The Burden of Chagas Disease in the Contemporary World: The RAISE Study.

Chagas disease (ChD), a Neglected Tropical Disease, has witnessed a transformative epidemiological landscape characterized by a trend of reduction in prevalence, shifting modes of transmission, urbanization, and globalization. Historically a vector-borne disease in rural areas of Latin America, effective control measures have reduced the incidence in many countries, leading to a demographic shift where most affected individuals are now adults. However, challenges persist in regions like the Gran Chaco, and emerging oral transmission in the Amazon basin adds complexity. Urbanization and migration from rural to urban areas and to non-endemic countries, especially in Europe and the US, have redefined the disease's reach. These changing patterns contribute to uncertainties in estimating ChD prevalence, exacerbated by the lack of recent data, scarcity of surveys, and reliance on outdated models. Besides, ChD's lifelong natural history, marked by acute and chronic phases, introduces complexities in diagnosis, particularly in non-endemic regions where healthcare provider awareness is low. The temporal dissociation of infection and clinical manifestations, coupled with underreporting, has rendered ChD invisible in health statistics. Deaths attributed to ChD cardiomyopathy often go unrecognized, camouflaged under alternative causes. Understanding these challenges, the RAISE project aims to reassess the burden of ChD and ChD cardiomyopathy. The project is a collaborative effort of the World Heart Federation, Novartis Global Health, the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and a team of specialists coordinated by Brazil's Federal University of Minas Gerais. Employing a multidimensional strategy, the project seeks to refine estimates of ChD-related deaths, conduct systematic reviews on seroprevalence and prevalence of clinical forms, enhance existing modeling frameworks, and calculate the global economic burden, considering healthcare expenditures and service access. The RAISE project aspires to bridge knowledge gaps, raise awareness, and inform evidence-based health policies and research initiatives, positioning ChD prominently on the global health agenda.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Rituximab for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Using a Semi-Markovian Model Approach in R.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to compare the strategies fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab and fludarabine and cyclophosphamide for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Brazil. METHODS: A three-states clock-reset semi-Markovian model was constructed in R. The time horizon of the analysis was 15 years and monthly cycles were used. Transition probabilities were derived from the survival curves of the CLL-8 study. Other probabilities were also derived from the medical literature. Costs included in the model referred to the application of injectable drugs, prescription cost, cost of treating adverse events, and costs of supportive care. The model was evaluated by microsimulation. To determine the study result, multiple cost-effectiveness threshold values were used. RESULTS: In the main analysis, an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of 19 029.38 PPP-US dollars (USD)/quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) (41 141.52 Brazilian real/QALY) was observed. In 1.8% of the iterations, fludarabine and cyclophosphamide was considered dominant over fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab. It can be shown that at 1 gross domestic product (GDP) per capita/QALY, 36.1% of the iterations would consider the technology cost-effective. At 2 GDP per capita/QALY, this number rises to 82.1%. At 50 000 USD/QALY, 92.8% of the iterations would suggest the technology to be cost-effective. In terms of some threshold accepted or proposed around the world, the technology would be considered cost-effective at 50 000 USD/QALY, 3 GDP per capita/QALY, and 2 GDP per capita/QALY. It would not be cost-effective at 1 GDP per capita/QALY or the opportunity costs threshold. CONCLUSION: It can be considered that rituximab is cost-effective for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia in Brazil.

The economic burden of malaria: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Quantifying disease costs is critical for policymakers to set priorities, allocate resources, select control and prevention strategies, and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of interventions. Although malaria carries a very large disease burden, the availability of comprehensive and comparable estimates of malaria costs across endemic countries is scarce. METHODS: A literature review to summarize methodologies utilized to estimate malaria treatment costs was conducted to identify gaps in knowledge. RESULTS: Only 45 publications met the inclusion criteria. They utilize different methods, include distinct cost components, have varied geographical coverage (a country vs a city), include different periods in the analysis, and focus on specific parasite types or population groups (e.g., pregnant women). CONCLUSIONS: Cost estimates currently available are not comparable, hindering broad statements on the costs of malaria, and constraining advocacy efforts towards investment in malaria control and elimination, particularly with the finance and development sectors of the government.

Challenges and lessons from a primary care intervention in a Brazilian municipality.

OBJECTIVE: To address the implementation of the Lab for Innovation in Chronic Conditions in Santo Antonio do Monte, indicating the main challenges and lessons of a new chronic condition model. METHODS: This is an observational study based on two sources of data: 1) two cross-sectional household surveys, 2013 (2012 as reference year) and 2015 (2014 as reference year), representative for the entire population and four target groups (pregnant women; children under two years old; individuals with hypertension and diabetes); medical records of individuals who self-reported having hypertension or diabetes in the household survey of 2013. A descriptive statistics analysis was performed. RESULTS: The main findings showed that the public health system is the main provider of health services, mainly primary care, in Santo Antonio do Monte. Besides, the implementation of Lab for Innovation in Chronic Conditions showed the importance of building a Primary Health Care network in small municipalities. CONCLUSIONS: Community health agents and health managers played a fundamental role in the Primary Health Care network. The case study of Santo Antonio do Monte poses some challenges and lessons that clarify future interventions on building a Primary Health Care network that is essential to provide an adequate and longitudinal care to chronic conditions.

Challenges and lessons from a primary care intervention in a Brazilian municipality

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To address the implementation of the Lab for Innovation in Chronic Conditions in Santo Antonio do Monte, indicating the main challenges and lessons of a new chronic condition model. METHODS This is an observational study based on two sources of data: 1) two cross-sectional household surveys, 2013 (2012 as reference year) and 2015 (2014 as reference year), representative for the entire population and four target groups (pregnant women; children under two years old; individuals with hypertension and diabetes); medical records of individuals who self-reported having hypertension or diabetes in the household survey of 2013. A descriptive statistics analysis was performed. RESULTS The main findings showed that the public health system is the main provider of health services, mainly primary care, in Santo Antonio do Monte. Besides, the implementation of Lab for Innovation in Chronic Conditions showed the importance of building a Primary Health Care network in small municipalities. CONCLUSIONS Community health agents and health managers played a fundamental role in the Primary Health Care network. The case study of Santo Antonio do Monte poses some challenges and lessons that clarify future interventions on building a Primary Health Care network that is essential to provide an adequate and longitudinal care to chronic conditions.