Economic Impact and Clinical Outcomes of Omalizumab Add-On Therapy for Patients with Severe Persistent Asthma: A Real-World Study.

BACKGROUND: Omalizumab is a fully humanized monoclonal antibody indicated as add-on therapy to improve asthma control in patients with severe persistent allergic asthma. AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate social, healthcare expenditure and clinical outcomes changes after incorporating omalizumab into standard treatment in the control of severe asthma. METHODS: In this multicentre retrospective study, a total of 220 patients were included from 15 respiratory medicine departments in the regions of Andalusia and Extremadura (Spain). Effectiveness was calculated as a 3-point increase in the Asthma Control Test (ACT) and a reduction in the annual number of exacerbations. The economic evaluation included both direct and indirect costs. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated. Results from the year before and the year after incorporation of omalizumab were compared. RESULTS: After adding omalizumab, improvement of lung function, asthma and rhinitis according to patient perception, as well as the number of exacerbations and asthma control measured by the ACT score were observed. Globally, both healthcare resources and pharmacological costs decreased after omalizumab treatment, excluding omalizumab cost. When only direct costs were considered, the ICER was €1712 (95% CI 1487-1995) per avoided exacerbation and €3859 (95% CI 3327-4418) for every 3-point increase in the ACT score. When both direct and indirect costs were considered, the ICER was €1607 (95% CI 1385-1885) for every avoided exacerbation and €3555 (95% CI 3012-4125) for every 3-point increase. CONCLUSIONS: Omalizumab was shown to be an effective add-on therapy for patients with persistent severe asthma and allowed reducing key drivers of asthma-related costs.

Recidivas y segundos tumores en el cáncer de pulmón de larga supervivencia / Disease Recurrence and Second Tumors in Long-term Survivors of Lung Cancer

Introducción y objetivos: Al mejorar la supervivencia del cáncer, la presencia de tumores múltiples en un paciente es cada vez más frecuente. El objetivo del estudio ha sido analizar la evolución a largo plazo, especialmente las posibles recidivas y segundos tumores primarios, en pacientes con cáncer de pulmón (CP) y supervivencia ≥ 3 años. Material y métodos: Estudio retrospectivo de 1.769 pacientes con CP. Se incluyen 218 (136 tratados con cirugía y 82 con otros tratamientos) con supervivencia global ≥ 3 años, de cualquier estirpe y seguidos durante un período entre 5 y 23 años. Se registró la evolución del CP y las enfermedades intercurrentes. Resultados: Un total de 65 presentaron recidiva del tumor, de los cuales el 60,9% apareció en los 3 primeros años; 26 desarrollaron segundos primarios pulmonares (84,6% después de 5 años) y 24, 2 o más segundos extrapulmonares (66,6% después de 5 años), la mayoría relacionados con el tabaco. La incidencia de segundos primarios fue superior a la incidencia esperable de cáncer en población general de similar edad y género. Conclusión: El efecto carcinogénico múltiple del tabaco persiste y se manifiesta en diversos órganos después de pasados 5 años tras el diagnóstico de CP, incluso en pacientes que han tenido una larga supervivencia. Después de 5 años, un segundo tumor es más probable que una recidiva del primero y el pulmón es el órgano con mayor probabilidad de desarrollar un segundo tumor

Introduction and objectives: As cancer survival improves, the appearance of multiple tumors in a single patient is becoming more common. The aim of this study was to analyze long-term evolution, focusing particularly on disease recurrence and second primary tumors, in patients with lung cancer (LC) and ≥ 3 years overall survival. Material and methods: Retrospective study of 1,769 patients with LC. A total of 218 (136 treated with surgery and 82 with other treatments), followed up for between 5 and 23 years were enrolled. LC progress and intercurrent diseases were recorded. Results: A total of 65 patients presented tumor relapse, of which 60.9% occurred in the first 3 years; 26 patients developed secondary primary tumors (84.6% after 5 years) and 24 developed 2 or more second extrapulmonary tumors (66.6% after 5 years), most of which were smoking-related. The incidence of second primaries was greater than the expected incidence of cancer in the general population matched for age and sex. Conclusion: The multiple carcinogenic effect of smoking persists and manifests in various organs, more than 5 years after the diagnosis of LC, even in patients with long survival. After 5 years, a second tumor is more likely than a relapse of the primary disease, and the lung is the most common site of development of a second tumor

Disease Recurrence and Second Tumors in Long-term Survivors of Lung Cancer.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: As cancer survival improves, the appearance of multiple tumors in a single patient is becoming more common. The aim of this study was to analyze long-term evolution, focusing particularly on disease recurrence and second primary tumors, in patients with lung cancer (LC) and ≥ 3 years overall survival. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective study of 1,769 patients with LC. A total of 218 (136 treated with surgery and 82 with other treatments), followed up for between 5 and 23 years were enrolled. LC progress and intercurrent diseases were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 65 patients presented tumor relapse, of which 60.9% occurred in the first 3 years; 26 patients developed secondary primary tumors (84.6% after 5 years) and 24 developed 2 or more second extrapulmonary tumors (66.6% after 5 years), most of which were smoking-related. The incidence of second primaries was greater than the expected incidence of cancer in the general population matched for age and sex. CONCLUSION: The multiple carcinogenic effect of smoking persists and manifests in various organs, more than 5 years after the diagnosis of LC, even in patients with long survival. After 5 years, a second tumor is more likely than a relapse of the primary disease, and the lung is the most common site of development of a second tumor.