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1.
Nat Commun ; 13(1): 1639, 2022 03 23.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35322045

ABSTRACT

Small trials have suggested that heterologous vaccination with first-dose ChAdOx1 and second-dose BNT162b2 may generate a better immune response than homologous vaccination with two doses of ChAdOx1. In this cohort analysis, we use linked data from Catalonia (Spain), where those aged <60 who received a first dose of ChAdOx1 could choose between ChAdOx1 and BNT162b2 for their second dose. Comparable cohorts were obtained after exact-matching 14,325/17,849 (80.3%) people receiving heterologous vaccination to 14,325/149,386 (9.6%) receiving homologous vaccination by age, sex, region, and date of second dose. Of these, 464 (3.2%) in the heterologous and 694 (4.8%) in the homologous groups developed COVID-19 between 1st June 2021 and 5th December 2021. The resulting hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) is 0.66 [0.59-0.74], favouring heterologous vaccination. The two groups had similar testing rates and safety outcomes. Sensitivity and negative control outcome analyses confirm these findings. In conclusion, we demonstrate that a heterologous vaccination schedule with ChAdOx1 followed by BNT162b2 was more efficacious than and similarly safe to homologous vaccination with two doses of ChAdOx1. Most of the infections in our study occurred when Delta was the predominant SARS-CoV-2 variant in Spain. These data agree with previous phase 2 randomised trials.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Aged , BNT162 Vaccine/adverse effects , BNT162 Vaccine/therapeutic use , COVID-19/epidemiology , COVID-19/prevention & control , ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/adverse effects , ChAdOx1 nCoV-19/therapeutic use , Humans , Vaccination/adverse effects , Vaccination/methods
2.
BMJ ; 374: n1868, 2021 08 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34407952

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine associations of BNT162b2 vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospital admission and death with covid-19 among nursing home residents, nursing home staff, and healthcare workers. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Nursing homes and linked electronic medical record, test, and mortality data in Catalonia on 27 December 2020. PARTICIPANTS: 28 456 nursing home residents, 26 170 nursing home staff, and 61 791 healthcare workers. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Participants were followed until the earliest outcome (confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, hospital admission or death with covid-19) or 26 May 2021. Vaccination status was introduced as a time varying exposure, with a 14 day run-in after the first dose. Mixed effects Cox models were fitted to estimate hazard ratios with index month as a fixed effect and adjusted for confounders including sociodemographics, comorbidity, and previous medicine use. RESULTS: Among the nursing home residents, SARS-CoV-2 infection was found in 2482, 411 were admitted to hospital with covid-19, and 450 died with covid-19 during the study period. In parallel, 1828 nursing home staff and 2968 healthcare workers were found to have SARS-CoV-2 infection, but fewer than five were admitted or died with covid-19. The adjusted hazard ratio for SARS-CoV-2 infection after two doses of vaccine was 0.09 (95% confidence interval 0.08 to 0.11) for nursing home residents, 0.20 (0.17 to 0.24) for nursing home staff, and 0.13 (0.11 to 0.16) for healthcare workers. Adjusted hazard ratios for hospital admission and mortality after two doses of vaccine were 0.05 (0.04 to 0.07) and 0.03 (0.02 to 0.04), respectively, for nursing home residents. Nursing home staff and healthcare workers recorded insufficient events for mortality analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Vaccination was associated with 80-91% reduction in SARS-CoV-2 infection in all three cohorts and greater reductions in hospital admissions and mortality among nursing home residents for up to five months. More data are needed on longer term effects of covid-19 vaccines.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 Vaccines/therapeutic use , COVID-19/mortality , Health Personnel/statistics & numerical data , Homes for the Aged/statistics & numerical data , Nursing Homes/statistics & numerical data , Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , BNT162 Vaccine , COVID-19/prevention & control , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Proportional Hazards Models , Prospective Studies , SARS-CoV-2 , Spain/epidemiology , Treatment Outcome
3.
Lancet Planet Health ; 5(5): e286-e296, 2021 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33964238

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In Spain, legislation was passed in 2012 excluding undocumented migrants from the public health-care system. Catalonia was one of the Spanish regions that did not implement this legislation, and continued to guarantee access to health care to the whole population. We aimed to analyse health-care use and health status among undocumented migrants in Catalonia, and compare health-care use and health status with legal residents classified according to their socioeconomic position (SEP). METHODS: We did a population-based, cross-sectional study, with administrative individual data. The study included the resident population in Catalonia, Spain, in 2017, aged younger than 65 years and with a maximum annual income of less than €18 000 per year, and classified into three socioeconomic (SEP) groups-low SEP, very low SEP, and undocumented migrants. Indicators regarding health-care service use (primary care, emergency care, mental health care, acute care), drug prescriptions, and selected chronic and infectious diseases were analysed. FINDINGS: Between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2017, 4 071 988 residents of Catalonia were included in this study; undocumented migrants represented 2·8% (n=113 450) of this population. Of all undocumented migrants, 25 942 (61·0%) female participants aged 15-64 years and 19 819 (46·0%) male participants aged 15-64 years attended primary health-care centres: these rates were lower than in individuals with a very low SEP (84·8% in female participants and 72·1% in male participants). Hospital admission rates among male participants aged 15-64 years in the very low SEP group were more than three times as high as in undocumented migrants (111·6 vs 35·7). The highest tuberculosis rate was found in undocumented male migrants (incidence rate 4·35 [95% CI 3·55-5·16]). INTERPRETATION: Undocumented migrants made less use of health-care services than those in the low and very low SEP groups, but for some infectious diseases, incidence was higher in undocumented migrants. These results constitute an additional argument to support the maintenance of universal health coverage for all citizens. FUNDING: None.


Subject(s)
Transients and Migrants , Cross-Sectional Studies , Delivery of Health Care , Female , Health Status , Humans , Male , Spain/epidemiology
4.
Vaccines (Basel) ; 10(1)2021 Dec 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35062719

ABSTRACT

(1) Background: In epidemiological terms, it has been possible to calculate the savings in health resources and the reduction in the health effects of COVID vaccines. Conducting an economic evaluation, some studies have estimated its cost-effectiveness; the vaccination shows highly favorable results, cost-saving in some cases. (2) Methods: Cost-benefit analysis of the vaccination campaign in the North Metropolitan Health Region (Catalonia). An epidemiological model based on observational data and before and after comparison is used. The information on the doses used and the assigned resources (conventional hospital beds, ICU, number of tests) was extracted from administrative data from the largest primary care provider in the region (Catalan Institute of Health). A distinction was made between the social perspective and the health system. (3) Results: the costs of vaccination are estimated at 137 million euros (€48.05/dose administered). This figure is significantly lower than the positive impacts of the vaccination campaign, which are estimated at 470 million euros (€164/dose administered). Of these, 18% corresponds to the reduction in ICU discharges, 16% to the reduction in conventional hospital discharges, 5% to the reduction in PCR tests and 1% to the reduction in RAT tests. The monetization of deaths and cases that avoid sequelae account for 53% and 5% of total savings, respectively. The benefit/cost ratio is estimated at 3.4 from a social perspective and 1.4 from a health system perspective. The social benefits of vaccination are estimated at €116.67 per vaccine dose (€19.93 from the perspective of the health system). (4) Conclusions: The mass vaccination campaign against COVID is cost-saving. From a social perspective, most of these savings come from the monetization of the reduction in mortality and cases with sequelae, although the intervention is equally widely cost-effective from the health system perspective thanks to the reduction in the use of resources. It is concluded that, from an economic perspective, the vaccination campaign has high social returns.

7.
Eur J Health Econ ; 20(3): 343-355, 2019 Apr.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30178148

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: To examine the costs of caring for community-dwelling patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia in relation to the time to institutionalisation. METHODS: GERAS was a prospective, non-interventional cohort study in community-dwelling patients with AD dementia and their caregivers in three European countries. Using identified factors associated with time to institutionalisation, models were developed to estimate the time to institutionalisation for all patients. Estimates of monthly total societal costs, patient healthcare costs and total patient costs (healthcare and social care together) prior to institutionalisation were developed as a function of the time to institutionalisation. RESULTS: Of the 1495 patients assessed at baseline, 307 (20.5%) were institutionalised over 36 months. Disease severity at baseline [based on Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores] was associated with risk of being institutionalised during follow up (p < 0.001). Having a non-spousal informal caregiver was associated with a faster time to institutionalisation (944 fewer days versus having a spousal caregiver), as was each one-point worsening in baseline score of MMSE, instrumental activities of daily living and behavioural disturbance (67, 50 and 30 fewer days, respectively). Total societal costs, total patient costs and, to a lesser extent, patient healthcare-only costs were associated with time to institutionalisation. In the 5 years pre-institutionalisation, monthly total societal costs increased by more than £1000 (€1166 equivalent for 2010) from £1900 to £3160 and monthly total patient costs almost doubled from £770 to £1529. CONCLUSIONS: Total societal costs and total patient costs rise steeply as community-dwelling patients with AD dementia approach institutionalisation.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/economics , Cost of Illness , Health Care Costs/statistics & numerical data , Independent Living/economics , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Caregivers , Cohort Studies , Comorbidity , Costs and Cost Analysis , Europe , Female , Humans , Institutionalization/economics , Likelihood Functions , Male , Prospective Studies , Severity of Illness Index
8.
Respir Med ; 145: 219-225, 2018 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29398283

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) may suffer episodes of exacerbation (ECOPD) that require hospitalization and worsen their health status, and prognosis. We hypothesized that a detailed interrogation of health-care "big data" databases can provide valuable information to better understand the risk factors and outcomes of these episodes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We interrogated four databases of the Catalan health-care system (>8,000,000 registries) to identify patients hospitalized because of ECOPD for the first time (index event) between 2010 and 2012. Analysis was carried forward since the index event until the end of 2014 or the death of the patient. The two years that preceded the index event were also investigated. RESULTS: We identified 17,555 patients, (≥50 years of age) hospitalized because of ECOPD (ICD9 v.9 codes at discharge) for the first time between 2010 and 2012. In this population we observed that: (1) 23% of patients die within a year after being discharged from their first ECOPD hospitalization; (2) in the remaining patients, all-cause mortality was related to the number of re-hospitalizations, particularly with early (<30 days) readmissions; (3) despite this being a 'respiratory' cohort, prescription and dispensation of drugs for cardiovascular diseases was higher than for obstructive airway diseases; and, finally, (4) lower winter ambient temperatures are associated with hospital admissions for ECOPD particularly in early re-admitters. CONCLUSIONS: Overall these results indicate under appreciation of the burden of COPD in patients hospitalized for the first time because ECOPD.


Subject(s)
Hospitalization/statistics & numerical data , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/epidemiology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cause of Death , Cohort Studies , Cold Temperature/adverse effects , Cost of Illness , Databases, Factual , Disease Progression , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/mortality , Risk Factors , Time Factors
9.
Int Psychogeriatr ; 29(12): 2081-2093, 2017 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28720158

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Country-specific data on resource use and costs associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) help inform governments about the increasing need for medical and financial support as the disease increases in prevalence. METHODS: GERAS II, a prospective observational study, assessed resource use, costs, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with AD and their caregivers in Spain. Community-dwelling patients aged ≥55 years with probable AD, and their primary caregivers, were recruited by study investigators during routine clinical practice and assessed as having mild, moderate, or moderately severe/severe (MS/S) AD dementia based on patient Mini-Mental State Examination scores. Costs of AD were calculated by applying costs to resource-use data obtained in caregiver interviews using the Resource Utilization in Dementia instrument. Total societal costs included patients' health and social care costs and caregiver informal care costs. Baseline results are presented. RESULTS: Total mean monthly societal costs/patient (2013 values) were €1514 for mild (n = 116), €2082 for moderate (n = 118), and €2818 for MS/S AD dementia (n = 146) (p value <0.001 between groups). Caregiver informal care costs comprised most of the total societal costs and differed significantly between groups (€1050, €1239, €1580, respectively; p value = 0.013), whereas patient healthcare costs did not. Across AD dementia severity groups, patient HRQoL (measured by proxy) decreased significantly (p value <0.001), caregiver subjective burden significantly increased (p value <0.001) and caregiver HRQoL was similar. CONCLUSIONS: Societal costs associated with AD in Spain were largely attributable to caregiver informal care costs and increased with increasing AD dementia severity.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/economics , Caregivers/economics , Cost of Illness , Quality of Life , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Female , Humans , Independent Living , Male , Prospective Studies , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Regression Analysis , Severity of Illness Index , Spain
10.
J Alzheimers Dis ; 57(3): 797-812, 2017.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28304285

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Country differences in resource use and costs of Alzheimer's disease (AD) may be driven by differences in health care systems and resource availability. OBJECTIVE: To compare country resource utilization drivers of societal costs for AD dementia over 18 months. METHODS: GERAS is an observational study in France (n = 419), Germany (n = 550), and the UK (n = 526). Resource use of AD patients and caregivers contributing to >1% of total societal costs (year 2010) was assessed for country differences, adjusting for participant characteristics. RESULTS: Mean 18-month societal costs per patient were France €33,339, Germany €38,197, and UK €37,899 (£32,501). Caregiver time spent on basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADL) contributed the most to societal costs (54% France, 64% Germany, 65% UK). Caregivers in France spent less time on ADL than UK caregivers and missed fewer work days than in other countries. Compared with other countries, patients in France used more community care services overall and were more likely to use home aid. Patients in Germany were least likely to use temporary accommodation or to be institutionalized at 18 months. UK caregivers spent the most time on instrumental ADL, UK patients used fewest outpatient resources, and UK patients/caregivers were most likely to receive financial support. CONCLUSION: Caregiver time on ADL contributed the most to societal costs and differed across countries, possibly due to use of community care services and institutionalization. Other resources had different patterns of use across countries, reflecting country-specific health and social care systems.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/economics , Alzheimer Disease/epidemiology , Cost of Illness , Health Resources/statistics & numerical data , Activities of Daily Living , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Analysis of Variance , Caregivers/economics , Cohort Studies , Europe/epidemiology , Female , Humans , International Cooperation , Male , Surveys and Questionnaires
11.
Rev. psiquiatr. salud ment ; 10(1): 4-20, ene.-mar. 2017. tab
Article in Spanish | IBECS | ID: ibc-160224

ABSTRACT

La esquizofrenia es un síndrome clínicamente heterogéneo que afecta a múltiples dimensiones vitales del individuo. Su tratamiento requiere un abordaje multidimensional en el que se deberían tener en cuenta la eficacia (la capacidad de una intervención para obtener el resultado pretendido en condiciones ideales), la efectividad (el grado en que se obtiene el efecto pretendido en condiciones de la práctica clínica habitual) y la eficiencia (el valor de la intervención con respecto al coste para el individuo o la sociedad). En una primera fase, un grupo de 90 expertos nacionales de todos los ámbitos, desde una perspectiva multidimensional y multidisciplinar de la enfermedad, definieron los conceptos de eficacia, efectividad y eficiencia en torno a 7 dimensiones clave: síntomas; comorbilidades; recaídas y adherencia; conciencia de enfermedad y experiencia subjetiva; cognición; calidad de vida, autonomía y capacidad funcional, e inclusión. Las principales conclusiones de esta fase se presentan en este trabajo (AU)


Schizophrenia is a clinically heterogeneous syndrome affecting multiple dimensions of patients’ life. Therefore, its treatment might require a multidimensional approach that should take into account the efficacy (the ability of an intervention to get the desired result under ideal conditions), the effectiveness (the degree to which the intended effect is obtained under routine clinical practice conditions or settings) and the efficiency (value of the intervention as relative to its cost to the individual or society) of any therapeutic intervention. In a first step of the process, a group of 90 national experts from different areas of health-care and with a multidimensional and multidisciplinary perspective of the disease, defined the concepts of efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency of established therapeutic interventions within 7 key dimensions of the illness: symptomatology; comorbidity; relapse and adherence; insight and subjective experience; cognition; quality of life, autonomy and functional capacity; and social inclusion and associated factors. The main conclusions and recommendations of this stage of the work are presented herein (AU)


Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Schizophrenia/therapy , Treatment Outcome , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/statistics & numerical data , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales/standards , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Cognition/physiology , Evaluation of the Efficacy-Effectiveness of Interventions , Comorbidity , Medication Adherence/psychology , Medication Adherence/statistics & numerical data , Quality of Life/psychology , Secondary Prevention/trends
12.
Health Qual Life Outcomes ; 15(1): 16, 2017 Jan 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28109287

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The impact on informal caregivers of caring for people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia can be substantial, but it remains unclear which measures(s) best assess such impact. Our objective was to use data from the GERAS study to assess the ability of the EuroQol 5-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D) to measure the impact on caregivers of caring for people with AD dementia and to examine correlations between EQ-5D and caregiver burden. METHODS: GERAS was a prospective, non-interventional cohort study in community-dwelling patients with AD dementia and their informal caregivers. The EQ-5D and Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) were used to measure health-related quality of life and caregiver burden, respectively. Resource-use data collected included caregiver time spent with the patient on activities of daily living (ADL). Spearman correlations were computed between EQ-5D scores, ZBI scores, and time spent on instrumental ADL (T-IADL) at baseline, 18 months, and for 18-month change scores. T-IADL and ZBI change scores were summarized by EQ-5D domain change category (better/stable/worse). RESULTS: At baseline, 1495 caregivers had mean EQ-5D index scores of 0.86, 0.85, and 0.82, and ZBI total scores of 24.6, 29.4, and 34.1 for patients with mild, moderate, and moderately severe/severe AD dementia, respectively. Change in T-IADL showed a stronger correlation with change in ZBI (0.12; P < 0.001) than with change in EQ-5D index score (0.02; P = 0.546) although both correlations were very weak. Worsening within EQ-5D domains was associated with increases in ZBI scores, although 68%-90% of caregivers remained stable within each EQ-5D domain. There was no clear pattern for change in T-IADL by change in EQ-5D domain. CONCLUSIONS: EQ-5D may not be the optimum measure of the impact of caring for people with AD dementia due to its focus on physical health. Alternative measures need further investigation.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/nursing , Caregivers/psychology , Cost of Illness , Quality of Life/psychology , Surveys and Questionnaires/standards , Activities of Daily Living , Adaptation, Psychological , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Germany , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Self Report
13.
Rev Psiquiatr Salud Ment ; 10(1): 4-20, 2017.
Article in English, Spanish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27777062

ABSTRACT

Schizophrenia is a clinically heterogeneous syndrome affecting multiple dimensions of patients' life. Therefore, its treatment might require a multidimensional approach that should take into account the efficacy (the ability of an intervention to get the desired result under ideal conditions), the effectiveness (the degree to which the intended effect is obtained under routine clinical practice conditions or settings) and the efficiency (value of the intervention as relative to its cost to the individual or society) of any therapeutic intervention. In a first step of the process, a group of 90 national experts from different areas of health-care and with a multidimensional and multidisciplinary perspective of the disease, defined the concepts of efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency of established therapeutic interventions within 7 key dimensions of the illness: symptomatology; comorbidity; relapse and adherence; insight and subjective experience; cognition; quality of life, autonomy and functional capacity; and social inclusion and associated factors. The main conclusions and recommendations of this stage of the work are presented herein.


Subject(s)
Schizophrenia/therapy , Antipsychotic Agents/therapeutic use , Combined Modality Therapy , Comorbidity , Efficiency , Humans , Patient Compliance , Personal Autonomy , Psychological Distance , Psychotherapy , Quality of Life , Recurrence , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Schizophrenic Psychology , Treatment Outcome
14.
BMC Med Res Methodol ; 16: 83, 2016 07 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27430559

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Missing data are a common problem in prospective studies with a long follow-up, and the volume, pattern and reasons for missing data may be relevant when estimating the cost of illness. We aimed to evaluate the effects of different methods for dealing with missing longitudinal cost data and for costing caregiver time on total societal costs in Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: GERAS is an 18-month observational study of costs associated with AD. Total societal costs included patient health and social care costs, and caregiver health and informal care costs. Missing data were classified as missing completely at random (MCAR), missing at random (MAR) or missing not at random (MNAR). Simulation datasets were generated from baseline data with 10-40 % missing total cost data for each missing data mechanism. Datasets were also simulated to reflect the missing cost data pattern at 18 months using MAR and MNAR assumptions. Naïve and multiple imputation (MI) methods were applied to each dataset and results compared with complete GERAS 18-month cost data. Opportunity and replacement cost approaches were used for caregiver time, which was costed with and without supervision included and with time for working caregivers only being costed. RESULTS: Total costs were available for 99.4 % of 1497 patients at baseline. For MCAR datasets, naïve methods performed as well as MI methods. For MAR, MI methods performed better than naïve methods. All imputation approaches were poor for MNAR data. For all approaches, percentage bias increased with missing data volume. For datasets reflecting 18-month patterns, a combination of imputation methods provided more accurate cost estimates (e.g. bias: -1 % vs -6 % for single MI method), although different approaches to costing caregiver time had a greater impact on estimated costs (29-43 % increase over base case estimate). CONCLUSIONS: Methods used to impute missing cost data in AD will impact on accuracy of cost estimates although varying approaches to costing informal caregiver time has the greatest impact on total costs. Tailoring imputation methods to the reason for missing data will further our understanding of the best analytical approach for studies involving cost outcomes.


Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease/economics , Cost-Benefit Analysis/methods , Alzheimer Disease/therapy , Caregivers/economics , Data Accuracy , Health Care Costs , Humans , Independent Living , Longitudinal Studies , Markov Chains , Middle Aged , Monte Carlo Method , Observational Studies as Topic
15.
Med Clin (Barc) ; 145 Suppl 1: 43-8, 2015 Nov.
Article in Spanish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26711062

ABSTRACT

The origins of the health technology assessment (HTA) agencies date back to the 70s in the United States; in the European context, the current Agency for Quality and Health Assessment of Catalonia was among the pioneers in 1991. Epidemiological, social, technological and economic changes of recent years have led to the incorporation, by the agencies, of new functions, activities and projects that can offer better services (information and knowledge) to the various players in the healthcare system (patients, professionals, providers, insurers and policy-makers) in order to increase healthcare quality and preserve the sustainability of the health system.


Subject(s)
Health Policy/history , Technology Assessment, Biomedical/history , Health Policy/trends , History, 20th Century , History, 21st Century , Humans , Medical Overuse/prevention & control , Medical Overuse/trends , National Health Programs/history , National Health Programs/organization & administration , Organizational Innovation , Patient Participation/history , Patient Participation/trends , Quality of Health Care/history , Quality of Health Care/organization & administration , Spain , Technology Assessment, Biomedical/organization & administration
16.
Med. clín (Ed. impr.) ; 145(supl.1): 43-48, nov. 2015. ilus, tab
Article in Spanish | IBECS | ID: ibc-147304

ABSTRACT

Los orígenes de las agencias de evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias se remontan a la década de los setenta en Estados Unidos; en el contexto europeo, la actual Agència de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitàries de Catalunya estuvo entre las pioneras en 1991. Los cambios epidemiológicos, sociales, tecnológicos y económicos de los últimos años han provocado que las agencias hayan incorporado nuevas funciones, actividades y proyectos que permiten ofrecer mejores servicios (información y conocimiento) a los distintos actores del sistema sanitario (pacientes, profesionales, proveedores, aseguradoras y policy-makers), con el fin de aumentar la calidad y preservar la sostenibilidad del sistema sanitario (AU)


The origins of th e health technology assessment (HTA) agencies date back to the 70s in the United States; in the European context, the current Agency for Quality and Health Assessment of Catalonia was among the pioneers in 1991. Epidemiological, social, technological and economic changes of recent years have led to the incorporation, by the agencies, of new functions, activities and projects that can offer better services (information and knowledge) to the various players in the healthcare system (patients, professionals, providers, insurers and policy-makers) in order to increase healthcare quality and preserve the sustainability of the health system (AU)


Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , History, 21st Century , Health Systems Agencies/history , Health Systems Agencies/organization & administration , Technology Assessment, Biomedical/methods , Technology Assessment, Biomedical/organization & administration , Technology Assessment, Biomedical/standards , Health Services/history , Health Services/standards , Health Policy/legislation & jurisprudence , Technology Assessment, Biomedical/history , Technology Assessment, Biomedical , Quality of Health Care/history , Quality of Health Care/organization & administration , Quality of Health Care/standards , Health Policy/history , Health Policy/trends
17.
Dement Geriatr Cogn Dis Extra ; 4(1): 51-64, 2014 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24711814

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To examine factors influencing the caregiver burden in adult-child and spousal caregivers of community-dwelling patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). METHODS: Baseline data from the 18-month, prospective, observational GERAS study of 1,497 patients with AD in France, Germany, and the UK were used. Analyses were performed on two groups of caregivers: spouses (n = 985) and adult children (n = 405). General linear models estimated patient and caregiver factors associated with subjective caregiver burden assessed using the Zarit Burden Interview. RESULTS: The caregiver burden increased with AD severity. Adult-child caregivers experienced a higher burden than spousal caregivers despite spending less time caring. Worse patient functional ability and more caregiver distress were independently associated with a greater burden in both adult-child and spousal caregivers. Additional factors were differentially associated with a greater caregiver burden in both groups. In adult-child caregivers these were: living with the patient, patient living in an urban location, and patient with a fall in the past 3 months; in spouses the factors were: caregiver gender (female) and age (younger), and more years of patient education. CONCLUSION: The perceived burden differed between adult-child and spousal caregivers, and specific patient and caregiver factors were differentially associated with this burden.

18.
PLoS One ; 7(5): e35903, 2012.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22567118

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Emergency department (ED) utilization has dramatically increased in developed countries over the last twenty years. Because it has been associated with adverse outcomes, increased costs, and an overload on the hospital organization, several policies have tried to curb this growing trend. The aim of this study is to systematically review the effectiveness of organizational interventions designed to reduce ED utilization. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted electronic searches using free text and Medical Subject Headings on PubMed and The Cochrane Library to identify studies of ED visits, re-visits and mortality. We performed complementary searches of grey literature, manual searches and direct contacts with experts. We included studies that investigated the effectiveness of interventions designed to reduce ED visits and the following study designs: time series, cross-sectional, repeated cross-sectional, longitudinal, quasi-experimental studies, and randomized trial. We excluded studies on specific conditions, children and with no relevant outcomes (ED visits, re-visits or adverse events). From 2,348 potentially useful references, 48 satisfied the inclusion criteria. We classified the interventions in mutually exclusive categories: 1) Interventions addressing the supply and accessibility of services: 25 studies examined efforts to increase primary care physicians, centers, or hours of service; 2) Interventions addressing the demand for services: 6 studies examined educational interventions and 17 examined barrier interventions (gatekeeping or cost). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The evidence suggests that interventions aimed at increasing primary care accessibility and ED cost-sharing are effective in reducing ED use. However, the rest of the interventions aimed at decreasing ED utilization showed contradictory results. Changes in health care policies require rigorous evaluation before being implemented since these can have a high impact on individual health and use of health care resources. Systematic review registration: http://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO. Identifier: CRD420111253.


Subject(s)
Emergency Service, Hospital/statistics & numerical data , Health Services/statistics & numerical data , Humans
19.
Med. clín (Ed. impr.) ; 131(supl.4): 36-41, dic. 2008. tab
Article in Es | IBECS | ID: ibc-71399

ABSTRACT

En este artículo se señalan las tendencias que establece el Mapa Sanitario de Cataluña por tipos de servicios (atención primaria, atención especializada de agudos, atención a la salud mental y las adicciones, atención sociosanitaria, atención urgente y la atención en el domicilio). La elaboración de los criterios de planificación en el horizonte 2015 comprende la identificación de la visión estratégica de modelo asistencial, la revisión de los procesos de atención y de adecuación de la demanda, la estimación de la capacidad asistencial necesaria y la propuesta de objetivos de cobertura territorial. También se incluyen orientaciones de planificación para los servicios de salud pública, en el contexto de cambio en curso. Se consideran, además, las estrategias y los instrumentos para favorecer la integración de servicios, entendiendo que la red asistencial constituye un entramado de relaciones entre profesionales y servicios, de las que depende la continuidad asistencial y la eficiencia en la provisión de los servicios


This article points out the trends established by the Health Map of Catalonia for types of services (primary healthcare, specialised acute care, mental health care, social healthcare, emergency care and homehealthcare). The drawing up of planning criteria for the 2015 horizon includes the identification of a strategic vision for the healthcare model, the revision of healthcare processes and the adaptation to demand,the estimation of the health care capacity required and the proposal of territorial coverage objectives.Also included are planning guidelines for health services, in the context of ongoing change.Strategies and instruments for encouraging the integration of services are also considered, perceiving the healthcare network as a framework of relationships between professionals and services, which depend oncontinuity in healthcare and efficiency in the provision of services


Subject(s)
Health Services Needs and Demand/organization & administration , Health Policy, Planning and Management/organization & administration , 32477 , Health Programs and Plans , Spain
20.
Med Clin (Barc) ; 131 Suppl 4: 36-41, 2008 Dec.
Article in Spanish | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19195476

ABSTRACT

This article points out the trends established by the Health Map of Catalonia for types of services (primary healthcare, specialised acute care, mental health care, social healthcare, emergency care and home healthcare). The drawing up of planning criteria for the 2015 horizon includes the identification of a strategic vision for the healthcare model, the revision of healthcare processes and the adaptation to demand, the estimation of the health care capacity required and the proposal of territorial coverage objectives. Also included are planning guidelines for health services, in the context of ongoing change. Strategies and instruments for encouraging the integration of services are also considered, perceiving the healthcare network as a framework of relationships between professionals and services, which depend on continuity in healthcare and efficiency in the provision of services.


Subject(s)
Health Services Administration/trends , Public Health , Regional Health Planning/organization & administration , Regional Health Planning/trends , Social Work/organization & administration
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