Showing papers by "Lorenzo G. Mantovani published in 1999"

Pharmaco-economic aspects of in-vitro fertilization in Italy

Abstract: Given the higher efficacy of follitropin-beta, a new recombinant follicle stimulating hormone (r-FSH), versus urinary-FSH (u-FSH), the present study was carried out to evaluate the cost-effectiveness ratio (CER) of follitropin-beta in comparison with u-FSH in women undergoing in-vitro fertilization (IVF) in Italy. Clinical decision analysis techniques were used to retrospectively model the direct medical costs of women undergoing IVF treatment. Seven Italian experts were interviewed, using a semi-structured questionnaire, in order to adapt the results of all clinical trials to the Italian patterns of care. Three analyses were conducted considering the public, the private sectors and a mixture of them (currently representing the Italian situation). The estimated total cost of IVF treatments varies from 106.9 and 211.7 billion Lire (63.2 and 125.2 million US$) depending on setting and type of treatment. The average CER varies from 21.5 and 37.7 million Lire (12, 700 and 22,300 $US) in the different hypotheses considered. The incremental CER varies from 19.2 and 26.0 million Lire (11,300 and 15,400 $US) depending on setting and type of treatment.

Valutazione economica del lansoprazolo nel trattamento dei pazienti affetti da reflusso esofageo

Abstract: Objective To investigate the cost effectiveness ratio of different patterns of GORD management in Italy. Design Cost effectiveness analysis based on a semi-markov model approach, and expressed as cost per relapse-free-patient and cost per avoided relapse. Costs were derived from Italian NHS tariffs, which is the perspective of analysis, while effectiveness was assessed through the literature. Setting Italian inpatient and outpatient clinics. Patients and participants An expert panel of 5 gastroenterologists, assessing patients with GORD Savary-Miller stages II, III, IV after the first acute episode of oesophagitis. Interventions 1) No pharmacological maintainance, 2) lansoprazole 15 mg once daily, 3) lansoprazole 30 mg once daily. Main outcome measures and results The total cost of care was 1.43, 1.22 and 1.79 billions Lire in the cohort of 1) no pharmacological maintainance, 2) lansoprazole 15 mg once daily, 3) lansoprazole 30 mg once daily respectively. No pharmacological maintainance alternative is dominated by lansoprazole 15 mg, which is both more effective and less expensive and is therefore the reference therapy. Incremental cost per relapse-free-patient and per avoided relapse of 30 mg vs 15 mg are 5.5 and 12.6 millions Lire. Conclusion No pharmacological maintainance is inefficient. Lansoprazole 30 mg alternative is both more costly and effective compared to lansoprazole 15 mg. Lansoprazole 15 mg is, in our study, the reference therapy.

Caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease in Italy.

Abstract: We read with interest the article by Margaret Hux and colleagues on the association between cognitive function and the cost of caring for patients with Alzheimer's disease.[1][1] We conducted a similar study in Italy. We sampled 10 patients at each of 9 Italian centres for the care of patients with