[Economic analysis of dalteparin use in knee surgery at Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social]. / Análisis económico de dalteparina en la indicacióncirugía de rodilla en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

BACKGROUND: Knee surgery is a risk factor for thromboembolic disease. Prophylaxis reduces the risk of this condition. METHODS: Economic and health consequences of drugs preventing and treating thromboembolic disease in patients undergoing knee surgery from the institutional perspective (time horizon: 1 year) were estimated. The measures of effectiveness were: reduction in the number of cases (per 1,000 patients) of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, hospital admissions and deaths. Transition probabilities were estimated by meta-analysis. The alternatives were: warfarin (reference), dalteparin, enoxaparin, nadroparin, unfractionated heparin + warfarin, and non-prophylaxis. Data on resources use and costs corresponds to the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (IMSS). Acceptability curves were constructed. RESULTS: No prophylaxis implied three times higher cost ($18,835.10 versus $5,967.10) and less effectiveness in comparison with warfarin. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for enoxaparin were $3, $13, $17 and $3 per each additional case of deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, death and hospital admission avoided. Results of nadroparin and unfractionated heparin were inferior to warfarin (59.1% and 72.9% more costly and less effective in three measures of effectiveness, respectively). Dalteparin showed higher health outcomes and lower cost compared with warfarin (-20.6%). Dalteparin had a higher probability of being cost-effective than enoxaparin. DISCUSSION: thromboprophylaxis is a clinically and economically favorable alternative. The identification of a pharmacoeconomic profile of alternatives to perform it becomes relevant given the increasing pressure on institutional budgets. CONCLUSIONS: Dalteparin would be a cost-saving alternative in thromboprophylaxis of patients undergoing knee surgery at IMSS.

[Evaluation of health-related quality of life in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and colorectal cancer at different stages, attending the Mexican Institute of Social Security]. / Evaluación de la calidad de vida en pacientes con linfoma no Hodgkin y cáncer colo-rectal en diferentes etapas clínicas atendidos en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

INTRODUCTION: In Mexico during 2008, were reported 127,604 new cancer cases, 6,347 of them were colorectal cancer cases and 4,276 non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) cases. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate health related quality of life in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and colorectal cancer cases in different clinical stages, attended in a High Specialty Medical facility at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, during a 13 month period. RESULTS: 162 patients were included, 56.8% (n=92) with NHL and 43.2% (n=70) with colorectal cancer. The scores obtained in the NHL group were: Global health status/QoL: 67.75 (± 27.55), physical functioning 69.64 (± 29.98), role functioning 71.38 (± 33.73), emotional functioning 69.7 (± 26.57), cognitive functioning 75.36 (± 28.01), social functioning 79.35 (± 29.38), fatigue 35.27 (± 28.27), nausea and vomiting 13.41 (± 21.85), pain 28.08 (± 30.25), dyspnea 19.20 (± 32.11), insomnia 30.80 (± 38.03), appetite lost 26.45 (± 36.16), constipation 19.20 (± 32.11), diarrhea 12.32 (± 26.48), financial difficulties 26.09 (± 35.57). In colorectal cancer patients the scores were: Global health status/QoL: 68.21 (± 24.46), physical functioning 67.38 (± 30.45), role functioning 65.48 (± 35.70), emotional functioning 66.43 (± 26.84), cognitive functioning 78.57 (± 26.49), social functioning 75.24 (± 31.05), fatigue 37.78 (± 31.62), nausea and vomiting 20.00 (± 28.32), pain 37.38 (± 34.45), dyspnea 11.90 (± 26.64), insomnia 28.09 (± 35.73), appetite lost 23.81 (± 36.40), constipation 19.05 (± 32.88), diarrhea 20.95 (± 31.17), financial difficulties 34.76 (± 38.67). CONCLUSIONS: With these basal results is important a follow-up with special attention to the treatment and attendance processes, in patients with this neoplasms and their impact on the quality of life.

[Quality of life in Mexican women with breast cancer at different stages and its association with sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities and procedural factors at the Mexican Institute of Social Security]. / Calidad de vida en mujeres Mexicanas con cáncer de mama en diferentes etapas clínicas y su asociación con características socio-demográficas, estados co-mórbidos y características del proceso de atención en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

INTRODUCTION: Quality of life is the most studied PRO (patient reported outcome) in cancer patients. With early diagnosis and better treatments in breast cancer, this entity has been transformed in a chronic disease with longer survival. The joint effects of diseases and treatment on quality of life are each day more important to consider in survival patients. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quality of life, socioeconomic factors, co-morbidities, and the attendance process impact on quality of life in breast cancer women with different clinical stages attending at the Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social using the EORCT QLQ-C30 RESULTS: The scores of EORTC QLQ-C30 (v3) were: Global health status / QoL: 73.47 (± 20.81), physical functioning 76.98 (± 20.85), role functioning 76.60 (± 27.57), emotional functioning 64.53 (± 26.81), cognitive functioning 74.47 (± 26.02), social functioning 84.96 (± 23.20), fatigue 31.94 (± 25.45), nausea and vomiting 19.49 (± 26.93), pain 28.95 (± 27.27), dyspnea 15.29 (± 24.62), insomnia 35.13 (± 32.10), appetite lost 18.04 (± 28.75), 18.04 (± 28.75), constipation 19.20 (± 32.11), diarrhea 12.9 (± 24.25), financial difficulties 40.57 (± 37.26). The scores with EORTC QLQ-BR23 were: body image 74.84 (± 31.69), sexual functioning 13.73 (± 22.55), sexual enjoyment 32.86 (± 36.17), future perspectives 51.69 (± 38.00), systemic therapy side effects 30.82 (± 20.71), breast symptoms 22.85 (± 23.49), arm symptoms 27.53 (± 24.75), upset by hair loss 43.80 (± 44.01). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical stage in breast cancer is associated with differences in the scores from fatigue, nausea and vomiting and financial difficulties according to the evolution of the disease and the physical detriment associated. Socio-demographic features were related role functioning, fatigue and pain in single women with higher scores.

[Economic evaluation of an infant immunization program in Mexico, based on 13-valent pneumococcal conjugated vaccines]. / Evaluación económica de un programa de inmunización infantil en México basado en la vacuna neumocócica conjugada 13-valente.

OBJECTIVES: Vaccination is an effective intervention for reduce child morbidity and mortality associated to pneumococcus. The availability of new anti-pneumococcal vaccines makes it necessary to evaluate its potential impact on public health and costs related to their implementation. The aim of this study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness and cost-utility of immunization strategies based on pneumococcal conjugated vaccines (PCV's) currently available in Mexico from a third payer perspective. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A decision tree model was developed to assess both, economic and health impact, of anti-pneumococcal vaccination in children <2 years (lifetime time horizon, discount rate: 5% annual). Comparators were: no-vaccination (reference) and strategies based on 7, 10 and 13-valent PCV's. Effectiveness measures were: child deaths avoided, life-years gained (LYG) and quality adjusted life years (QALY's) gained. Effectiveness, utility, local epidemiology and cost of treating pneumococcal diseases were extracted from published sources. Univariate sensitivity analysis were performed. RESULTS: Immunization dominates no-vaccination: strategy based on 13-valent vaccine prevented 16.205 deaths, gained 331.230 LY's and 332.006 QALY's and saved US$1.307/child vaccinated. Strategies based on 7 and 10-valent PCV's prevented 13.806 and 5.589 deaths, gained 282.193 and 114.251 LY's, 282.969 and 114.972 QALY's and saved US$1.084 and US$731/child vaccinated, respectively. These results were robust to variations in herd immunity and lower immunogenicity of 10-valent vaccine. CONCLUSIONS: In Mexico, immunization strategies based on 7, 10 and 13-valent PCV's would be cost-saving interventions, however, health outcomes and savings of the strategy based on 13-valent vaccine are greater than those estimated for 7 and 10-valent PCV's.

[Evaluation of patient satisfaction with the quality of health care received within the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 trial by patients with breast and colorectal cancer, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma at different stages. Correlation with sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities and other procedural variables at the Mexican Institute of Social Security]. / Análisis de la satisfacción con los cuidados en salud a través del cuestionario EORTC IN-PATSAT32 en pacientes con cáncer de mama, linfoma no Hodgkin y cáncer colo-rectal en diferentes etapas clínicas. Relación con las características socio-demográficas, estados co-mórbidos y variables del proceso de atención en el Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social.

INTRODUCTION: In Mexico cancer is a public health burden. Nowadays the health care systems pay special attention to patient's perception and satisfaction of the health care received. Satisfaction with quality of health care has an impact in the adherence to the treatment. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the satisfaction with the quality of health care received at the IMSS in a group of cancer patients [non Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), breast and colorectal cancer]. Socio-demographic features, co-morbid diseases, and attendance processes impact on satisfaction are also evaluated. RESULTS: 476 cancer patients were studied: 314 with breast cancer, 92 with NHL and 70 with colorectal cancer. In women with breast cancer the mean score to nurses' interpersonal skills in non-classified disease group and clinical stage III group were: 73.64 ± 32.53, 90.00 ± 18.25 respectively (p=0.005), nurses' availability in non-classified and clinical stage III group were: 69.71 ± 30.25, 89.21 ± 19.00 respectively (p=0.003). In subjects with NHL the mean scores for doctors' technical skills in clinical stage I and III groups, were: 63.69 ± 37.78, 80.30 ± 18.46 respectively (p=0.017), doctors' information provision scores in subject in clinical stage I and IV were: 49.40 ± 40.75, 79.49 ± 24.63 respectively (p=0.043). In the group of colorectal cancer patients the mean of the score to exchange of information between clinical stage II and clinical stage III group were 50.00 ± 41.83, 84.21 ± 22.37 respectively (p=0.036). Were not observed association between attendance processes features and general satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: In Mexico 50% of cancer patients are attended at the IMSS. The continued evaluation of the satisfaction with health care received by the health care service users is important to enhance attention's quality.

The hospital appropriateness evaluation protocol in elderly patients: a technique to evaluate admission and hospital stay.

BACKGROUND: Aging of the population represents one of the main challenges for health systems because of the increase in the demand for hospital services. To be able to count on tools that allow an objective evaluation of hospital-resource use becomes indispensable for health systems. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Appropriateness Evaluation Protocol (AEP) regarding the appropriateness of admissions and hospital stays in elderly patients. In a scenario of scarce resources, to have a valid instrument will make it possible to evaluate the process of care in our growing elderly population in a standardized way. METHODS: We carried out a retrospective study of 144 randomly chosen elderly patients admitted to the hospital with 394 even-numbered hospital-stay days. For the reliability analysis between the pair of nurses with the AEP and the pair of specialists, the details of the hospital admissions and the stay days were obtained from the clinical files. Criteria validity was conducted by pairs of physicians, including two internists, two general surgeons and two geriatricians. Only the agreements were compared with agreements of the AEP-trained nurses. Disagreements were excluded from the final analysis. RESULTS: Inter-rater (inter-reviewer) agreement of hospital admissions and days spent by the patient presented a kappa coefficient of >0.70, while these admissions and hospital-stay days was >0.70. Sensitivity and positive predictor value to detect inappropriate admissions were not calculated because no agreement existed on inappropriate admissions. Specificity and negative predictive value to detect appropriate admission was >94.0% and >98.0%. Sensitivity and positive predictor value to detect inappropriate hospital-stay days was >44.0% and >10.0%, while specificity and negative predictor value for detecting appropriate hospital-stay days was >79.0% and >88.0%. CONCLUSIONS: AEP's high-reliability and moderate-validity results with regard to clinical judgement positions it as a useful instrument for appropriate hospitalization screening in elderly patients.

Análisis de costos en tres métodos de esterilización / Cost analysis on three sterilization methods

Introducción: El retraso en las cirugías por falta de instrumental estéril genera altos costos de atención por lo que se requiere información de métodos eficientes de esterilización. Objetivo: Identificar cuál es el método de esterilización más costo-efectivo entre la solución de súper oxidación de Ph neutro (M60), esterilización en Plasma de Peróxido de Hidrógeno y vapor saturado a presión en una unidad quirúrgica. Metodología: Se realizó una evaluación económica completa de tipo costo-efectividad en un hospital de tercer nivel. El cálculo de los costos fijos incluyó el costo de la infraestructura para los tres métodos de esterilización; los costos variables se calcularon para cada ciclo de esterilización y fueron establecidos a través del monitoreo y registro de cargas, personal, material y consumibles de cada método; el costo total se obtuvo con la suma de costos fijos y variables. La medida de efectividad fue el porcentaje de equipos estériles obtenidos en cada método. Para establecer la diferencia entre los grupos se realizó análisis estadístico con una prueba de Chi cuadrada. Resultados: El costo por carga promedio de esterilización con vapor fue de $1,049 pesos, con plasma de $6,710.88 pesos y con M60 de $87.50 pesos. El método de plasma obtuvo 95% de equipos estériles, por vapor 95% y por M60 100%. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en la efectividad. Conclusiones: Al no encontrar diferencias en las efectividades, se concluye en un análisis de minimización de costos donde el método de menor costo fue el M60.

Introduction: Delay of surgeries due to lack of sterilized instruments, generates high costs of medical services; therefore it is necessary to establish information regarding efficient methods of sterilization. Objective: To identify the best cost -effective method among 3 different systems: superoxidation of neutral Ph method (M60), plasma of peroxide hydrogen method, and pressure, saturated steam method, in a surgical unit. Methodology: A complete economic evaluation of cost-effectiveness type was done in a hospital of third level. First, a quote of fixed costs included: infrastructure costs for three different methods of sterilization. Secondly, the variable costs were calculated for each cycle of sterilization and were established through monitoring and recording the number of loads, staff, materials, and supplies for each method. Finally, the total cost was equal to the addition of fixed and variable costs. The measurement of effectiveness was the percentage of sterilized equipment by each method. To establish the difference among the groups, a statistic analysis was done through the Square Chi method. Results: The average costs for each load through steam sterilization was S1,049.00 Mexican pesos; with plasma was S6,710.88 Mexican pesos, and with M60 of $87.50 Mexican pesos. The plasma method obtained 95% of sterilized equipments, steam 95%, and M60 100%. None significant statistic difference for effectiveness was found. Conclusion: As no effectiveness differences were found, the analysis of minimized costs was concluded that the method M60 showed to be the less expensive.