Economic burden of COVID-19 for employers and employees in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the economic burden of COVID-19 on employers and employees in the United States (US). METHODS: A targeted literature review was conducted to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on US-based employers and employees in terms of healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), medical costs, and costs associated with work-loss. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, and EconLit using a combination of disease terms, populations, and outcomes to identify articles published from January 2021 to November 4, 2022. As data from the employer perspective were lacking, additional literature related to influenza were included to contextualize the impact of COVID-19, as it shifts into an endemic state, within the existing respiratory illness landscape. RESULTS: A total of 41 articles were included in the literature review. Employer and employee perspectives were not well represented in the literature, and very few articles overlapped on any given outcome. HCRU, costs, and work impairment vary by community transmission levels, industry type, population demographics, telework ability, mitigation implementation measures, and company policies. Work-loss among COVID-19 cases were higher among the unvaccinated and in the week following diagnosis and for some, these continued for 6 months. HCRU is increased in those with COVID-19 and COVID-19-related HCRU can also continue for 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 continues to be a considerable burden to employers. The majority of COVID-19 cases impact working age adults. HCRU is mainly driven by outpatient visits, while direct costs are driven by hospitalization. Productivity loss is higher for unvaccinated individuals. An increased focus to support mitigation measures may minimize hospitalizations and work-loss. A data-driven approach to implementation of workplace policies, targeted communications, and access to timely and appropriate therapies for prevention and treatment may reduce health-related work-loss and associated cost burden.

In January 2020, the US government declared COVID-19 a public health emergency. This lasted until May 2023. To fight this health emergency, the US government provided free testing, vaccination, and treatment. Although the US government has declared the emergency over, COVID-19 continues to infect people. For people with private health insurance, costs associated with COVID-19 patient healthcare have now been transferred from the government to employers. In this study, we collected information from published scientific articles about the costs of COVID-19 for employers and workers in the US. We found that people who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 required more medical care and cost more than people who were vaccinated. In some cases, this trend lasted for as long as 6 months. This was mostly because of workers missing work, not working effectively while sick, and needing to be hospitalized. People who could work from home, whose companies had policies to prevent infections, and who took steps to avoid getting infected needed less medical care and missed work less often. This information may be used to help develop policies, communications, and guidance to prevent COVID-19 and limit its impact on employers and workers.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of cabozantinib compared with everolimus, axitinib, and nivolumab in subsequent line advanced renal cell carcinoma in Japan.

AIMS: The treatment landscape of renal cell carcinoma has changed with the introduction of targeted therapies. While the clinical benefit of cabozantinib is well-established for Japanese patients who have received prior treatment, the economic benefit remains unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of cabozantinib compared with everolimus, axitinib, and nivolumab in patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who have failed at least one prior therapy in Japan. METHODS: A cost-effectiveness model was developed using a partitioned survival approach and a public healthcare payer's perspective. Over a lifetime horizon, clinical and economic implications were estimated according to a three-health-state structure: progression-free, post-progression, and death. Key clinical inputs and utilities were derived from the METEOR trial, and a de novo network meta-analysis and cost data were obtained from publicly available Japanese data sources. Costs, quality-adjusted life-years, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were estimated. Costs and health benefits were discounted annually at 2%. RESULTS: Cabozantinib was more costly and effective compared with everolimus and axitinib, with deterministic incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of ¥5,375,559 and ¥2,223,138, respectively. Compared to nivolumab, cabozantinib was predicted to be less costly and more effective. Sensitivity and scenario analyses demonstrated that the key drivers of cost-effectiveness results were the estimation of overall survival and treatment duration, relative efficacy, drug costs, and subsequent treatment costs. LIMITATIONS: METEOR was an international trial but did not enroll any patients from Japan. Efficacy and safety data from METEOR were used as a proxy for the Japanese population following validation by clinical experts, and alternative assumptions specific to clinical practice in Japan were evaluated in scenario analyses. CONCLUSIONS: In Japan, cabozantinib is a cost-effective alternative to everolimus, axitinib, and nivolumab for the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma who have received at least one prior line of therapy.

Recurrence Rates and Pharmacological Treatment for Hemorrhoidal Disease: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Hemorrhoidal disease (HD) is characterized by prolapse of the inflamed and bleeding vascular tissues of the anal canal. Although HD is associated with a high recurrence rate, there is a lack of understanding around interventions that can reduce recurrence and improve outcomes for patients. As such, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to summarize evidence on epidemiology, recurrence, and efficacy of interventions in HD. METHODS: Real-world evidence (RWE) studies evaluating the incidence, prevalence, or recurrence of HD, as well as SLRs including a meta-analytic component reporting on the efficacy of systemic or topical pharmacological treatments for adults with HD, were included. Systematic searches were conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. RESULTS: The SLR identified 44 eligible publications. Consistent data were limited on the epidemiology of HD or HD recurrence. Specifically, incidence and prevalence reported across geographies were impacted by differences in data collection. Reported risk factors for HD were sedentary behavior, constipation, male gender, and age. Twenty-three RWE studies and one meta-analysis reported HD recurrence rates ranging from 0 to 56.5% following surgery or phlebotonics, with most (n = 19) reporting rates of 20% or less. In addition to time since treatment, risk factors for recurring disease were similar to those for HD in general. With respect to treatment, micronized purified flavonoid fractions significantly improved the main symptoms of HD compared to other pharmacological treatments. CONCLUSION: The SLRs did not identify any RWE studies reporting recurrence in patients receiving systemic or topical treatments, highlighting the need for future research in this area. Further, more studies are needed to understand the optimum duration of medical treatment to prevent recurrence.

Patients with hemorrhoidal disease (HD) can experience recurring disease following a period of improvement or remission. It is not well established how often this might happen, who is at greatest risk, or which treatments can reduce this risk. In this study, a systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted to summarize evidence on the occurrence and recurrence of HD, as well as treatment effectiveness. Several literature databases were searched for articles that described real-world evidence (RWE) studies reporting the epidemiology or recurrence of HD as well as published SLRs that combined the results of multiple studies (meta-analyses) on treatment for adults with HD. Forty of 2037 articles identified by the search were considered relevant, and four others identified by clinicians were also included (total = 44; 39 RWE, 5 meta-analyses). Review of the RWE articles revealed that HD epidemiology was determined differently between studies. Only 23 reported recurrence rates (up to 56.5%) after surgery or treatment with phlebotonic drugs (drugs that improve blood flow in veins). Most (19/23) reported recurrence rates of 20% or less. Risk factors for recurrence were similar to usual HD risk factors (e.g., constipation, male gender, age) in addition to time since treatment. Phlebotonic agents, including those made from plant extracts (micronized purified flavonoid fractions, MPFFs) improved hemorrhoidal symptoms compared with placebo or no treatment. In one meta-analysis, MPFF was the only phlebotonic to significantly reduce recurrence risk versus no treatment or placebo. Overall, more research is needed to compare treatments and determine optimal treatment duration to prevent recurrence. Author-narrated video abstract.

Pharmacological treatment for chronic venous disease: an umbrella review of systematic reviews.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic venous disease is a persistent venous drainage alteration caused by valvular incompetence and/or outflow obstruction. Disease management includes a variety of treatments, whose evidence and clinical performance in the mid-long term are variable. The objective of this umbrella review was to summarize efficacy data for pharmacological treatments including venoactive drugs from previously published reviews that included a meta-analytic component. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Systematic database searches were conducted via Ovid SP on 13 August 2019, covering MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Reviews that included a meta-analytic component of four or more clinical trials or observational studies reporting on the efficacy of systemic or topical pharmacological treatments for adults with chronic venous disease published since 2010 were eligible for inclusion. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Eleven publications were included in this umbrella review. Change in ankle circumference was the most commonly reported outcome. Overall, several systemic treatments had significant effects compared with placebo on multiple efficacy outcomes, including measures of edema and pain. Out of them, Micronized Purified Flavonoid Fraction had the most comprehensive evidence of effectiveness on main symptoms and signs and on improving quality of life throughout chronic venous disease stages. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic pharmacotherapies represent a valuable therapeutic option in CVD management. As a result of this umbrella review, several gaps were identified with respect to research topics that warrant further investigation, particularly in the category of topical medications.

Real-world evidence comparing oral anticoagulants in non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Aim: To compare real-world effectiveness/safety of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and vitamin K antagonists among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. Materials & methods: A systematic review of electronic databases yielded 7661 citations published from January 2013 to January 2020. Fifty-five studies were included in Bayesian network meta-analyses of hazard ratios. Results & conclusion: In comparison with vitamin K antagonists, apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban were associated with a reduced risk of stroke or systemic embolism, ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage and all-cause mortality. Apixaban, dabigatran and edoxaban, but not rivaroxaban, were associated with a reduced risk of major bleeding. This study confirmed the effectiveness and safety of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants for the treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation in real-world settings, consistent with clinical trial evidence.

This study aimed to compare real-world effectiveness/safety of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants and vitamin K antagonists among patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation. A systematic review was conducted from January 2013 to January 2020, and a total of 7661 references were assessed for relevance. Fifty-five studies were combined in the analysis; in comparison with vitamin K antagonists, apixaban, dabigatran and rivaroxaban were associated with a reduced risk of stroke or systemic embolism, ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage and all-cause mortality. Apixaban, dabigatran and edoxaban, but not rivaroxaban, were associated with a reduced risk of major bleeding. This study confirmed the effectiveness and safety of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants for the treatment of non-valvular atrial fibrillation in real-world settings, consistent with clinical trial evidence.