Pharmaceutical cost and multimorbidity with type 2 diabetes mellitus using electronic health record data.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study is to estimate the frequency of multimorbidity in type 2 diabetes patients classified by health statuses in a European region and to determine the impact on pharmaceutical expenditure. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of the inhabitants of a southeastern European region with a population of 5,150,054, using data extracted from Electronic Health Records for 2012. 491,854 diabetic individuals were identified and selected through clinical codes, Clinical Risk Groups and diabetes treatment and/or blood glucose reagent strips. Patients with type 1 diabetes and gestational diabetes were excluded. All measurements were obtained at individual level. The prevalence of common chronic diseases and co-occurrence of diseases was established using factorial analysis. RESULTS: The estimated prevalence of diabetes was 9.6 %, with nearly 70 % of diabetic patients suffering from more than two comorbidities. The most frequent of these was hypertension, which for the groups of patients in Clinical Risk Groups (CRG) 6 and 7 was 84.3 % and 97.1 % respectively. Regarding age, elderly patients have more probability of suffering complications than younger people. Moreover, women suffer complications more frequently than men, except for retinopathy, which is more common in males. The highest use of insulins, oral antidiabetics (OAD) and combinations was found in diabetic patients who also suffered cardiovascular disease and neoplasms. The average cost for insulin was 153€ and that of OADs 306€. Regarding total pharmaceutical cost, the greatest consumers were patients with comorbidities of respiratory illness and neoplasms, with respective average costs of 2,034.2€ and 1,886.9€. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes is characterized by the co-occurrence of other diseases, which has implications for disease management and leads to a considerable increase in consumption of medicines for this pathology and, as such, pharmaceutical expenditure.

Gasto farmacéutico en diabetes mellitus en una región de España según el Clinical Risk Group, 2012 / Pharmaceutical Expenditure for Diabetes Mellitus in a Region of Spain as Clinical Risk Group, 2012 / Despesa com medicamentos em pacientes com diabetes mellitus em uma região da Espanha como o Grupo de Risco Clínico de 2012

Se pretende estimar la multimorbilidad asociada con diabetes mellitus tipo 2 y su relación con el gasto farmacéutico, para lo cual se realizó un estudio de corte transversal durante el año 2012. Se identificó a 350 015 individuos diabéticos, a través de códigos clínicos, usando la Clasificación Internacional de Enfermedades y el software 3M Clinical Risk Groups. Todos los pacientes fueron clasificados en cuatro grupos de morbilidad. El primer grupo corresponde al estadio inicial, el segundo grupo incluye el núcleo de multimorbilidad de pacientes en fases intermedia y avanzada, el tercer grupo incluye pacientes con diabetes y enfermedades malignas, y el último grupo es de pacientes en estado catastrófico, principalmente enfermos renales crónicos. La prevalencia bruta de diabetes fue de 6,7%. El gasto promedio total fue de ¬ 1257,1. La diabetes se caracteriza por una fuerte presencia de otras condiciones crónicas y tiene un gran impacto en el gasto farmacéutico.

Estimations of multimorbidity associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and its relationship to pharmaceutical expenditure. Cross-sectional study during 2012. 350,015 diabetic individuals, identified through clinical codes using the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problem and the 3M Clinical Risk Groups software. The raw prevalence of diabetes was 6.7%. All patients were stratified into four morbidity groups. The first group corresponds to the initial state; the second group includes the core multimorbidity patients in the intermediate and advanced stages; the third group includes patients with diabetes and malignancies; the last group patients with catastrophic statuses, manly chronic renal patients. The raw prevalence of diabetes was 6.7%. The average total cost was ¬ 1257.1. Diabetes is characterized by a strong presence of other chronic conditions have a great impact on pharmaceutical spending.

As estimativas de vários morbidade associada com diabetes mellitus tipo 2 e sua relação com a despesa farmacêutica, para o qual um estudo transversal foi realizado em 2012. Ele foi identificado em 350 015 indivíduos diabéticos, foram identificados através códigos clínicos, utilizando a Classificação Internacional de Doenças e Risco clínica software Grupos 3M. Todos os pacientes foram classificados em quatro grupos de doença 4. O primeiro grupo corresponde à fase inicial (CRG 1-4); O segundo grupo inclui pacientes multimorbid principais fases intermediárias e avançadas, o terceiro grupo inclui pacientes com diabetes e doenças malignas, eo último grupo de pacientes em estado catastrófico, pacientes renais crónicos, principalmente. A prevalência global de diabetes foi de 6,7%. A despesa média total foi de ¬ 1257,1. Diabetes que se caracteriza por uma forte presença de outras condições crónicas e tieniendo um grande impacto sobre os gastos farmacêutica.

Pharmaceutical cost management in an ambulatory setting using a risk adjustment tool.

BACKGROUND: Pharmaceutical expenditure is undergoing very high growth, and accounts for 30% of overall healthcare expenditure in Spain. In this paper we present a prediction model for primary health care pharmaceutical expenditure based on Clinical Risk Groups (CRG), a system that classifies individuals into mutually exclusive categories and assigns each person to a severity level if s/he has a chronic health condition. This model may be used to draw up budgets and control health spending. METHODS: Descriptive study, cross-sectional. The study used a database of 4,700,000 population, with the following information: age, gender, assigned CRG group, chronic conditions and pharmaceutical expenditure. The predictive model for pharmaceutical expenditure was developed using CRG with 9 core groups and estimated by means of ordinary least squares (OLS). The weights obtained in the regression model were used to establish a case mix system to assign a prospective budget to health districts. RESULTS: The risk adjustment tool proved to have an acceptable level of prediction (R2 ≥ 0.55) to explain pharmaceutical expenditure. Significant differences were observed between the predictive budget using the model developed and real spending in some health districts. For evaluation of pharmaceutical spending of pediatricians, other models have to be established. CONCLUSION: The model is a valid tool to implement rational measures of cost containment in pharmaceutical expenditure, though it requires specific weights to adjust and forecast budgets.

[Immigrant women care in a health intercultural mediation program]. / Atención a mujeres inmigrantes en un programa de mediación intercultural en salud.

BACKGROUND: Intercultural Mediation is a strategy for quality health care aimed at reducing inequalities in immigrant population. The aim is to analyse main reasons consultation with the mediation service, women care profile and characteristics of intervention. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 339 episodes of care by two intercultural mediators (MI) from February 2008 to October 2011 in Valencia. Variables were analysed individual records of the consultations of the MI: reasons for referral to MI and professionals who refer, motives and problems identified by MI, kind of intervention, kind of derivation of MI and socio-economic variables. To evaluate the differences between countries, X2 test was used for qualitative variables and one-way ANOVA test for quantitative variables. RESULTS: 123 women (36,3%), were referred to the MI by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Centre and 98 (28,9%) by the midwife. 272 women (80,24%) were referred for information and demand for contraception. The MI conducted health education and detected social problems in 67 women (19,7%) and gender violence in 38 (11,21%). CONCLUSIONS: The women attending were Latin American immigrants (those of Bolivia showed more vulnerability) and were referred for contraception. The MI provided information, education and facilitated access to reproductive health services. Bolivian women showed more vulnerability factors: irregular situation, precarious work and low residence time.

Atención a mujeres inmigrantes en un programa de mediación intercultural en salud / Immigrants women care in a health intercultural mediation program

Fundamentos: la mediación intercultural es una estrategia para una atención sanitaria de calidad orientada a la disminución de desigualdades en población inmigrante. El objetivo fue analizar los principales motivos de consulta con el servicio de mediación, el perfil de las mujeres atendidas y las características de la intervención realizada. Métodos: Estudio transversal de 339 episodios de atención de dos mediadoras interculturales (MI) desde febrero de 2008 a octubre de 2011 en Valencia. Se analizaron las variables de los registros individuales de las consultas de mediación: motivos de derivación a MI y profesionales que remitieron, motivos y problemas detectados por MI, tipo de intervención, tipo de derivación de MI y variables socioeconómicas. Para evaluar las diferencias entre países de origen se utilizó el test chi 2 en las variables cualitativas y el test de Anova de un factor en las cuantitativas. Resultados: 123 (36,3 %) mujeres fueron remitidas a las MI por el Centro de Salud Sexual y Reproductiva y 98 (28,9 %) por la matrona. 272 (80,24 %) fueron remitidas para información y demanda de métodos anticonceptivos. Las MI realizaron educación para la salud y detectaron problemas sociales en 67 (19,7 %) mujeres y en 38 (11,21 %) violencia de género. 142 (27 %) eran bolivianas. Conclusiones: Las mujeres atendidas fueron inmigrantes latinoamericanas y fueron remitidas principalmente para anticoncepción. Las mujeres bolivianas presentan más factores de vulnerabilidad como irregularidad, trabajo precario y poco tiempo de residencia (AU)

Background: Intercultural Mediation is a strategy for quality health care aimed at reducing in equalities in immigrant population. The aim is to analyse main reasons consultation with the mediation service, women care profile and characteristics of intervention. Methods: Cross-sectional study of 339 episodes of care by two intercultural mediators (MI) from February 2008 to October 2011 in Valencia. Variables were analysed individual records of the consultations of the MI: reasons for referral to MI and professionals who refer, motives and problems identified by MI, kind of intervention, kind of derivation of MI and socioeconomic variables. To evaluate the differences between countries, X2 test was used for qualitative variables and one way ANOVA test for quantitative variables. Results: 123 women (36,3 %), were referred to the MI by the Sexual and Reproductive Health Centre and 98 (28,9 %) by the midwife. 272 women (80,24 %) were referred for information and demand for contraception. The MI conducted health education and detected social problems in 67 women (19,7 %) and gender violence in 38 (11,21 %). Conclusions: The women attending were Latin American immigrants (those of Bolivia showed more vulnerability) and were referred for contraception. The MI provided information, education and facilitated access to reproductive health services. Bolivian women showed more vulnerability factors: irregular situation, precarious work and low residence time (AU)

Evaluación de un modelo de predicción del gasto farmacéutico en atención primaria de salud basado en variables demográficas / Evaluation of a predictive model of pharmaceutical expenditure in primary health care based on demographic variables / Avaliação de modelo de predição de despesa farmacêutica em atenção primária à saúde baseado em variáveis demográficas

Problema: en el actual contexto de restricciones presupuestarias en el sector salud, se precisa de sistemas de gestión que permitan asignar el gasto de manera más eficiente. En el caso del gasto farmacéutico, los modelos de ajuste de riesgos en salud son herramientas que ayudan a mejorar la eficiencia. Objetivos: evaluar la capacidad predictiva de un modelo de ajuste de gasto farmacéutico, Indicador de Importe Estandarizado (he), según variables sociodemográficas: condición de farmacia, cobertura internacional, edad y sexo. Método: se incluyó la población empadronada en la Comunidad Valenciana (España) entre el 01/09/2009 y el 31/08/2010. Se estandarizó la población y se realizó un análisis de regresión lineal para explicar la variabilidad del gasto farmacéutico ambulatorio. Resultados: el sistema de ajuste evaluado supone un avance en relación con modelos anteriores, alcanzando un mayor poder predictivo (R² = 34%). Conclusiones: el he es válido para predecir el gasto farmacéutico y asignar presupuestos prospectivos a departamentos y centros de salud.

Problem: In the current context of budget constraints in the health sector management systems that allow allocating spending more efficiently are required. In the case of pharmaceutical expenditure, risk adjustment models are tools that help to improve the efficiency. Objectives: To evaluate the predictive power of a pharmaceutical expenditure adjustment model, Standardized Amount Indicator, using sociodemographic variables: Copayment, international coverage, age and sex. Methods: We included the population registered in Valencia (Spain) between 01/09/2009 and 31/08/2010. Population was standardized and linear regression analysis was performed in order to explain the variability of outpatient pharmaceutical expenditure. Results: The adjustment model evaluated improve the predictive power, reaching a R² of 34%. Conclusions: This models valid to predict pharmaceutical costs and allocate prospective budgets to health districts and centers.

Questão: No atual contexto de restrições orçamentais no sector da saúde são precisos sistemas de gestão que permitam alocar os dispêndios de forma mais eficiente. No caso da despesa farmacêutica os modelos de ajuste de risco em saúde são ferramentas que ajudam no melhoramento da eficiência. Objetivos: avaliar a capacidade preditiva de um modelo de ajuste da despesa farmacêutica, Indicador de Importe Padronizado (hp), de acordo com variáveis sociodemográficas: condição de farmácia, cobertura internacional, idade e gênero. Métodos: Foi incluída a população registrada em Valencia (Espanha) entre 01/09/2009 e 31/08/2010. A população foi padronizada e realizou-se análise de regressão linear para explicar a variabilidade dos dispêndios farmacêuticos ambulatórios. Resultados: O sistema de ajustamento avaliado supõe uma melhoria em relação aos modelos anteriores, alcançando maior poder preditivo (R2=34%). Conclusões: O iip é válido para prever os custos farmacêuticos e alocar orçamentos prospectivos aos departamentos e centros de saúde.