ABSTRACT
Background: The economic impact of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in México in terms of excessive diagnostic testing can be considerably reduced if the recommendations of the Latín American Consensus (LATAM) for IBS are followed. Aim: To estímate the economic impact of IBS in terms of excessive diagnostic testing. Material and Methods: Based on a previously published study the costs of diagnostic testing for IBS were compared to the theoretical costs according to the recommendations of the consensus. These costs were compared to estímate the economic impact of excessive diagnostic testing. A cost-minimization analysis was also done. Results: For the lowest socioeconomic level in academic medicine, the excessive diagnostic testing had an approximate cost of US$21.38, compared to US$1.72 if the LATAM Consensus recommendations would have been followed, representing a saving of 92.0 percent. The cost for the highest socioeconomic level in academic medicine was US$1080.36 versus US$103.60 (a saving of 90.4 percent) and for prívate medicine, the costs were US$3121.60 versus US$159.90 (a saving of 94.9 percent) if the recommendations would have been followed. Conclusions: Limited diagnostic testing recommended by the LATAM Consensus for IBS can significantly decrease the economic impact of this disease in México.
Subject(s)
Humans , Direct Service Costs/statistics & numerical data , Health Expenditures/statistics & numerical data , Irritable Bowel Syndrome/economics , Consensus , Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System/economics , Irritable Bowel Syndrome/diagnosis , Mexico , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Unnecessary Procedures/economicsABSTRACT
Llevamos a cabo un estudio piloto para determinar la concordancia de la ecografía para medir el volumen de la tiroides, como parte de un protócolo para determinar la respuesta del bocio simple a la terapia supresiva. Examinamos diez sujetos con bocio y diez sujeto sanos, repitiendo el procedimiento una semana después y comparando el volumen de la tiroides, y que la variabilidad en la concordancia está dada por los sujeto examinados, lo que puede obedecer a la presencia de mayor o menor tejido adiposo o muscular en el cuello.