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This study aims to understand healthcare professionals’ thoughts and motivations about optimal management and treatment of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). We conducted a DELPHI survey through an online questionnaire distributed to 220 panellists from six European countries and a discrete choice experiment to describe the relationship between selected clinical criteria and the initial COPD treatment of choice. 127 panellists (general practitioners [GPs] and pulmonologists) completed the survey. Despite the familiarity and use (89.8%) of the GOLD classification for initial treatment selection, a frequent use of LAMA/LABA/ICS was noted. In fact, panellists agreed that inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are over-prescribed in the primary care setting. Our study showed that GPs felt less confident than pulmonologists with ICS withdrawal. This mismatch observed between best practice and behaviour indicates the need to increase awareness and efforts to improve the adherence to guidelines in clinical practice.

Introduction The term progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (ILD) describes patients with fibrotic ILDs who, irrespective of the aetiology of the disease, show a progressive course of their disease despite current available (and non-licensed) treatment. Besides in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, little is known about management and the burden of patients with fibrotic ILD, particularly those with a progressive behaviour. Methods Using the Delphi method, 40 European experts in ILD management delivered information on management of (progressive) fibrosing ILD and on the impact of the disease on patients’ quality of life (QoL) and healthcare resource utilisation (HCRU). Annual costs were calculated for progressive and non-/slow-progressive fibrosing ILD for diagnosis, follow-up management, exacerbation management, and end-of-life care based on the survey data. Results Physicians reported that progression in fibrosing ILD worsens QoL in both patients and their caregivers. Progression of fibrosing ILD was associated with a greater use of HCRU for follow-up visits and maintenance treatment compared with the non-/slow progression. The number of patients who suffered at least one acute exacerbation was reported to be more than three times higher in progressive fibrosing ILD patients than in patients with non-/slow-progressive fibrosing ILD. On average, annual estimated costs of progressive fibrosing ILD per patient were 1.8 times higher than those of the non-/slow-progressive form of the disease. Conclusions Progression in fibrosing ILD causes a significant impact on QoL and HCRU and costs. These survey data underline the need for safe and effective therapies to slow the disease progression. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-020-01384-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Introduction The healthcare sector contributes 5–8% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. Global and regional organizations and governments have started to design and implement measures to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in the healthcare sector, e.g. by green public procurement policies and inclusion of ecological considerations in the decision-making process for purchasing and funding of healthcare technologies. The objective of this study was to perform budget impact analysis of adopting RESPIMAT re-usable in the Nordics and Benelux that considered both the traditional healthcare costs as well as the environmental impact. Methods Inhaler costs and environmental impact over 5 years in the Nordics and Benelux in a scenario with RESPIMAT re-usable compared to a scenario without RESPIMAT re-usable were estimated using an budget impact model. RESPIMAT re-usable enables patients to re-use the inhaler device and its availability therefore reduces the number of inhalers and associated wastage. The carbon emissions were derived for each treatment pattern considering the whole life cycle (cradle-to-grave) of the inhaler product. The cost of carbon emissions was estimated using a societal cost per ton of carbon emission. Results Progressively introducing RESPIMAT re-usable in the Nordics and Benelux was estimated to decrease the number of inhalers used by 2023 by 7,466,621 compared to a scenario without RESPIMAT re-usable, which would result in a reduction of the environmental burden of inhaler use of 4717 tCO2e and a decrease in societal cost of €205,888. Conclusions Adopting RESPIMAT re-usable would lead to a substantial reduction in CO2 emissions, leading to savings from a societal perspective. Funding Boehringer Ingelheim. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-019-01114-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ObjectivesChronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) guidelines advocate treatment with combinations of long-acting bronchodilators for patients with COPD who have persistent symptoms or continue to have exacerbations while using a single bronchodilator. This study assessed the cost-utility of the fixed dose combination of the bronchodilators tiotropium and olodaterol versus two comparators, tiotropium monotherapy and long-acting β2 agonist/inhaled corticosteroid (LABA/ICS) combinations, in three European countries: Finland, Sweden and the Netherlands.MethodsA previously published COPD patient-level discrete event simulation model was updated with most recent evidence to estimate lifetime quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs for COPD patients receiving either tiotropium/olodaterol, tiotropium monotherapy or LABA/ICS. Treatment efficacy covered impact on trough forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), total and severe exacerbations and pneumonias. The unit costs of medication, maintenance treatment, exacerbations and pneumonias were obtained for each country. The country-specific analyses adhered to the Finnish, Swedish and Dutch pharmacoeconomic guidelines, respectively.ResultsTreatment with tiotropium/olodaterol gained QALYs ranging from 0.09 (Finland and Sweden) to 0.11 (the Netherlands) versus tiotropium and 0.23 (Finland and Sweden) to 0.28 (the Netherlands) versus LABA/ICS. The Finnish payer’s incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of tiotropium/olodaterol was €11 000/QALY versus tiotropium and dominant versus LABA/ICS. The Swedish ICERs were €6200/QALY and dominant, respectively (societal perspective). The Dutch ICERs were €14 400 and €9200, respectively (societal perspective). The probability that tiotropium/olodaterol was cost-effective compared with tiotropium at the country-specific (unofficial) threshold values for the maximum willingness to pay for a QALY was 84% for Finland, 98% for Sweden and 99% for the Netherlands. Compared with LABA/ICS, this probability was 100% for all three countries.ConclusionsBased on the simulations, tiotropium/olodaterol is a cost-effective treatment option versus tiotropium or LABA/ICS in all three countries. In both Finland and Sweden, tiotropium/olodaterol is more effective and cost saving (ie, dominant) in comparison with LABA/ICS.

Introduction Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare chronic autoimmune disease characterised by microvascular damage, immune dysregulation and fibrosis, affecting the skin, joints and internal organs. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is frequently associated with systemic sclerosis (SSc-ILD), leading to a poor prognosis and a high mortality rate. The aim of the BUILDup study (BUrden of Interstitial Lung Disease Consensus Panel) was to investigate the overall disease management and to estimate the social and economic burden of SSc-ILD across 8 European countries. Methods A modified Delphi method was used to obtain information on the management of SSc-ILD patients among 40 specialists (panellists) from 8 European countries. Average annual costs per patient and country were estimated by means of a direct cost-analysis study. Results The panellists had managed 805 SSc-ILD patients in the last year, 39.1% with limited (L-SSc-ILD) and 60.9% with extensive (E-SSc-ILD) disease. Of these, 32.8% of the panellists started treatment at diagnosis, 42.3% after signs of deterioration/progression and 24.7% when the disease had become extensive. The average annual cost of SSc-ILD per patient ranged from €6191 in Greece to €25,354 in Sweden. Main cost drivers were follow-up procedures, accounting for 80% of the total annual costs. Hospitalisations were the most important cost driver of follow-up costs. Healthcare resource use was more important for E-SSc-ILD compared to L-SSc-ILD. Early retirement was taken by 40.4% of the patients with an average of 11.9 years before the statutory retirement age. Conclusions SSc-ILD entails not only a clinical but also a social and economic burden, and is higher for E-SSc-ILD. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s12325-020-01541-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background and Purpose— The aim of this article was to analyze the likelihood of receiving informal care after a stroke and to study the burden and risk of burnout of primary caregivers in Spain. Methods— The CONOCES study is an epidemiological, observational, prospective, multicenter study of patients diagnosed with stroke and admitted to a Stroke Unit in the Spanish healthcare system. At 3 and 12 months post-event, we estimated the time spent caring for the patient and the burden borne by primary caregivers. Several multivariate models were applied to estimate the likelihood of receiving informal caregiving, the burden, and the likelihood of caregivers being at a high risk of burnout. Results— Eighty percent of those still alive at 3 and 12 months poststroke were receiving informal care. More than 40% of those receiving care needed a secondary caregiver at 3 months poststroke. The likelihood of receiving informal care was associated with stroke severity and the individual’s health-related quality of life. When informal care was provided, both the burden borne by caregivers and the likelihood of caregivers being at a high risk of burnout was associated with (1) caregiving hours; (2) the patient’s health-related quality of life; (3) the severity of the stroke measured at discharge; (4) the patient having atrial fibrillation; and (5) the degree of dependence. Conclusions— This study reveals the heavy burden borne by the caregivers of stroke survivors. Our analysis also identifies explanatory and predictive variables for the likelihood of receiving informal care, caregiver burden, and high risk of burnout.

To evaluate the level of agreement between hematologists and emergency medicine physicians regarding the best clinical practices for managing bleeding and anticoagulant reversal.Nationwide Spanish multicenter Delphi method study with a panel of experts on anticoagulation and the management of bleeding. Two survey rounds were carried out between April and September 2015. Consensus was reached when more than 75% of the panelists scored items in the same tertile.Fifteen hematologists and 17 emergency medicine specialists from 14 Spanish autonomous communities participated. Consensus was reached on the use of both hemodialysis and an activated prothrombin complex concentrate (PCC) to antagonize significant/major bleeding in patients taking dabigatran. Use of an activated PCC was considered sufficient for patients on rivaroxaban or apixaban. The panel did not consider any PCC to be both effective and safe. Tests for activated partial thromboplastin, thrombin, diluted thrombin, and ecarin clotting times were considered useful in patients treated with dabigatran. A specific anti-Xa activity assay was suggested for patients who developed bleeds while treated with rivaroxaban or apixaban. Specific antidotes for direct-acting oral anticoagulants would be useful when severe bleeding occurs according to 97% of the panelists. Such antidotes would substantially change current treatment algorithms.The points of consensus were generally in line with clinical practice guidelines, but the Delphi process revealed that there are aspects of the clinical management of bleeding that require unified criteria. The need for specific antidotes for direct-acting oral anticoagulants was emphasized.Evaluar el grado de acuerdo entre hematólogos y urgenciólogos respecto a las mejores prácticas para el manejo de hemorragias y la reversión de la anticoagulación oral.Estudio Delphi multicéntrico español con médicos expertos en anticoagulación y manejo de hemorragias. Se realizaron dos rondas de preguntas entre abril y septiembre de 2015. Se obtenía consenso cuando el 75% o más de los panelistas puntuaban en el mismo tercil.Se encuestó a 15 hematólogos y 17 urgenciólogos de 14 comunidades autónomas. La hemodiálisis y la administración de concentrados de complejo protrombínico (CCP) activado fueron tratamientos consensuados para antagonizar una hemorragia relevante/mayor en pacientes tratados con dabigatrán. Para rivaroxabán y apixabán solo se consideró el CCP. El panel no valoró ningún CCP como eficaz y seguro a la vez. Los tiempos de tromboplastina parcial activado, trombina, ecarina y de trombina diluido se indicaron para pacientes tratados con dabigatrán y la actividad anti-Xa específica para los tratados con rivaroxabán y apixabán cuando presentan una hemorragia. Disponer de un antídoto específico para el tratamiento de los anticoagulantes orales de acción directa (ACOD) sería útil en caso de hemorragia grave (97%) y supondría un cambio sustancial en el algoritmo de tratamiento actual (97%).Los resultados estuvieron en general alineados con las guías de práctica clínica, pero mostraron que existen áreas de mejora en la unificación de criterios sobre el manejo de los pacientes con hemorragias, y destacan la necesidad de disponer de antídotos específicos para ACOD.