Cost-effectiveness of HA-1A monoclonal antibody for gram-negative sepsis: economic assessment of a new therapeutic agent

Article Abstract:

Sepsis is the presence of pathogens such as bacterial toxins in the blood and tissues. It afflicts 400,000 patients in the US annually and is responsible for many deaths. HA-1A, a monoclonally produced anti-endotoxin antibody, has proven useful in treating patients suffering from gram-negative sepsis, which is responsible for 36 percent of all cases. This drug will be very costly when it is placed on the market. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of HA-1A. Effectiveness was determined by giving either HA-1A or a placebo, in addition to traditional therapy, to 543 patients with sepsis and suspected gram-negative infection. Two treatment models were used in the cost analysis. The first involved giving HA-1A to all patients with sepsis. The second involved giving it only to patients with gram-negative sepsis. The second model would require development of a rapid test for determining the cause of the sepsis. It was estimated that treatment with HA-1A would avert 5.4 deaths per 100 patients who received it. For the population of the US, this would mean that 21,600 deaths from sepsis could be averted each year. If all patients with sepsis were given the drug, the cost per year of life saved would be $24,100 and the total annual cost of care would be $2.3 billion. If only patients with gram-negative sepsis were given the drug, the cost per year of life saved would be $14,900 and the total annual cost of care would be $1.3 billion. These results indicate that therapy with HA-1A is cost efficient, but that a great deal of money can be saved if treatment is targeted to patients with gram-negative sepsis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Evaluation, Economic aspects, Complications and side effects, Drug therapy, Bacterial infections, Monoclonal antibodies, Gram-negative bacterial infections, Cost (Economics), Costs (Economics)

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The effect of race and sex on physicians' recommendations for cardiac catheterization

Article Abstract:

Doctors seem less likely to recommend cardiac catheterization in women and blacks. Researchers asked 8 actors to represent patients who were young or old, black or white, male or female. They were given a script to portray a patient with chest pain and videotaped. A total of 720 doctors watched the video and recommended treatment. They were less likely to recommend catheterization for women, young patients, and patients whose pain was not considered to be cardiac pain.

Analysis, Demographic aspects, Health, Health and race, Ethnic groups, Cardiac catheterization, Heart catheterization

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