Análisis de los costes asociados al seguimiento de pacientes con VIH que discontinúan el tratamiento antirretroviral por falta de eficacia o toxicidad inaceptable en España / Analysis of the costs associated with the follow-up of HIV patients discontinuing antiretroviral treatment due to lack of effectiveness or unacceptable toxicity in Spain

Objetivo: Estimar el uso de recursos y costes asociados al seguimientode pacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humanatras discontinuación del tratamiento antirretroviral actual debido a faltade efectividad o toxicidad inaceptable y cambio a un nuevo tratamientoantirretroviral, comparado con el seguimiento habitual de los pacientescon tratamiento antirretroviral, desde la perspectiva del Sistema Nacionalde Salud español.Método: Se identificó el uso de recursos (pruebas clínicas, visitasmédicas, visitas a la farmacia hospitalaria) asociado al seguimiento depacientes con infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana entres perfiles de pacientes (estable, discontinuación y cambio por faltade efectividad, discontinuación y cambio por toxicidad inaceptable), apartir de las guías de práctica clínica y un panel de expertos multidisciplinar (n = 5). Los expertos consensuaron los principales eventos adversos que conducían a la discontinuación, agrupándolos en: alteracionesgastrointestinales, renales, óseas, musculoesqueléticas, dermatológicas,hepáticas y del perfil lipídico, trastornos neuropsiquiátricos y sexuales.Los costes unitarios se identificaron a partir de bases de datos oficiales de costes sanitarios y de la literatura. Se estimó el coste (€, 2020) delseguimiento en cada perfil de paciente, sin incluir el coste derivado deltratamiento antirretroviral, en un horizonte temporal de dos años.Resultados: El coste por paciente a dos años se estimó en 4.148 €(pruebas: 2.293 €; visitas: 1.855 €) para el seguimiento del pacienteestable. (AU)

Objective: To assess the use of resources and the costs associatedwith following up patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virusafter discontinuation of an antiretroviral treatment and initiation of a newone due to a lack of effectiveness or unacceptable toxicity, as comparedto the costs involved in the routine follow-up of patients on antiretroviraltreatment, from the Spanish National Health System perspective.Method: The use of resources (clinical tests, medical visits, and hospitalpharmacy visits) associated with following three profiles of patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (stable ones, those discontinuing an existing antiretroviral treatment and being switched to a newone due to a lack of effectiveness, and those discontinuing an existingantiretroviral treatment and being switched to a new one due to unacceptable toxicity) was identified, based on clinical practice guidelinesand the findings of a multidisciplinary expert panel (n = 5). The expertsagreed on the main adverse events leading to discontinuation, classifyingthem into gastrointestinal, renal, osseous, musculoskeletal, dermatological,hepatic, lipid profile-related, neuropsychiatric and sexual alterations. Unitcosts were identified from official healthcare costs databases. The cost (€, 2020) of following up each patient profile was estimated, excludingthe cost of the antiretroviral treatment itself, with a time horizon of twoyears.Results: The per-patient cost of following up stable patients over twoyears was estimated at €4,148 (tests: €2,293; visits: €1,855). Patientfollow-up after discontinuation of an existing antiretroviral treatment andinitiation of a different one due to a lack of effectiveness was estimatedat €5,434 (tests: €2,777; visits: €2,657). (AU)

[Experience of a single-centre in the preparation of choosing wisely lists in Internal Medicine]. / Experiencia de un centro único en la preparación de listas choosing wisely en Medicina Interna.

OBJECTIVES: To identify areas for improvement, using a local list of interventions with low diagnostic and therapeutic usefulness for the 5 Related Diagnostic Groups, as well as the 5 main diagnoses most frequently seen in the hospital outpatient clinic. METHOD: A literature review method was used, supplemented with a Delphi process with 2 rounds. In the first round, participants in the selection process identified low-value interventions in relation to the most frequently observed diagnoses. In the second round, those interventions with lower usefulness were selected based on their frequency, cost, and risk to the patient. RESULTS: Out of a total of 100 recommendations made by 19 scientific societies, 23 received the highest number of votes in the first round. In the second round, 5 recommendations were selected for inpatients and 5 recommendations for outpatients. CONCLUSIONS: A simple method is described for developing a local guide to reduce the use of unnecessary medical interventions.

Costs and hospital procedures in an urology department of a tertiary hospital. Analysis of groups related by their diagnosis. / Costes y procesos hospitalarios en un servicio de urología de un hospital terciario. Análisis de los grupos relacionados por el diagnóstico.

INTRODUCTION: The health care system has management tools available in hospitals that facilitate the assessment of efficiency through the study of costs and management control in order to make a better use of the resources. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was the calculation and analysis of the total cost of a urology department, including ambulatory, hospitalization and surgery activity and the drafting of an income statement where service costs are compared with income earned from the Government fees during 2014. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From the information recorded by the Economic Information System of the Department of Health, ABC and top-down method of cost calculation was applied by process care activity. The cost results obtained were compared with the rates established for ambulatory and hospital production in the Tax Law of the Generalitat Valenciana. The production was structured into outpatient (external and technical consultations) and hospital stays and surgeries (inpatient). RESULTS: A total of 32,510 outpatient consultations, 7,527 techniques, 2,860 interventions and 4,855 hospital stays were made during 2014. The total cost was 7,579,327€; the cost for outpatient consultations was 1,748,145€, 1,229,836 Euros for technical consultations, 2,621,036€ for surgery procedures and 1,980,310€ for hospital admissions. Considered as income the current rates applied in 2014 (a total of 15,035,843€), the difference between income and expenditure was 7,456,516€. CONCLUSIONS: The economic balance was positive with savings over 50% and a mean adjusted hospitalization stay rate (IEMAC) rate of 0.67 (33% better than the standard). CMA had a favorable impact on cost control.

[Incidence and risk factors of 30-day readmission in neurosurgical patients]. / Incidencia y factores de riesgo de reingreso hospitalario a los 30 días en pacientes neuroquirúrgicos.

AIM: The 30-day readmission rate has become an important indicator of health care quality. This study focuses on the incidence of 30-day readmission in neurosurgical patients and related risk factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on patients treated in a neurosurgery department between 1 January 2012 and the 31 December 2013. Patients requiring readmission within 30 days of discharge and the readmission diagnosis were identified, and the factors related to their readmission were analysed. RESULTS: A total of 1,854 interventions were carried out on 1,739 patients during the aforementioned (study) period. Of the remaining patients, 174 (10.2%) required readmission within 30 days of discharge. The main causes of readmission were problems related to the surgical wound (21.2% of all readmissions), followed by respiratory processes (18.8%). A total of 73.9% of readmissions occurred in patients who had undergone cranial surgery. Multiple comorbidities estimated by Charlson comorbidity index and length of hospital stay were identified as factors related to a higher readmission rate. CONCLUSIONS: The 30-day readmission rate observed in our series was 10.2%. Multiple comorbidity expressed by the Charlson comorbidity index and length of hospital stay were related to readmission.

Health care and nonhealth care costs in the treatment of patients with symptomatic chronic heart failure in Spain.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Chronic heart failure is associated with high mortality and utilization of health care and social resources. The objective of this study was to quantify the use of health care and nonhealth care resources and identify variables that help to explain variability in their costs in Spain. METHODS: This prospective, multicenter, observational study with a 12-month follow-up period included 374 patients with symptomatic heart failure recruited from specialized cardiology clinics. Information was collected on the socioeconomic characteristics of patients and caregivers, health status, health care resources, and professional and nonprofessional caregiving. The monetary cost of the resources used in caring for the health of these patients was evaluated, differentiating among functional classes. RESULTS: The estimated total cost for the 1-year follow-up ranged from € 12,995 to € 18,220, depending on the scenario chosen (base year, 2010). The largest cost item was informal caregiving (59.1%-69.8% of the total cost), followed by health care costs (26.7%- 37.4%), and professional care (3.5%). Of the total health care costs, the largest item corresponded to hospital costs, followed by medication. Total costs differed significantly between patients in functional class II and those in classes III or IV. CONCLUSIONS: Heart failure is a disease that requires the mobilization of a considerable amount of resources. The largest item corresponds to informal care. Both health care and nonhealth care costs are higher in the population with more advanced disease.