survey rounds followed by a final voting conference to refine the data set.ResultsTwo authors determined that variation in published data elements was reached after abstraction of 20 economic evaluations. Expert consultation refined the data set to 83 unique data elements, and a multidisciplinary sample of 46 experts participated in the modified-Delphi process. A total of 68 elements (81%) were selected as required, spanning demographics and clinical characteristics, genomic data, cancer treatment, health and quality of life outcomes, and resource use.ConclusionsCost-effectiveness analyses will fail to reflect the real-world impacts of precision oncology without data to accurately characterize patient care trajectories and outcomes. Data collection in accordance with the proposed core data set will promote standardization and enable the generation of decision-grade evidence to inform reimbursement.     

医院医疗设备运营经济评价的应用分析

目的对某医院设备的运营进行经济评价，为设备的科学使用，提高经济效益提供依据。方法分别计算出设备的静态经济评价指标和动态经济评价指标，并通过敏感性分析法进行设备运营经济风险分析。结果设备运营期可收回投资，投资效益尚可，有赢利，但存在一定风险。讨论不能仅凭一种指标进行经济评价，进行设备经济评价时应考虑资金的时间价值。     

Health and Economic Evaluation of Vaccination Against Pertussis in China: A 40-Year Analysis

ObjectivesThis study aimed to evaluate the health and economic impact of diphtheria, tetanus, whole-cell pertussis vaccine (DTwP) and diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis vaccine (DTaP) vaccination on pertussis prevention and control in China during the 40 years from 1978 to 2017.MethodsWe conducted cost-benefit analyses with a decision tree model populated with historical vaccination coverage levels and pertussis incidence and mortality data from before 1978 and during 1978 to 2017. We modeled 40 birth cohorts from birth until death. Costs and benefits were estimated from direct cost and societal perspectives (direct and indirect costs). Costs and benefits were adjusted to 2017 US dollars (USD), and future values were discounted at a 3% annual rate. We calculated net benefit values (net savings) and benefit-cost ratios of pertussis vaccination of children younger than 5 years. We conducted sensitivity analyses by varying key parameters within plausible ranges.ResultsWithout DTwP and DTaP vaccination, there would be an estimated 115.76 million pertussis cases and 426 650 pertussis deaths in the 40 cohorts. With DTwP/DTaP vaccination, pertussis cases and deaths were decreased by an estimated 92.57% and 97.43%, saving 46 987.81 million USD in direct costs and 82 013.37 million USD from societal perspective. Pertussis vaccination program costs were 2168.76 million USD and 3961.28 million USD from direct cost and societal perspectives. Benefit-cost ratios were 21.67:1 from the direct cost perspective and 20.70:1 from the societal perspective. Sensitivity analyses showed the results to be robust.ConclusionsOver the lifetime of 40 birth cohorts, China’s immunization program is preventing 93% of pertussis cases and 97% of pertussis deaths, resulting in substantial savings to the healthcare system and society.     

医用耗材定价中循证评价及经济学评价的作用

报告了通过循证评价确定哪些产品应该竞标定价,哪些产品应该单列。继而介绍了通过经济学评价可以确定单列产品的合理价格区间。     

Economic Evaluation and the Shifting Balance Towards Primary Care: Definitions,Evidence and Methodological Issues

Current UK government policy places considerable emphasis on shifting the balance of health care provision from secondary towards primary care. Despite this emphasis, however, there has been very little economic evaluation of initiatives designed to achieve this shift. In view of this deficiency, our article has three main aims. First, it offers a working definition of shifts in the balance of care at the primary–secondary care interface. Second, it systematically reviews the existing literature on the cost-effectiveness of initiatives designed to shift the balance of care. Third, it identifies a range of methodological issues that need to be addressed if future economic evaluations in this area are to be carried out satisfactorily. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Caring for ventilated patients in the community: a pilot study examining costs, quality of life and preferences

This paper describes a pilot study that identifies the implications for resource use when ventilated patients are moved from hospital to the community, and pilots two generic health status survey instruments to measure quality of life experienced in the community for use in a future full evaluation. A group of 11 ventilated patients living in the community were interviewed to identify their resource use, and the SF-36 questionnaire, EuroQol questionnaire and Patient Generated Index were used to investigate implications on quality of life and whether these measures were suitable for use in this group of patients. The main results indicate that the cost of care varies considerably between hospital and community and across patients. The quality of life measures proved inadequate, and highlighted the problems of measuring quality of life for patients with deteriorating health status. All patients much preferred home care to hospital care. A full multi-disciplinary evaluation is required to determine an effective method of providing the care.     

Economic Evaluation of Systemic Treatments for Advanced Melanoma: A Systematic Review

BackgroundMany high cost treatments for advanced melanoma have become available in recent years. National health technology assessment agencies have raised concerns regarding uncertainty in their clinical and cost-effectiveness.ObjectiveThe aim of this systematic review is to identify economic evaluations of treatments for advanced melanoma and review model assumptions, outcomes, and quality as preparation for a health technology assessment.MethodsA search of Embase, MEDLINE, EconLit, and the Cochrane Database was conducted. Only studies using decision-analytic models were included. Two authors independently completed full-text review and data extraction.ResultsFifteen studies were identified. There were major differences in the structural assumptions underpinning the models. There was general agreement in study conclusions, although the predicted costs and quality-adjusted life years for each treatment varied. BRAF monotherapy (vemurafenib, dabrafenib) or BRAF/MEK combination therapy (BRAF monotherapy with cobimetinib or trametinib) has not been shown to be cost-effective in any jurisdiction. PD-1 inhibitors (pembrolizumab, nivolumab) are consistently found to be cost-effective compared with ipilimumab, although their cost-effectiveness compared with chemotherapy is not established. Combination therapy with nivolumab and ipilimumab is unlikely to be cost-effective in any setting. One study including all agents found that none of the new treatments were cost-effective relative to chemotherapy. Publication of the study in a health economics journal is associated with better reporting of and higher-quality assessment than those published in clinical journals.ConclusionDespite differences in model structures and assumptions, the conclusions of most included studies were consistent. Health technology assessment has a key role in maximizing value from high-cost innovative treatments. Consideration should be given to divestment from BRAF/MEK inhibitors and ipilimumab in favor of reimbursement of PD-1 inhibitors.     

Investigating the Generalizability of Economic Evaluations Conducted in Italy: A Critical Review

ObjectivesTo assess the methodological quality of Italian health economic evaluations and their generalizability or transferability to different settings.MethodsA literature search was performed on the PubMed search engine to identify trial-based, nonexperimental prospective studies or model-based full economic evaluations carried out in Italy from 1995 to 2013. The studies were randomly assigned to four reviewers who applied a detailed checklist to assess the generalizability and quality of reporting. The review process followed a three-step blinded procedure. The reviewers who carried out the data extraction were blind as to the name of the author(s) of each study. Second, after the first review, articles were reassigned through a second blind randomization to a second reviewer. Finally, any disagreement between the first two reviewers was solved by a senior researcher.ResultsOne hundred fifty-one economic evaluations eventually met the inclusion criteria. Over time, we observed an increasing transparency in methods and a greater generalizability of results, along with a wider and more representative sample in trials and a larger adoption of transition-Markov models. However, often context-specific economic evaluations are carried out and not enough effort is made to ensure the transferability of their results to other contexts. In recent studies, cost-effectiveness analyses and the use of incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were preferred.ConclusionsDespite a quite positive temporal trend, generalizability of results still appears as an unsolved question, even if some indication of improvement within Italian studies has been observed.     

Economic Evaluation of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Depression: A Systematic Review

ObjectivesThis study aimed to conduct a systematic review of cost-utility studies of internet-based and face-to-face cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression from childhood to adulthood and to examine their reporting and methodological quality.MethodsA structured search for cost-utility studies concerning CBT for depression was performed in 7 comprehensive databases from their inception to July 2020. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, abstracted data, and assessed quality using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards and Quality of Health Economic Studies checklists. The primary outcome was the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) across all studies. To make a relevant comparison of the ICERs across the identified studies, cost data were inflated to the year 2020 and converted into US dollars.ResultsThirty-eight studies were included in this review, of which 26 studies (68%) were deemed of high methodological quality and 12 studies (32%) of fair quality. Despite differences in study designs and settings, the conclusions of most included studies for adult depression were general agreement; they showed that face-to-face CBT monotherapy or combination therapy compared with antidepressants and usual care for adult depression were cost-effective from the societal, health system, or payer perspective (ICER ?$241 212.4/quality-adjusted life-year [QALY] to $33 032.47/QALY, time horizon 12-60 months). Internet-based CBT regardless of guided or unguided also has a significant cost-effectiveness advantage (ICER ?$37 717.52/QALY to $73 841.34/QALY, time horizon 3-36 months). In addition, CBT was cost-effective in preventing depression (ICER ?$23 932.07/QALY to $26 092.02/QALY, time horizon 9-60 months). Nevertheless, the evidence for the cost-effectiveness of CBT for children and adolescents was still ambiguous.ConclusionsFair or high-quality evidence showed that CBT monotherapy or combination therapy for adult depression was cost-effective; whether CBT-related therapy was cost-effective for children and adolescents depression remains inconclusive.     

Economic Evaluation of Family-Focused Programs When Parents Have a Mental Health Problem: Methodological Considerations

ObjectivesThe nature of adverse effects of parental mental health problems and of the interventions to address them may require specific designs of economic evaluation studies. Nevertheless, methodological guidance is lacking. We aim to understand the broad spectrum of adverse effects from parental mental health problems in children and the economic consequences on an individual and societal level to navigate the design of economic evaluations in this field.MethodsWe conducted a systematic literature search of empirical studies on children’s adverse effects from parental mental illness. We clustered types of impact, identified individual and public cost consequences, and illustrated the results in an impact inventory.ResultsWe found a wide variety of short- and long-term (mental) health impacts, impacts on social functioning and socioeconomic implications for the children individually, and adverse effects on the societal level. Consequently, public costs can occur in various public sectors (eg, healthcare, education), and individuals may have to pay costs privately.ConclusionsExisting evaluations in this field mostly follow standard methodological approaches (eg, cost-utility analysis using quality-adjusted life-years) and apply a short-time horizon. Our findings suggest applying a long-term time horizon (at least up to early adulthood), considering cost-consequence analysis and alternatives to health-related quality of life and quality-adjusted life-years as outcome measures, and capturing the full range of possible public and private costs.     

An Economic Evaluation of Sacubitril/Valsartan for Heart Failure Patients in the Netherlands

Background

In September 2014, the PARADIGM-HF trial showed the heart failure drug combination sacubitril/valsartan to be superior to enalapril for patients with a reduced ejection fraction.

浙江省精神病医院省级专项经费投入的卫生经济学评估

目的评估浙江省精神卫生专项经费对精神卫生专业机构的卫生经济学效果.方法通过对省内15家接受精神卫生专项经费资助和13家未接受资助的精神卫生专业机构的对比,比较其5年来在服务功能、经济效益和资产结构方面差异以及资助前后的增长率.结果专项经费资助使受资助精神卫生专业机构在服务功能、经济效益、资产结构和职工收入等方面普遍获益,尤其是门诊、住院服务功能,医疗收入和职工收入,固定资产的获益更为明显.结论本次经费有助于使受资助精神卫生专业机构走上更加良性化运作的道路,符合成本效益原则.     

Simulation Modeling for the Economic Evaluation of Population-Based Dietary Policies: A Systematic Scoping Review

Simulation modeling can be useful to estimate the long-term health and economic impacts of population-based dietary policies. We conducted a systematic scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guideline to map and critically appraise economic evaluations of population-based dietary policies using simulation models. We searched Medline, Embase, and EconLit for studies published in English after 2005. Modeling studies were mapped based on model type, dietary policy, and nutritional target, and modeled risk factor–outcome pathways were analyzed. We included 56 studies comprising 136 model applications evaluating dietary policies in 21 countries. The policies most often assessed were reformulation (34/136), taxation (27/136), and labeling (20/136); the most common targets were salt/sodium (60/136), sugar-sweetened beverages (31/136), and fruit and vegetables (15/136). Model types included Markov-type (35/56), microsimulation (11/56), and comparative risk assessment (7/56) models. Overall, the key diet-related risk factors and health outcomes were modeled, but only 1 study included overall diet quality as a risk factor. Information about validation was only reported in 19 of 56 studies and few studies (14/56) analyzed the equity impacts of policies. Commonly included cost components were health sector (52/56) and public sector implementation costs (35/56), as opposed to private sector (18/56), lost productivity (11/56), and informal care costs (3/56). Most dietary policies (103/136) were evaluated as cost-saving independent of the applied costing perspective. An analysis of the main limitations reported by authors revealed that model validity, uncertainty of dietary effect estimates, and long-term intervention assumptions necessitate a careful interpretation of results. In conclusion, simulation modeling is widely applied in the economic evaluation of population-based dietary policies but rarely takes dietary complexity and the equity dimensions of policies into account. To increase relevance for policymakers and support diet-related disease prevention, economic effects beyond the health sector should be considered, and transparent conduct and reporting of model validation should be improved.     

Economic Evaluation of User-Fee Exemption Policies for Maternal Healthcare in Burkina Faso: Evidence From a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

ObjectivesThe reduction and removal of user fees for essential care services have recently become a key instrument to advance universal health coverage in sub-Saharan Africa, but no evidence exists on its cost-effectiveness. We aimed to address this gap by estimating the cost-effectiveness of 2 user-fee exemption interventions in Burkina Faso between 2007 and 2015: the national 80% user-fee reduction policy for delivery care services and the user-fee removal pilot (ie, the complete [100%] user-fee removal for delivery care) in the Sahel region.MethodsWe built a single decision tree to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the 2 study interventions and the baseline. The decision tree was populated with an own impact evaluation and the best available epidemiological evidence.ResultsRelative to the baseline, both the national 80% user-fee reduction policy and the user-fee removal pilot are highly cost-effective, with incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of $210.22 and $252.51 per disability-adjusted life-year averted, respectively. Relative to the national 80% user-fee reduction policy, the user-fee removal pilot entails an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $309.74 per disability-adjusted life-year averted.ConclusionsOur study suggests that it is worthwhile for Burkina Faso to move from an 80% reduction to the complete removal of user fees for delivery care. Local analyses should be done to identify whether it is worthwhile to implement user-fee exemptions in other sub-Saharan African countries.