drug costs. Total medical expenditures were calculated by the sum of those 3 categories.RESULTS: The age-standardized prevalence of cancer, mental disorders, and cardiovascular disease in firefighters was slightly higher than or similar to that of government officials and police officers (no significant difference). However, medical expenditures for stomach cancer, mental disorders, and most cardio-cerebrovascular diseases were higher in firefighters than in others. In particular, firefighters spent 12 times more money for ischemic heart disease than did government officials. Of musculoskeletal diseases, lumbar disc disorder had the highest expenditures among firefighters.CONCLUSIONS: The age-standardized prevalence of most of diseases of firefighters was not as high as in the other groups, but the medical expenses of firefighters were much higher than those of government officials and police officers.]]>
Cardiovascular Diseases ; Drug Costs ; Fees and Charges ; Firefighters ; Health Expenditures ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Mental Disorders ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; Myocardial Ischemia ; National Health Programs ; Occupational Groups ; Outpatients ; Police ; Prevalence ; Stomach Neoplasms

INTRODUCTION: Singapore has a rapidly ageing population and an increasing prevalence of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Compliance to AD medications is associated with treatment effectiveness. We investigated compliance to acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist and treatment persistence among patients seen at the General Memory Clinic of National University Hospital, Singapore. We also identified the reasons for non-compliance. METHODS: Patients seen at the General Memory Clinic between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2014, who were prescribed AChEIs and NMDA receptor antagonist, were included in this retrospective cohort study. Non-compliance to medications was indirectly measured by failure to renew prescription within 60 days of the last day of medication supplied by the previous prescription. The reasons for non-compliance were identified. RESULTS: A total of 144 patients were included. At one year, 107 patients were compliant to AD medications, while 37 patients were non-compliant. Around 60% of the non-compliant patients discontinued the use of AD medications within the first six months, and the mean persistent treatment period among this group of patients was 10.3 ± 3.5 months. The main reason for non-compliance was patients' and caregivers' perception that memory loss was of lower priority than other coexisting illnesses. Other reasons for non-compliance included side effects of medications (18.9%), perceived ineffectiveness of treatment (16.2%), inability to attend clinic (5.4%) and high cost of medications (2.7%). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that the reasons for medication non-compliance can be identified early. Better compliance may be achieved through a multidisciplinary approach to patient education.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Alzheimer Disease ; drug therapy ; epidemiology ; psychology ; Caregivers ; Cholinesterase Inhibitors ; therapeutic use ; Drug Costs ; Female ; Humans ; Interdisciplinary Communication ; Male ; Medication Adherence ; Middle Aged ; Patient Compliance ; Quality of Life ; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate ; antagonists & inhibitors ; Retrospective Studies ; Singapore ; epidemiology ; Treatment Outcome

PURPOSE: A safe and efficacious antiplatelet drug is needed for patients with clopidogrel resistance who undergo neuroendovascular procedures. Ticagrelor is a new reversibly binding, oral, direct-acting P2Y receptor antagonist with no known resistance. We describe our clinical experience using ticagrelor for neuroendovascular procedures in Indian patients with clopidogrel resistance at the NH Institute of Neurosciences, Narayana Health City, Bangalore. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed our endovascular procedure database for all patients with predefined clopidogrel resistance. Clopidogrel resistance was defined as P2Y12 inhibition <40%. Patients were administered ticagrelor along with aspirin prior to the procedure. RESULTS: Of 127 patients, 32 (25%) were non-responders to clopidogrel (22 [69%] males, 10 [31%] females; median age, 54 years [range, 20–75]). All patients were treated with a 180-mg loading dose of ticagrelor, followed by 90 mg twice daily. Twenty patients (63%) underwent endovascular intervention for intracranial aneurysm, two (6%) for dissecting aneurysms, nine (28%) for stenotic lesions, and one (3%) for carotico-cavernous fistula. No patient experienced any adverse effects related to the use of Ticagrelor in the postoperative period. CONCLUSION: Ticagrelor is an effective alternative to clopidogrel for use in conjunction with aspirin in patients with clopidogrel resistance. None of our patients had adverse effects from ticagrelor. Drug cost, twice-daily dosing, and risk of faster platelet aggregation activation after discontinuation should be taken into consideration prior to its use in such patients.
Aneurysm, Dissecting ; Aspirin ; Drug Costs ; Endovascular Procedures ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Male ; Neurosciences ; Platelet Aggregation ; Postoperative Period ; Retrospective Studies ; Stents

BACKGROUND/AIMS: There are only a few reports on the direct costs of severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs), including drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS), Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS), and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN), despite the tremendous negative impact these reactions can have on patients. We estimated the direct costs of treating SCARs. METHODS: Patients admitted to a tertiary teaching hospital for the treatment of SCARs from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2010 were included. Patients who had experienced SCARs during their admission for other medical conditions were excluded. The direct costs of hospitalization and outpatient department visits were collected. Inpatient and outpatient care costs were calculated, and factors affecting inpatient care costs were analyzed. RESULTS: The total healthcare cost for the management of 73 SCAR patients (36 with DRESS, 21 with SJS, and 16 with TEN) was 752,067 US dollars (USD). Most of the costs were spent on inpatient care (703,832 USD). The median inpatient care cost per person was 3,720 (range, 1,133 to 107,490) USD for DRESS, 4,457 (range, 1,224 to 21,428) USD for SJS, and 8,061 (range, 1,127 to 52,220) USD for TEN. Longer hospitalization significantly increased the inpatient care costs of the patients with DRESS (by 428 USD [range, 395 to 461] per day). Longer hospitalization and death significantly increased the inpatient care costs of the patients with SJS/TEN (179 USD [range, 148 to 210] per day and an additional 14,425 USD [range, 9,513 to 19,337] for the deceased). CONCLUSIONS: The management of SCARs required considerable direct medical costs. SCARs are not only a health problem but also a significant financial burden for the affected individuals.
Ambulatory Care ; Cicatrix ; Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome ; Health Care Costs ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea* ; Outpatients ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome ; Tertiary Care Centers*

Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer and the eighth most common cause of cancer mortality in women. Although standard chemotherapy is the established treatment for ovarian cancer, the prognosis remains poor, and it is highly anticipated that new drugs will be developed. New drugs, such as humanized anti-vascular endothelial growth factor monoclonal antibodies and poly ADP-ribose polymerase inhibitors, are expected to improve clinical outcomes of ovarian cancer. However, long-term, costly research is required to develop such new drugs, and soaring national healthcare costs are becoming a concern worldwide. In this social context, drug repositioning, wherein existing drugs are used to develop drugs with new indications for other diseases, has recently gained attention. Because trials have already confirmed the safety in humans and the pharmacokinetics of such drugs, the development period is shorter than the conventional development of a new drug, thereby reducing costs. This review discusses the available basic experimental and clinical data on drugs used for other types of cancer for which drug repositioning is anticipated to repurpose the drug for the treatment of ovarian cancer. These include statins, which are used to treat dyslipidemia; bisphosphonate, which is used to treat osteoporosis; metformin, which is used to treat diabetes; non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; ivermectin, an antiparasitic agent; and itraconazole, an anti-fungal agent. These drugs will play an important role in future drug repositioning strategies for ovarian cancer. Furthermore, drug repositioning is anticipated to extend not only to ovarian cancer treatment but also to ovarian cancer prevention.
Adenosine Diphosphate Ribose ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal ; Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Drug Repositioning* ; Drug Therapy ; Dyslipidemias ; Endothelial Growth Factors ; Female ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors ; Itraconazole ; Ivermectin ; Metformin ; Mortality ; Osteoporosis ; Ovarian Neoplasms* ; Pharmacokinetics ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to find the factors affecting the decisional conflict of patients undergoing chemotherapy.METHODS: Participants were 137 patients undergoing chemotherapy in a hospital. The Quality Quantity Questionnaire, a distress thermometer and the Decisional Conflict Scale were used to gather self-reported data. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, post-hoc Scheffe's tests, Pearson's correlations coefficients and stepwise multiple regression.RESULTS: The decisional conflict showed that the score for severe to high distress groups were higher than that of the mild distress group. The levels of distress and satisfaction of chemotherapy decisional conflict were positively correlated (p=.043). Decisional conflict was significantly affected by age (p=.041), the burden of treatment costs (p=.047), the support system(p=.049), the current feeling of health(p=.024), and comorbidity (p=.039). The significant predictors of decisional conflict were support system, current feeling of health, age, and the burden of treatment costs, which explained 15% of the variance.CONCLUSION: To improve the decisional conflict patients who are receiving chemotherapy, it is deemed to be necessary to develop an intervention program, for oncology nurses to use regarding decisional conflict over cancer treatment in consideration of the variables we have identified.
Comorbidity ; Drug Therapy ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Longevity ; Quality of Life ; Thermometers

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by compromised bone strength resulting in a predisposition to fracture. Osteoporosis-related fractures can lead to pain, disability, and increased healthcare costs. This study aimed to explore different pharmacological treatments for osteoporosis. Various treatments are used to prevent and treat osteoporosis, particularly in postmenopausal women and elderly men, but the approach needs to be individually tailored. Bisphosphonates are most commonly used to treat osteoporosis. Bisphosphonates and denosumab are mainly used during the initial phase of therapy for most patients with osteoporosis, including those with a high risk of fracture. In younger postmenopausal women, menopausal hormone therapy (including tibolone) and selective estrogen receptor modulators may be considered as alternatives for fracture prevention. Parathyroid hormone therapy is recommended for osteoporosis treatment in elderly patients with an increased risk of multiple vertebral fractures. Dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is the mainstay for monitoring the treatment response, and clinicians may consider alternative treatments if a significant decrease in bone mineral density is detected (using DXA or bone turnover markers) or if recurrent fractures occur during treatment. For postmenopausal women undergoing long-term bisphosphonate treatment, the risk of fracture should be reassessed after 3 to 5 years, and a “drug holiday” should be considered if the risk of fracture is low-to-moderate. Therapy should be continued for patients who continue to exhibit a high risk of fracture, or alternatively, switching to other treatments may be considered.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Aged ; Bone Density ; Bone Remodeling ; Denosumab ; Diphosphonates ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Health Care Costs ; Humans ; Male ; Osteoporosis ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The appropriateness assessment of hemodialysis therapy by Korean Health Insurance Review & Assessment service was conducted five times. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of the appropriateness assessment on the clinical hemodialysis treatment through the analysis of the medical expenses. METHODS: The medical insurance claims during the three months before and after the second, third, and fourth appropriateness assessment and the patient survival rate were analyzed according to the appropriateness rating level. RESULTS: The medical costs per patient during the three months before and after the assessment period were 6 to 8% lower than that of the assessment period. The medication cost (drug fee) was the best part of the evaluation because the cost differences according to the appropriateness rating grade were obvious. In addition, the cost of erythropoietin gradually decreased over each evaluation period, but there was no cost decrease in other drugs and the diabetic drug was even slightly increased. Patient survival rate according to the appropriateness rating grade was not large, but grade 2 was the best which was followed by grade 1 and grade 3, 4, and 5 were almost the same. Patient survival rate according to the appropriateness rating grade was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: The variation of medical costs associated with the assessment implicates the necessity of all year-round assessment. In addition, drug costs among the medical expenses seem to be the best reflected part of the evaluation grade because of the difference.
Costs and Cost Analysis ; Drug Costs ; Erythropoietin ; Health Impact Assessment ; Humans ; Insurance ; Insurance, Health ; Korea* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Survival Rate

OBJECTIVE: This study analyzed the national claims data of veterans to generate scientific evidence of the trends and appropriateness of their drug utilization in an outpatient setting. METHODS: The claims data were provided by the Health Insurance Review & Assessment (HIRA). Through sampling and matching data, we selected two comparable groups; Veterans vs. National Health Insurance (NHI) patients and Veterans vs. Medical Aid (MAID) patients. Drug use and costs were compared between groups by using multivariate gamma regression models to account for the skewed distribution, and therapeutic duplication was analyzed by using multivariate logistic regression models. RESULTS: In equivalent conditions, veteran patients made fewer visits to medical institutions (0.88 vs. 1), had 1.86 times more drug use, and paid 1.4 times more drug costs than NHI patients (p < 0.05); similarly, veteran patients made fewer visits to medical institutions (0.96 vs. 1), had 1.11 times more drug use, and paid 0.95 times less drug costs than MAID patients (p < 0.05). The risk of therapeutic duplication was 1.7 times higher (OR=1.657) in veteran patients than in NHI patients and 1.3 times higher (OR=1.311) than in MAID patients (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Similar patterns of drug use were found in veteran patients and MAID patients. There were greater concerns about the drug use behavior in veteran patients, with longer prescribing days and a higher rate of therapeutic duplication, than in MAID patients. Efforts should be made to measure if any inefficiency exists in veterans' drug use behavior.
Drug Costs ; Drug Utilization ; Humans ; Insurance, Health ; Logistic Models ; National Health Programs ; Outpatients* ; Prescriptions* ; Veterans*

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of polymer-free drug-coated BioFreedom stent implantation in comparison to coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) before major noncardiac surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In a multicenter registry, 55 patients required revascularization before major noncardiac surgery that should not be delayed >6 months. Of them, 27 underwent BioFreedom stent implantation and 28 underwent CABG. Primary outcomes included rate of noncardiac surgery, time from revascularization to noncardiac surgery, and occurrence of composite outcomes (all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis, stroke, repeat revascularization, or major bleeding). RESULTS: The rate of major noncardiac surgery was significantly higher in the BioFreedom group (92.6%) than in the CABG group (64.3%; p=0.027). Time from revascularization to noncardiac surgery was significantly shorter in the BioFreedom group (38.0 days) than in the CABG group (73.0 days; p=0.042). During the hospitalization for revascularization period, the occurrence of primary outcomes did not differ between the groups. However, the BioFreedom group showed a shorter hospitalization period and lower total treatment cost than the CABG group. During the hospital stay for noncardiac surgery, the occurrence of composite outcome was not significantly different between groups (4% vs. 0%; p>0.999): stroke occurred in only 1 case, and there were no cases of death or stent thrombosis in the BioFreedom group. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that BioFreedom stenting as a revascularization strategy before major noncardiac surgery might be feasible and safe in selected patients with less severe coronary artery diseases.
Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels* ; Drug-Eluting Stents ; Health Care Costs ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Myocardial Infarction ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Preoperative Care ; Stents* ; Stroke ; Thrombosis ; Transplants