Background Value-based reimbursement programs have become increasingly common. However, little is known about the effect of such programs on patient reported outcomes.Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of introducing a value-based reimbursement program on patient reported outcome measures and to explore whether a selection bias towards less complicated patients occurred. Methods This is a retrospective observational study with a before and after design based on the introduction of a value-based reimbursement program in Region Stockholm, Sweden. We analyzed patient level data from inpatient and outpatient care of patients undergoing lumbar spine surgery during 2006-2015. Patient reported outcome measures used was Global Assessment, EQ-5D-3L and Oswestry Disability Index. The case-mix of surgically treated patients was analyzed using medical and socioeconomic factors. Results The value-based reimbursement program did not have any effect on targeted or non-targeted patient reported outcome measures. Moreover, the share of surgically treated patients with risk factors such as having comorbidities and being born outside of Europe increased after the introduction. Hence, the value-based reimbursement program did not encourage discrimination against sicker patients. However, the income was higher among patients surgically treated after the introduction of the value-based reimbursement. This indicates that a value-based reimbursement program may contribute to increased inequalities in access to healthcare. Conclusions The value-based reimbursement program did not have any effect on patient reported outcome measures. Our study contributes to the understanding of the effects of a value-based reimbursement program on patient reported outcome measures and to what extent cherry-picking arises.

Diabetes mellitus typ 2 är en kronisk sjukdom med en prevalens på cirka 4% i Sverige. T2D behandlas genom omläggning av matvanor och viktnedgång, eller om detta inte är tillräckligt med antingen blodsockerreglerande läkemedel eller insulin. Sjukdomen är förknippad med ökad risk för följdsjukdomar, bland annat hjärt-kärlsjuklighet som är i fokus i denna rapport. I EMPA REG Outcome studien analyserades effekterna av att som tillägg till standardbehandling ge den glukossänkande SGLT-2-hämmaren empagliflozin till patienter med T2D och etablerad hjärt-kärlsjukdom. I studien konstaterades att empagliflozin minskade risken för hjärt-kärlhändelser samt gav förbättrad överlevnad. Syftet med denna studie var tudelat. I den första delen gjordes en kartläggning och beräkning av sjukvårdskonsumtion och kostnader för patienter med T2D, med och utan etablerad hjärtkärlsjukdom, i Östergötland under en femårsperiod (2012–2016). I den andra delen beräknades hur kostnader och mortalitet relaterade till hjärt-kärlhändelser skulle påverkas av att behandla patienter med T2D och etablerad hjärt-kärlsjukdom i Östergötland med empagliflozin.

Sjukvårdskonsumtion, kostnader och mortalitet i Östergötland kartlades och beräknades med hjälp av nationella och regionala register. Resultaten från EMPA REG Outcome studien tillämpades på kohorten av patienter med T2D och etablerad hjärt-kärlsjukdom i Östergötland för att på så sätt estimera effekterna av behandling med empagliflozin med avseende på sjukvårdskostnader och mortalitet.

Kartläggningen visade att i Östergötland fanns 1 januari 2012 18 586 patienter med T2D, varav 5 490 (30%) även hade etablerad hjärt-kärlsjukdom. Patienter med T2D och etablerad hjärt-kärlsjukdom (CVD-kohorten) var jämfört med övriga patienter med T2D i genomsnitt äldre, i större utsträckning män, samt hade längre diabetesduration och sämre njurfunktion. CVD-kohorten hade under uppföljningsperioden signifikant högre sjukvårdskostnader och sämre överlevnad.

Förskrivning av empagliflozin till patienter med T2D och etablerad hjärt-kärlsjukdom i Östergötland beräknades resultera i minskade genomsnittliga sjukvårdskostnader per patient motsvarande cirka 4 100 kronor över fem år, varav cirka 2 300 kronor kunde relateras till minskade kostnader på grund av hjärtsvikt. Mot detta ska ställas ökade läkemedelskostnader. Totalt ger behandling med empagliflozin ökade kostnader på cirka 18 000 kronor per patient över fem år. Den stora vinsten av empagliflozin till patienter med T2D och etablerad hjärt-kärlsjukdom utgörs av tydligt minskad mortalitet. I genomsnitt lever en patient behandlad med empagliflozin 96 dagar längre än om empagliflozin inte förskrivs, sett över en femårsperiod.

Förskrivning av empagliflozin minskar behovet av andra glukossänkande läkemedel vilket visades av en upptitrering av glukossänkande läkemedel i placebogruppen i EMPA-REG Outcome studien. Obeaktat minskad förskrivning av övriga glukossänkare och insulin leder resultaten till att empagliflozin (jämfört med standardbehandling) beräknas generera hälsovinster till en kostnad av cirka 69 000 kronor per levnadsår, eller 85 000 kronor per kvalitetsjusterat levnadsår, vilket Socialstyrelsen i sina riktlinjer bedömer som en låg kostnad.

Slutsatsen är att behandling med empagliflozin i den tämligen utsatta patientgrupp som har T2D och etablerad hjärt-kärlsjukdom är såväl medicinskt effektivt som kostnadseffektivt.

Background: Populations of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure (HF) are growing. To prevent exacerbations leading to inpatient care, a 4 year (2013-2017) telehealth intervention non-randomized single-centre clinical study was performed. We hypothesized that the patients, grouped by advanced COPD or HF, would exhibit decreased need of hospital admissions.

Objective: To study hospital admissions in patients with COPD or HF using a telemonitoring system, the Health Diary.

Methods: A telemonitoring system, the Health Diary, based on digital pen technology, was employed. Patients with COPD or HF treated at the University Hospital in Linköping were included if they had at least 2 hospital admissions the previous year. Data on hospital admissions was obtained from the administrative healthcare database. Expected number of hospital admissions for the study year was calculated using 5-year data for a group of patients with matching diagnosis and history of hospital admissions and was compared to the actual value in the intervention group using Poisson regression.

Results: Together with the included patients, 159 HF and 136 COPD non-intervention patients was used to calculate the expected values for hospital admissions. For the 58 included HF patients, the average number of hospital admissions of 0.81 was 32.8 percent (p=0.04) lower than expected. For the 36 included COPD patients, the average number of hospital admissions of 1.44 was 37.0 percent (p=0.02) lower than expected.

Conclusions: Use of the telemonitoring system, the Health Diary, decreases hospital admissions in elderly with COPD and HF.

Background: Populations of elderly patients with advanced stages of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure (HF) are growing, urging the need for specialized health care in the patients’ home. A 4 year (2013-2017) telehealth intervention single-centre clinical study has been completed. We hypothesized that the two groups of patients, advanced COPD or HF, would exhibit differences regarding exacerbations and the need of health care.

Objective: To study exacerbations of COPD or HF, and patients’ need of health care.

Methods: A telemonitoring system, the Health Diary, which is based on digital pen technology, was employed. Patients with at least 2 hospital admissions the previous year were included. Responsible nurses and physicians at a specialized home care unit at a university hospital checked all daily patient reports. Physicians identified exacerbations using information provided through the telemonitoring system and patient contacts. Consumed health care was assessed as the number of patient contacts (home visits or telephone consultations).

Results: Totally, 94 patients with advanced disease were enrolled (36 COPD and 58 HF patients) of which 53 patients (19 COPD and 34 HF patients) completed the 1-yr study period. The major reason for not completing the study was death (13 COPD, 15 HF patients). Average numbers of exacerbations were 3.1 and 0.8 and patient contacts were 94 and 67 per COPD and HF patient, respectively.

Conclusions: Compared to HF patients, COPD patients exhibit exacerbations more frequently and demand much more home health care. This difference of health care consumption is mainly due to disease characteristics.

Aims

To explore the gender- and age-specific risk of developing a first myocardial infarction in people treated with antidiabetic and/or antidepressant drugs compared with people with no pharmaceutical treatment for diabetes or depression.

Methods

A cohort of all Swedish residents aged 45–84 years (n = 4 083 719) was followed for a period of 3 years. Data were derived from three nationwide registers. The prescription and dispensing of antidiabetic and antidepressant drugs were used as markers of disease. All study subjects were reallocated according to treatment and the treatment categories were updated every year. Data were analysed using a Cox regression model with a time-dependent variable. The outcome of interest was first fatal or non-fatal myocardial infarction.

Results

During follow-up, 42 840 people had a first myocardial infarction, 3511 of which were fatal. Women aged 45–64 years, receiving both antidiabetic and antidepressant drugs had a hazard ratio for myocardial infarction of 7.4 (95% CI 6.3–8.6) compared with women receiving neither. The corresponding hazard ratio for men was 3.1 (95% CI 2.8–3.6).

Conclusions

The combined use of antidiabetic and antidepressant drugs was associated with a higher risk of myocardial infarction compared with use of either group of drugs alone. The increase in relative risk was greater in middle-aged women than in middle-aged men.

OBJECTIVES: To examine costs and effects of care based on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) provided by an ambulatory geriatric care unit (AGU) in addition to usual care.

DESIGN: Assessor-blinded, single-center randomized controlled trial.

SETTING: AGU in an acute hospital in southeastern Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS: Community-dwelling individuals aged 75 years or older who had received inpatient hospital care 3 or more times in the past 12 months and had 3 or more concomitant medical diagnoses were eligible for study inclusion and randomized to the intervention group (IG; n = 208) or control group (CG; n = 174). Mean age (SD) was 82.5 (4.9) years.

INTERVENTION: Participants in the IG received CGA-based care at the AGU in addition to usual care.

OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was number of hospitalizations. Secondary outcomes were days in hospital and nursing home, mortality, cost of public health and social care, participant' sense of security in care, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

RESULTS: Baseline characteristics did not differ between groups. The number of hospitalizations did not differ between the IG (2.1) and CG (2.4), but the number of inpatient days was lower in the IG (11.1 vs 15.2; P = .035). The IG showed trends of reduced mortality (hazard ratio 1.51; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.988-2.310; P = .057) and an increased sense of security in care interaction. No difference in HRQoL was observed. Costs for the IG and CG were 33,371£ (39,947£) and 30,490£ (31,568£; P = .432).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This study of CGA-based care was performed in an ambulatory care setting, in contrast to the greater part of studies of the effects of CGA, which have been conducted in hospital settings. This study confirms the superiority of this type of care to elderly people in terms of days in hospital and sense of security in care interaction and that a shift to more accessible care for older people with multimorbidity is possible without increasing costs. This study can aid the planning of future interventions for older people.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT01446757.

The British national Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has presented guidelines based on signs and symptoms which should raise a suspicion of colorectal cancer. A slightly modified version of these guidelines, adapted to Swedish conditions, named Swedish NICE (sNICE) criteria, was implemented at eight primary care centres. By following the sNICE criteria, cases with higher degree of suspicion of colorectal cancer were advised for computer tomography (CT) of the colon, whereas cases of low degree of suspicion were advised for the considerably less time and patient demanding CT of the abdomen. For patients with isolated anal symptoms without presence of sNICE criteria, active expectancy for six weeks was recommended, followed by renewed consideration. Results showed that the ratio between CT colon and CT abdomen was reduced from 2.2 to 1.1 after introduction of the sNICE criteria. Also, the proportion of patients undergoing CT colon within two weeks from admittance was increased from 3 to 25 %. We conclude that the sNICE criteria may be a useful supportive tool for the primary care physician.

Vid misstanke om kolorektal cancer är det angeläget att patienter där misstankegraden är hög får genomgå snar utredning och diagnostik. På många håll i landet föreligger oönskat långa väntetider för sådan utredning.

Användningen av ett evidensbaserat beslutsstöd för kolonutredning, baserat på riktlinjer från brittiska NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), implementerades på 8 vårdcentraler i Östergötland.

Efter implementeringen förkortades ledtider till datortomografi av kolon, diagnos och behandling.

Beslutsstödet bidrog till att patienter där graden av misstanke om kolorektal cancer var låg kunde styras om till att genomgå datortomografi av buken i stället för av kolon.

Background: Growing populations of elderly patients with advanced stages of COPD or heart failure (HF) urge the need for specialized health care in the patients' home. A telemonitoring study has been initiated including patients using digital pens. Health care was provided by the specialized home care unit at a university hospital. Through an IT system the staff checked all daily patient reports. We hypothesized that the two groups of patients, advanced COPD or HF, would exhibit differences regarding exacerbations and the need of health care.

Objective: To study exacerbations of COPD or HF, and patient health care consumption.

Methods: A tele-monitoring system, the Health diary, which is based on digital pen technology, was employed. Exacerbations were identified using information provided through the telemonitoring system. Consumed health care was assessed as the number of patient contacts (home visits or telephone consultations).

Results: Presently, 33 patients with advanced disease are enrolled (13 COPD and 20 HF patients) of which 11 patients (6 COPD and 5 HF patients) have completed the 1-yr study period or have died during the study period (2 COPD and 4 HF patients). Exacerbations were 2.8 and 0.8 and patient contacts were 96 and 42 per COPD and HF patient, respectively. While HF patients were significantly older than COPD patients, the two groups demonstrated no difference regarding gender distribution and comorbidity.

Conclusions: COPD patients exhibit exacerbations more frequently and demand much more home health care than patients with HF do. It seems that this difference of health care consumption is mainly due to disease characteristics.

Background: Globally, the population is ageing and lives with several chronic diseases for decades. A high symptom burden is associated with a high use of healthcare, admissions to nursing homes, and reduced quality of life. The aims of this study were to describe the multidimensional symptom profile and symptom burden in community-dwelling older people with multimorbidity, and to describe factors related to symptom burden. Methods: A cross-sectional study including 378 community-dwelling people greater than= 75 years, who had been hospitalized greater than= 3 times during the previous year, had greater than= 3 diagnoses in their medical records. The Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale was used to assess the prevalence, frequency, severity, distress and symptom burden of 31 symptoms. A multiple linear regression was performed to identify factors related to total symptom burden. Results: The mean number of symptoms per participant was 8.5 (4.6), and the mean total symptom burden score was 0.62 (0.41). Pain was the symptom with the highest prevalence, frequency, severity and distress. Half of the study group reported the prevalence of lack of energy and a dry mouth. Poor vision, likelihood of depression, and diagnoses of the digestive system were independently related to the total symptom burden score. Conclusion: The older community-dwelling people with multimorbidity in this study suffered from a high symptom burden with a high prevalence of pain. Persons with poor vision, likelihood of depression, and diseases of the digestive system are at risk of a higher total symptom burden and might need age-specific standardized guidelines for appropriate management.