BACKGROUND Microvascular free tissue transfer has become the main technique used for head and neck reconstruction. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of free flap reconstruction for head and neck defects after oncologic resection for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). METHODS We developed a Markov model of the cost, quality of life, survival, and incremental cost-effectiveness of reconstruction w...

BACKGROUND Genotypic antiretroviral resistance testing (GRT) in HIV infection with drug resistant virus is recommended to optimize antiretroviral therapy, in particular in patients with virological failure. We estimated the clinical effect, cost and cost-effectiveness of using GRT as compared to expert opinion in patients with antiretroviral treatment failure. METHODS We developed a mathemati...

BACKGROUND Recommendations on current clinical guidelines are informed by limited economic evidence. AIMS A formal economic evaluation of three modalities of psychotherapy for patients with cluster B personality disorders. METHOD A probabilistic decision-analytic model to assess the cost-effectiveness of out-patient, day hospital and in-patient psychotherapy over 5 years in terms of cost pe...

BACKGROUND To facilitate the discussion on the increasing number of total hip replacements (THR) and their effectiveness, we apply a joint evaluation of hospital case costs and health outcomes at the patient level to enable comparative effectiveness research (CER) based on the preoperative health state. METHODS In 2012, 292 patients from a German orthopedic hospital participated in health sta...

Accelerated population aging has led to a progressive increase in dementia, particularly Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The study’s objective was perform cost-utility analysis on the use of memantine severe stage AD Brazil compared no specific pharmacological treatment from perspective Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS). A Markov model designed simulate progression through five finite stages heal...

BACKGROUND The sustained health-related quality-of-life of patients surviving community-acquired pneumonia has not been accurately quantified. The aim of the current study was to quantify differences in health-related quality-of-life of community-dwelling elderly with and without community-acquired pneumonia during a 12-month follow-up period. METHODS In a matched cohort study design, nested ...

BACKGROUND Although widely applied, the cost-effectiveness of endovenous laser ablation (EVLT) for varicose veins has not been established. METHODS Cost-effectiveness analysis was performed on the evaluation of EVLT for the treatment of uncomplicated varicose veins by using published data from randomizd clinical trials regarding the costs and the quality of life. Incremental cost per quality-...

BACKGROUND Artificial bowel sphincter (ABS) and dynamic graciloplasty (DG) are surgical treatments for faecal incontinence (FI). FI may affect quality of life (QOL) so severely that patients are often willing to consider a permanent end stoma (ES). It is unclear which is the more cost-effective strategy. METHOD Probability estimates for patients with FI were obtained from published data (ABS,...

BACKGROUND Fifty percent of people injured by whiplash still report neck pain after 1 year and costs associated with whiplash associated disorders (WAD) are mostly attributed to health service and sick-leave costs in chronic conditions. With increasing health care expenditures the economic impact of interventions needs to be considered. OBJECTIVE To analyze the cost-effectiveness of physiothe...

Abstract Background Oesophageal Cancer (OC) treatment levies substantial financial burden on Health Services and Best Supportive Care (BSC) outcomes are poor. Potentially Curative Surgery with or without Chemotherapy is offered to patients locally advanced disease this study aimed examine costs related life-years gained in having potentially curative (oesophagectomy) those receiving (BSC). Meth...