A Comprehensive Prospective Study of the Costs Associated With Evaluation of beta-Lactam Allergy

BACKGROUND: Being labeled as allergic to penicillin (unverified beta-lactam allergy) can result in patients receiving broader-spectrum antibiotics than necessary that may be more toxic, less effective, and/or more expensive than alternative options. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the real costs of evaluating beta-lactam allergy. METHODS: We performed a prospective real-life observational study designed to evaluate all adult patients who consulted for suspected beta-lactam allergy over a 1-year period. Direct and indirect costs were systematically recorded. Direct health costs were calculated based on the number of visits and all additional and diagnostic tests performed, direct nonhealth costs based on the number of visits and the distance from their homes to the Allergy Department, and indirect costs based on absenteeism. RESULTS: A total of 296 patients with suspected allergy to beta-lactams were evaluated in our outpatient clinic from June 1, 2017 to May 31, 2018. Total direct health care costs were (Euro)28 176.70, with a mean (SD) cost of (Euro)95.19 (37.20). Direct nonhealth costs reached (Euro)6551.73, that is, (Euro)22.13 (40.44) per patient. Indirect health costs reached (Euro)20 769.20, with a mean of (Euro)70.17 (127.40). In summary, the total cost was (Euro)55 497.63, that is, a cost per patient of (Euro)187.49 (148.14). CONCLUSIONS: When all possible costs are taken into account, the evaluation of beta-lactam allergy is not expensive and can reduce future expense arising from unnecessary use of more expensive and less effective antibiotics

INTRODUCCIÓN: Un diagnóstico no verificado de alergia a la penicilina o a los betalactámicos (BL) conlleva que los pacientes reciban antibióticos de amplio espectro, que pueden ser más tóxicos, menos efectivos, y/o de mayor coste. OBJETIVO: Evaluar los costes reales de un estudio de alergia a los betalactámicos. MÉTODOS: Se diseñó un estudio observacional prospectivo en condiciones de práctica clínica habitual en el que se evaluaron todos los pacientes adultos que consultaron por sospecha de alergia a BL durante un año. Los costes directos e indirectos se recogieron sistemáticamente. Los costes directos sanitarios se calcularon teniendo en cuenta el número de visitas y todas las pruebas diagnósticas realizadas; en los costes directos no sanitarios se consideraron el número de visitas y los kilómetros desde el domicilio hasta el Servicio de Alergología; en los costes indirectos se evaluó el absentismo. RESULTADOS: Se evaluaron 296 pacientes remitidos desde el 1 de junio de 2017 hasta el 31 de mayo de 2018. Los costes directos totales sanitarios fueron 28.176,70 (Euro): coste medio (desviación estándar, DS) de 95,19 (Euro) (37,20). Los costes directos no sanitarios alcanzaron, 6.551,73: coste medio 22,13 (40,44). Los costes indirectos fueron 20.769,20 (Euro): coste medio (DS) 70,17 (127,40). En resumen, la cantidad total fue de 55.497,63 (Euro), lo que supone un coste medio de 187,49 (Euro) (148,14). CONCLUSIONES: Considerando todos los costes posibles, la evaluación de la alergia a betalactámicos no es cara y puede ahorrar gastos futuros debido a una utilización innecesaria de antibióticos más caros y menos efectivos

Health economic analysis of allergen immunotherapy for the management of allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy and venom allergy: A systematic overview.

BACKGROUND: The European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) is developing guidelines for allergen immunotherapy (AIT) for the management of allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma, IgE-mediated food allergy and venom allergy. To inform the development of clinical recommendations, we undertook systematic reviews to critically assess evidence on the effectiveness, safety and cost-effectiveness of AIT for these conditions. This study focusses on synthesizing data and gaps in the evidence on the cost-effectiveness of AIT for these conditions. METHODS: We produced summaries of evidence in each domain, and then, synthesized findings on health economic data identified from four recent systematic reviews on allergic rhinitis, asthma, food allergy and venom allergy, respectively. The quality of these studies was independently assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tool for health economic evaluations. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies satisfied our inclusion criteria. Of these, 19 studies investigated the cost-effectiveness of AIT in allergic rhinitis, of which seven were based on data from randomized controlled trials with economic evaluations conducted from a health system perspective. This body of evidence suggested that sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) and subcutaneous immunotherapy (SCIT) would be considered cost-effective using the (English) National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) cost-effectiveness threshold of £20 000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY). However, the quality of the studies and the general lack of attention to characterizing uncertainty and handling missing data should be taken into account when interpreting these results. For asthma, there were three eligible studies, all of which had significant methodological limitations; these suggested that SLIT, when used in patients with both asthma and allergic rhinitis, may be cost-effective with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of £10 726 per QALY. We found one economic modelling study for venom allergy which, despite being based largely on expert opinion and plausible assumptions, suggested that AIT for bee and wasp venom allergy is only likely to be cost-effective for very high-risk groups who may be exposed to multiple exposures to venom/year (eg bee keepers). We found no eligible studies investigating the cost-effectiveness of AIT for food allergy. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the evidence to support the cost-effectiveness of AIT is limited and of low methodological quality, but suggests that AIT may be cost-effective for people with allergic rhinitis with or without asthma and in high-risk subgroups for venom allergy. We were unable to draw any conclusions on the cost-effectiveness of AIT for food allergy.

The cost-effectiveness of immunotherapy for respiratory allergy: a review.

This article reviews the international literature on the cost-effectiveness of immunotherapy for respiratory allergy. Included studies conducted an economic evaluation of immunotherapy for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma or allergic rhinitis in combination with asthma. Although there were few economic evaluations and these suffered from methodological shortcomings, the evidence appears to support the cost-effectiveness of immunotherapy as compared with pharmacotherapy for allergic rhinoconjunctivitis, subcutaneous immunotherapy as compared with pharmacotherapy for allergic rhinitis and immunotherapy as compared with pharmacotherapy for allergic rhinitis and asthma. One economic evaluation suggested that immunotherapy as compared with pharmacotherapy is unlikely to be cost-effective for asthma. The questions of the cost-effectiveness of sublingual vs subcutaneous immunotherapy and of the cost-effectiveness of immunotherapy for allergic conjunctivitis have not been resolved to date. The cost-effectiveness of immunotherapy depends on the duration of the clinical benefit of immunotherapy following treatment cessation, and on the break-even point of cumulative costs between immunotherapy and pharmacotherapy. There is a need for economic evaluations based on high-quality prospective and long-term clinical studies comparing immunotherapy with pharmacotherapy in real-life practice and comparing sublingual with subcutaneous immunotherapy.

Direct medical costs associated with atopic diseases among young children in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: Allergic diseases are the most common childhood illness in Thailand. Their prevalence has been rising over time, with several studies having revealed substantial economic burden. However, no such study had yet been conducted for Thailand. The aim of this study was to estimate direct medical costs associated with atopic diseases among children aged 0-5 years in Thailand. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cost-of-illness model was constructed to estimate the total direct medical costs of atopic diseases comprising atopic dermatitis, chronic rhinitis, asthma (i.e., recurrent wheeze), and cow's milk allergy. The model employed a prevalence-based approach, considering a total number of atopic cases in 2010. Direct medical costs were estimated using a bottom-up analysis with the estimation of the quantity of healthcare resource use and the unit costs. Epidemiological data were obtained from literature and Thai surveys, whereas treatment unit costs were from either a hospital database or Thai standard cost list. Expert opinion informed type, frequency, and quantity of medical resources utilized. Key limitations included lack of data-driven evidences on severity distribution for this particular age group, indirect costs, and medical resource use associated with each condition. RESULTS: Total direct cost was estimated to be THB 27.8 billion (US$899 million). Treatments contributed largest to the total costs (46%), followed by inpatient care (37%), outpatient care (12%), and monitoring and labs (5%). Costs per treated patient were highest in cow's milk allergy (THB 64,383; US$2077), followed by rhinitis (THB 12,669; US$409), asthma (THB 9633; US$312), and atopic dermatitis (THB 5432; US$175). CONCLUSION: Atopic diseases in young children are associated with substantial burden in direct medical costs to Thailand. These costs can be diminished through nutritional intervention recognized to effectively decrease the incidence of atopic diseases.

Economic evaluation of sublingual immunotherapy: an analysis of literature.

Allergic rhinitis and asthma constitute a global health problem because of their very high prevalence and the consequent burden of disease, concerning medical and economical issues. Among the treatments of allergy, specific immunotherapy has the capacity to favourably alter the natural history of the disease both during and after its performance and thus to reduce the direct and indirect costs of allergic rhinitis and asthma. A number of studies reported such cost reduction for traditional, subcutaneous immunotherapy and recent data demonstrate that also sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) is associated to economic advantages and/or monetary savings, specifically in terms of reduction of disease economic burden. Only few formal economic assessments of SLIT have been carried out so far, this article will present and discuss the published studies addressed to this issue. The data obtained, although the number of studies is still limited, provide preliminary evidence supporting a SLIT effect on sparing costs for respiratory allergy.

Clinical and occupational outcomes in health care workers with natural rubber latex allergy.

BACKGROUND: There is limited information pertaining to clinical outcomes and economic consequences of natural rubber latex (NRL) allergy in health care workers (HCWs). OBJECTIVE: To evaluate retrospectively health and economic outcomes in HCWs identified with NRL allergy and percutaneous reactivity to NRL. METHODS: Sixty-seven HCWs with NRL allergy, confirmed by percutaneous reactivity to non-ammoniated latex (NAL) extract, were administered a detailed questionnaire to evaluate clinical and economic outcomes of active work and environmental interventions subsequent to recognition of work-related symptoms associated with NRL gloves. RESULTS: Diagnoses based on predetermined case definitions associated with direct or indirect exposure to NRL gloves included contact urticaria in 67 (100%); work-related rhinitis in 23; work-related asthma symptoms in 25; and work-related anaphylaxis in 4 workers. Work related symptoms reportedly resolved in 44 of 49 (90%) of NAL skin test-positive workers who had reported skin, respiratory, and/or systematic symptoms and remained in their current work area and who switched to non-NRL gloves. Four of 24 (17%) workers with work-related asthma symptoms were compelled to change employment to NRL-safe workplaces, resulting in a mean 24% reduction in annual income. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical outcomes in this group of HCWs with NRL allergy were favorable after institution of interventions but incurred deleterious consequences in a minority of workers.

Cost of illness of atopic asthma and seasonal allergic rhinitis in Germany: 1-yr retrospective study.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost of illness of moderate-to-severe atopic asthma and/or seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR) in Germany from the perspective of third-party payers (TPP) and patients. Five-hundred patients (276 children/adolescents) with moderate-to-severe asthma and/or SAR were included in this cross-sectional study. Information was collected using a specific patient questionnaire and the abstraction of patient records. Overall, annual costs per patient increased with the severity of atopic asthma and if it was associated with SAR. The average annual cost of SAR was Euro1,089 per child/adolescent and Euro1,543 per adult. Annual costs of severe asthma plus SAR increased to Euro7,928 per child/adolescent and to Euro9,287 per adult. For TPPs, the main cost drivers were medication, hospitalisation, and rehabilitation. The most significant costs for patients were household modifications. For children/adolescents, 60-78% of the expenditures were direct costs, while in adults, 58% of expenditures were indirect costs. It was also observed that patients with moderate and severe asthma used inhaled corticosteroids less frequently than recommended by treatment guidelines. In summary, the total cost for patients increases with the severity of atopic asthma and/or seasonal allergic rhinitis and indirect costs represent a large proportion of the total cost.

[Allergies, an increasing public health problem: causes and consequences]. / Les allergies, un problème croissant de santé publique: causes et conséquences.

Allergies due to IgE immunoglobulins and belonging to the atopic syndrome, such as asthma, allergic rhinitis and atopic eczema have increased in prevalence three times during the past 20-30 years in most industrialized countries. The causes of that increase are still much debated but seem to be related to multiple changes in the environment. Our recent studies on dog atopy indicate that the interaction of a dominant gene responsible for high IgE production but with variable expression, according to several environmental factors acting during infancy, could explain observations made in man. Allergic diseases have become an important portion of public health costs, amounting to approximately 200 billions French Francs in the European Community. Early and adequate care for the about 20% of allergic patients which are severely affected, as well setting up a systematic prevention policy would have a moderating influence on the increasing costs, and would achieve improvements in the quality of life of allergic patients. Appropriate measures include fostering medical and political awareness about the problem's urgency, the formation of an appropriate body of specialists and an Allergological education at all levels, as well as the definition of a screening and care providing policy taking in account existing medical structures.

Genetic and environmental influences on atopic immune response in early life.

The purpose of our study was to carry out a prospective follow-up of 114 newborns at term (including three pairs of twins), regarding clinical manifestations for atopy during the first year of life. Their IgE levels in cord blood samples, at 3, 6, 9 and 12 months of age were measured and the influence of race, sex, breast-feeding, maternal smoking, family income, month of birth, family history and personal manifestations of atopic disease were evaluated. Total serum immunoglobulin E was quantified by microparticle enzyme immuno-assay (MEIA). The study group consisted of 60 (53%) male neonates, 67 (59%) Caucasians and 47 (41%) blacks. In the clinical follow-up, 32 (28.1%) infants developed obvious atopic disease: 29 infants presented recurrent wheezing, two had cow's milk allergy and one had atopic dermatitis. Probable atopic disease developed in 12 (10.5%) infants, whereas 70 (61.4%) infants showed no manifestations. Cord blood IgE levels in infants with obvious atopic disease was higher when compared to those without (p = 0.024), with 70.97% sensitivity and 46.2% specificity. IgE levels were also significantly different up to 12 months in these groups (p = 0.0001), when the sensitivity was 82.1% and the specificity 54.1%. At this age, the IgE levels were higher in infants with obvious atopy than nonatopic disease in relation to male sex (p = 0.015), black race (p = 0.009), breast-feeding for less than 6 months (p = 0.011) and when the family income was less than three times the minimum wage (about US $300) (p = 0.006). There was no association between IgE levels and family history of atopy. We concluded that immune response for atopy was in a large degree influenced by environmental factors and serum IgE at 12 months was a good marker for identifying infants with risk of atopic disease in early life.

Socio-economic burden of asthma, allergy, and other atopic illnesses.

Asthma and atopic illness account for a substantial burden of social morbidity. The purpose of this brief report will be to provide an overview of the different dimensions to the socio-economic burden of asthma and other atopic diseases and suggest areas where future research in this area may advance our understanding of the impact of various treatment strategies of these diseases. While there are occasional studies which describe the full dimensions of this social and economic burden, more studies are needed to complete our understanding of this burden especially studies that investigate the relative cost-effectiveness of medical and non-medical interventions. These studies will provide the infrastructure to rationally examine the optimal cost-effective strategies for these illnesses. In particular economic studies are needed to examine how best to balance resource expenditures for preventive versus pharmacologic control. Use of health economic methods will provide insights into the most efficient design and implementation of current disease control, with potentially concomitant reductions in costs and social burden for atopic illnesses, including asthma.

The effectiveness of a peripatetic allergy nurse practitioner service in managing atopic allergy in general practice--a pilot study.

The effectiveness of an allergy nurse practitioner service operating within community health care was evaluated in terms of symptom improvement and reduction in allergy related general practitioner consultations and prescribed medication. A postal questionnaire survey of 53 allergy patients, identified from three general practices in the Norwich area during a pilot scheme, was carried out concurrently with a survey of the patients' case records at the surgeries. The questionnaire included questions concerning allergy status, general practitioner visits and the number of prescribed medications supplied. The main outcome measures were the number of general practitioner consultations and prescribed medications before and after the allergy nurse practitioner consultation and the patient's reported level of symptoms. The results showed that the intervention of an allergy nurse practitioner consultation produced significant reductions in the outcome measures. The number requiring a general practitioner consultation fell by 40% (from 133 to 80, P < 0.001) and the number of prescribed medications fell by 42% (from 153 to 89, P < 0.001). Twenty-seven (69%) of the 39 patients who responded to the questionnaire reported an improvement in symptoms, whilst 26% (n = 10) remained the same and 5% (n = 2) were worse. An additional study of 23 of the +ve skin-tested patients, over an extended period, showed greater reductions in general practitioner consultations and prescribed medication (71%, P < 0.001 and 59%, P < 0.004 respectively). In conclusion, it is apparent that the application of developed skills and expertise in allergy assessment by a nurse coupled with time can lead to improvement in symptom level in allergy patients. Such a service also has the possibility of providing savings within the National Health Service. Simply prescribing drugs without a system of self-management and avoidance measures is unlikely to improve the care available to allergy patients.