BackgroundWhen multiple treatments are available, network meta-analysis can synthesize evidence and rank their relative profile in terms of effectiveness and/or safety. We applied this approach to the safety of subcutaneous biologicals used in the treatment of moderate to severe psoriasis.MethodsOur literature search covered the articles published from January 2000 to September 2014 and was restricted to randomized controlled trials. The agents eligible for our analysis were subcutaneous biological drugs used in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. A network meta-analysis was conducted using the Bayesian model. The analysis was aimed to compare the safety of these treatments based on 95 % credible intervals and to consequently generate a ranking in safety across the treatments. Two safety end-points were considered: any serious adverse events (AE) and any infectious AE. Risk difference was the outcome measure. The analysis estimated 95 % credible intervals for all direct and indirect comparisons as well as the ranking histogram across the treatments which was determined according to model-based probabilistic analysis.ResultsOur literature search selected a total of 13 randomized controlled trials of which three evaluated adalimumab, five ustekinumab (45 and 90 mg), four etanercept (both high-dose and low-dose) and one high-dose etanercept and ustekinumab (45 and 90 mg). For both end-points of any serious AE and any infectious AE, the Bayesian analysis showed no significant difference in all indirect head-to-head comparisons between active agents. For the end-point of any serious AE, the ranking was ustekinumab 45 mg and ustekinumab 90 mg (at the same rank), followed by placebo and by adalimumab and high-dose etanercept (at the same rank). For any infectious AE, the ranking was: low-dose etanercept, placebo, ustekinumab 45 mg and ustekinumab 90 mg, adalimumab and high-dose etanercept.ConclusionOur analysis synthesized the current evidence on the safety of subcutaneous biological treatments for patients with moderate to severe psoriasis and was successful in defining their respective rankings.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40801-014-0006-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ObjectivesIn most European countries, innovative medical devices are not managed according to cost–utility methods, the reason being that national agencies do not generally evaluate these products. The objective of our study was to investigate the cost-utility profile of prostheses for hip replacement and to calculate a value-based score to be used in the process of procurement and tendering for these devices.MethodsThe first phase of our study was aimed at retrieving the studies reporting the values of QALYs, direct cost, and net monetary benefit (NMB) from patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty (THA) with different brands of hip prosthesis. The second phase was aimed at calculating, on the basis of the results of cost–utility analysis, a tender score for each device (defined according to standard tendering equations and adapted to a 0–100 scale). This allowed us to determine the ranking of each device in the simulated tender.ResultsWe identified a single study as the source of information for our analysis. Nine device brands (cemented, cementless, or hybrid) were evaluated. The cemented prosthesis Exeter V40/Elite Plus Ogee, the cementless device Taperloc/Exceed, and the hybrid device Exeter V40/Trident had the highest NMB (£152 877, £156 356, and £156 210, respectively) and the best value-based tender score.ConclusionsThe incorporation of value-based criteria in the procurement process can contribute to optimising the value for money for THA devices. According to the approach described herein, the acquisition of these devices does not necessarily converge on the product with the lowest cost; in fact, more costly devices should be preferred when their increased cost is offset by the monetary value of the increased clinical benefit.

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The aim of this study is to evaluate a simple and effective method of acquiring epidemiological information about epilepsy. Data on antiepileptic drug prescriptions was collected, the utilization pattern being based on defined daily doses (DDDs). Antiepileptic drugs are epidemiological tracers of epilepsy due to their chronic and highly specific usage. Consequently, a prevalence rate for the whole population may be obtained by using DDDs. Data on antiepileptic drug prescriptions for a period of 6 months in 1992 and 6 months in 1993 indicate a utilization of approximately 7 DDDs of antiepileptic drugs per 1,000 inhabitants. The prevalence of epilepsy was estimated by correcting the exposure calculated in DDDs by a factor of 0.68. In our sample, the prevalence of the disease was 5.2 per 1,000 inhabitants in 1992 and 4.9 per 1,000 in 1993. Physician prescriptions were concentrated on four compounds, namely phenobarbital, carbamazepine, valproic acid and phenytoin, which together represented 90% of total antiepileptic drug prescriptions.

Our analysis involved 8 randomized trials for 851 patients. Two comparisons were made (pantoprazole vs. H2-receptor antagonists and omeprazole vs. H2-receptor antagonists). The following RDs were estimated: pantoprazole, RD = -1.2%, 95% CI: -3.5% to +1.2%; omeprazole, RD = -3.0%, 95% CI: -7.2% to +1.3%. The 95% CIs confidence intervals for RDs remained within the ± 6% margin. These results indicate that intravenous pantoprazole and intravenous omeprazole are equivalent, Conclusion: These two PPIs, when administered by intravenous route, are equivalent according to reasonable equivalence margins. This conclusion can be the basis to develop local acquisition tenders on these drugs. One advantage of this approach is that the feasibility of administrative decisions can directly be tested on clinical grounds and on the basis of standard evidence-based methods.