[Viral load survey from geographical areas within Argentina with high hepatitis B virus prevalence]. / Relevamiento de la carga viral en áreas geográficas de Argentina con alta prevalencia del virus de hepatitis B.

Several studies have demonstrated that viral load is a key factor to determine the development of HBV infection and to assess treatment options for the disease. There is a lack of studies analyzing viral load levels in chronic hepatitis B patients in Argentina and the epidemiologic information is limited. The aim of this study was to determine viral load levels and its distribution in patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B from geographical areas with high prevalence for HBV in Argentina. Fifty-one per cent of the study population had HBV DNA levels > or = 10(4) copies/ml and a median viral load of 11,910 copies/ml. The viral load was significantly higher in HBeAg seropositive patients compared with those seronegative for HBeAg (P < 0.05). Salta and Entre Ríos provinces showed low viral loads, while Chaco, Misiones and Formosa provinces had a median viral load ranging between 10(4) and 10(5) copies/ ml. This is the first study providing detailed information on viral load in chronic hepatitis B patients from Argentina. Availability of viral load levels in chronic hepatitis B enables evaluation of implementation of actions to analyze follow-up and/or treatment options for preventing disease complications, improving health care and diminishing the potential burden on the health care system.

Relevamiento de la carga viral en áreas geográficas de Argentina con alta prevalencia del virus de hepatitis B. / [Viral load survey from geographical areas within Argentina with high hepatitis B virus prevalence].

Several studies have demonstrated that viral load is a key factor to determine the development of HBV infection and to assess treatment options for the disease. There is a lack of studies analyzing viral load levels in chronic hepatitis B patients in Argentina and the epidemiologic information is limited. The aim of this study was to determine viral load levels and its distribution in patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B from geographical areas with high prevalence for HBV in Argentina. Fifty-one per cent of the study population had HBV DNA levels > or = 10(4) copies/ml and a median viral load of 11,910 copies/ml. The viral load was significantly higher in HBeAg seropositive patients compared with those seronegative for HBeAg (P < 0.05). Salta and Entre Ríos provinces showed low viral loads, while Chaco, Misiones and Formosa provinces had a median viral load ranging between 10(4) and 10(5) copies/ ml. This is the first study providing detailed information on viral load in chronic hepatitis B patients from Argentina. Availability of viral load levels in chronic hepatitis B enables evaluation of implementation of actions to analyze follow-up and/or treatment options for preventing disease complications, improving health care and diminishing the potential burden on the health care system.

Relevamiento de la carga viral en áreas geográficas de Argentina con alta prevalencia del virus de hepatitis B / [Viral load survey from geographical areas within Argentina with high hepatitis B virus prevalence].

Several studies have demonstrated that viral load is a key factor to determine the development of HBV infection and to assess treatment options for the disease. There is a lack of studies analyzing viral load levels in chronic hepatitis B patients in Argentina and the epidemiologic information is limited. The aim of this study was to determine viral load levels and its distribution in patients diagnosed with chronic hepatitis B from geographical areas with high prevalence for HBV in Argentina. Fifty-one per cent of the study population had HBV DNA levels > or = 10(4) copies/ml and a median viral load of 11,910 copies/ml. The viral load was significantly higher in HBeAg seropositive patients compared with those seronegative for HBeAg (P < 0.05). Salta and Entre Ríos provinces showed low viral loads, while Chaco, Misiones and Formosa provinces had a median viral load ranging between 10(4) and 10(5) copies/ ml. This is the first study providing detailed information on viral load in chronic hepatitis B patients from Argentina. Availability of viral load levels in chronic hepatitis B enables evaluation of implementation of actions to analyze follow-up and/or treatment options for preventing disease complications, improving health care and diminishing the potential burden on the health care system.

Costo efectividad de Abatacept en comparación con otras terapias biológicas para el tratamiento de la artritis reumatoide moderada a severamente activa en pacientes que han fallado al tratamiento con metotrexato en EsSalud para el año 2010 / Cost-effectiveness of abatacept compared to other biological agents for the treatment of moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis in patients who failed with methotrexate in Peruvian Social Security during 2010

Objetivo: Estimar la costo efectividad de Abatacept combinado con Metotrexato (MTX) en comparación a otras DARMEs biológicas, en combinación con MTX, en pacientes con AR moderada a severamente activa. Materiales y métodos: Se adaptó un modelo de secuencias de tratamiento para la representación de la invalidez en términos del índice HAQ en un horizonte de 5 años de enfermedad para una cohorte de 1 000 pacientes. Abatacept en combinación con MTX se comparó contra etanercept, rituximab, infliximab, adalimumab y tocilizumab, todas asociadas a MTX. Resultados: El costo de tratamiento con Abatacept es de S/. 169 263 y su efectividad es de 1.96 AVAC. Respecto a etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab y tocilizumab, abatacept se ha mostrado más efectivo en términos de AVACs y menos costoso. Respecto a rituximab, abatacept presenta un índice de costo efectividad incremental de S/ 75 493 por AVAC ganado. Conclusiones: abatacept es dominante frente a Etanercept, Adalimumab, Infliximab y Tocilizumab, desde la perspectiva del Seguro Social de Salud (EsSalud) para el tratamiento de pacientes con AR moderada a severamente activa que han fallado a MTX.

Objective: To estimate the cost-effectiveness of Abatacept in combination with Methotrexate (MTX) versus other biologic DMARDs in combination with MTX in patients with moderately to severely active rheumatoid arthritis. Materials and methods: A sequential therapy model was adapted for representing disability using the HAQ Index in a 5-year horizon period for a 1000-patient cohort. Abatacept in combination with MTX was compared against etanercept, rituximab, infliximab, adalimumab, and tocilizumab, all of them combined with MTX. Results: The cost of abatacept therapy was S/. 169 263 and its effectiveness was found to be 1.96 QALY. Compared to etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab and tocilizumab, abatacept has shown to be the most effective agent in terms of QALYs and the least expensive. Compared to rituximab, abatacept has an incremental cost effectiveness ratio of S/. 75 493 per QALY gained. Conclusions: According to this model, abatacept was found to be superior compared to etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, and tocilizumab, from the Peruvian Social Security (EsSalud) perspective for the treatment of moderately to severely active Rheumatoid Arthritis in patients who failed using a MTX-based therapy.

Consultations for work related low back pain in Argentina.

OBJECTIVE: Low back pain (LBP) is a common cause of disability among people of working age. We investigated the incidence of consultation for work related LBP and of work absence, and determined the prevalence of continued work disability due to LBP in Argentina. METHODS: Our study population comprised 139,740 fulltime workers (mean age 34.4 yrs, range 17-79). An episode of work related LBP was defined as patient consulting because of acute LBP while at work or while traveling to/from work. RESULTS: In a 6 month period 360 episodes of acute LBP were reported in 69,329 worker-years of exposure to risk; thus the episode incidence rate was 5.2/1000 worker-years. This was the third most frequent work related injury. Twenty-one patients (5.8% of episodes) were lost to followup. Those with LBP were significantly older than the population at risk (p < 0.001) and were predominantly men (p < 0.001). In 244 episodes (72%) pain onset was related to heavy physical work and in 46 (13.6%) it followed trauma to the back. Surgery was performed in 9 (2.7%) cases. In total, 322 (98%) patients were absent beyond the day of the injury (median number of days of work absence, 7 days; range 0-422 days). Surgical patients lost significantly more days of work (p < 0.01). Seven patients (2%) remained off work more than 180 days: 2 were declared disabled, 3 moved to lighter jobs, and only 2 (28.5%) returned to their previous job. CONCLUSION: The incidence of consultation for work related LBP was 5.2/1000 worker-years. This was the third most frequent work related injury. Most patients had some work absenteeism. Surgery did not shorten recovery times. Only a minority of patients off work for 6 months or more were able to return to their previous job.