A survey on clinical presentation and nutritional status of infants with suspected cow' milk allergy.

BACKGROUND: Cow's milk is the most common food allergen in infants and the diagnosis of cow's milk allergy is difficult, even with the use of several diagnostic tests. Therefore, elimination diets and challenge tests are essential for the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder. The aim of this study is to report the clinical presentation and nutritional status of children evaluated by pediatric gastroenterologists for the assessment of symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was performed among 9,478 patients evaluated by 30 pediatric gastroenterologists for 40 days in 5 different geographical regions in Brazil. Clinical data were collected from patients with symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy. The nutritional status of infants (age < or = 24 months) seen for the first time was evaluated according to z-scores for weight-for-age, weight-for-height, and height-for-age. Epi-Info (CDC-NCHS, 2000) software was used to calculate z-scores. RESULTS: The prevalence of suspected cow's milk allergy in the study population was 5.4% (513/9,478), and the incidence was 2.2% (211/9,478). Among 159 infants seen at first evaluation, 15.1% presented with a low weight-for-age z score (< -2.0 standard deviation - SD), 8.7% with a low weight-for-height z score (< -2.0 SD), and 23.9% with a low height-for-age z score (< -2.0 SD). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of nutritional deficits among infants with symptoms suggestive of cow's milk allergy indicates that effective elimination diets should be prescribed to control allergy symptoms and to prevent or treat malnutrition.

Cost-effectiveness of anastrozole, in comparison with tamoxifen, in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer in Brazil.

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer, a leading type of cancer in many developing countries, is the most frequent non-cutaneous tumor in Brazil. Hormone therapy is the standard of care in the adjuvant treatment of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive disease, and both tamoxifen and third-generation aromatase inhibitors are options in postmenopausal women. The comparative cost-effectiveness of different treatment strategies is of considerable interest in societies facing limited resources. METHODS: In an attempt to compare cost-effectiveness of upfront treatment with tamoxifen or anastrozole, the medical and economic results in a hypothetical cohort of 64-year-old postmenopausal women, was analyzed considering the Brazilian healthcare system in 2005, the primary perspective of the private sector, and a lifetime horizon. Data from the ATAC Trial, Markov modeling, a modified Delphi panel, and microcosting (in Brazilian R$) were used to estimate costs and effectiveness of the two upfront strategies. RESULTS: The model estimated a gain of 0.55 discounted life-years for patients receiving anastrozole, relative to those treated with tamoxifen. With an incremental cost of R$ 15,141.15, the model estimated that the cost-effectiveness of anastrozole, in relation to tamoxifen, was R$ 27,326.80. Monte Carlo simulations showed that approximately 50% of the cases fell below the threshold of R$ 29,229.00 per life-year gained, which is recommended by the World Health Organization for Brazil. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that upfront anastrozole is a cost-effective option compared with tamoxifen in the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer.

Cost-effectiveness of anastrozole, in comparison with tamoxifen, in the adjuvant treatment of early breast cancer in Brazil / Custo-efetividade do anastrozol em comparação com tamoxifeno no tratamento adjuvante do câncer de mama precoce no Brasil

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer, a leading type of cancer in many developing countries, is the most frequent non-cutaneous tumor in Brazil. Hormone therapy is the standard of care in the adjuvant treatment of early-stage, hormone-receptor-positive disease, and both tamoxifen and third-generation aromatase inhibitors are options in postmenopausal women. The comparative cost-effectiveness of different treatment strategies is of considerable interest in societies facing limited resources. METHODS: In an attempt to compare cost-effectiveness of upfront treatment with tamoxifen or anastrozole, the medical and economic results in a hypothetical cohort of 64-year-old postmenopausal women, was analyzed considering the Brazilian healthcare system in 2005, the primary perspective of the private sector, and a lifetime horizon. Data from the ATAC Trial, Markov modeling, a modified Delphi panel, and microcosting (in Brazilian R$) were used to estimate costs and effectiveness of the two upfront strategies. RESULTS: The model estimated a gain of 0.55 discounted life-years for patients receiving anastrozole, relative to those treated with tamoxifen. With an incremental cost of R$ 15,141.15, the model estimated that the cost-effectiveness of anastrozole, in relation to tamoxifen, was R$ 27,326.80. Monte Carlo simulations showed that approximately 50 percent of the cases fell below the threshold of R$ 29,229.00 per life-year gained, which is recommended by the World Health Organization for Brazil. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that upfront anastrozole is a cost-effective option compared with tamoxifen in the adjuvant treatment of postmenopausal women with hormone-receptor-positive early breast cancer.

OBJETIVO: O câncer de mama, o mais comum em vários países desenvolvidos, é o tumor não cutâneo mais frequente no Brasil. A terapia hormonal é o tratamento adjuvante padrão para os estágios precoces, em doença com receptor hormonal positivo, e o tamoxifeno e os inibidores da aromatase de terceira geração são opções para mulheres na pós-menopausa. A comparação do custo-efetividade dos diferentes tratamentos é de grande interesse nas sociedades com limitações de recursos. MÉTODOS: Para comparar a custo-efetividade dos tratamentos com tamoxifeno ou anastrozol, foram analisados os resultados médicos e econômicos em uma coorte hipotética de mulheres com 64 anos de idade, considerando o sistema de saúde Brasileiro em 2005, sob a perspectiva do setor privado e o horizonte de tempo de uma vida. Usamos dados do Estudo ATAC, um modelo de Markov, um painel de Delphi modificado, e micro-costing (em reais R$) para estimar os custos e a efetividade das duas estratégias. RESULTADOS: O modelo estimou um ganho de 0.55 anos de vida descontados para pacientes recebendo anastrozol em relação àquelas tratadas com tamoxifeno. Com um custo marginal de R$ 15.141,15, o modelo estimou que o custoefetividade do anastrozol em relação ao tamoxifeno era de R$ 27.326,80. As simulações de Monte Carlo mostraram que aproximadamente 50 por cento dos casos estavam abaixo do limite de R$ 29.229,00 por ano-vida ganho, que é o recomendado pela Organização Mundial da Saúde para o Brasil. CONCLUSÃO: Nós concluímos que o anastrozol é uma opção custo-efetivo comparado ao tamoxifeno no tratamento adjuvante de câncer de mama precoce em mulheres na pós-menopausa com receptor de hormônio positivo.