Health technology assessment (HTA) of prostatic urethral lift (PUL) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in the Italian context.

Background: Health technology assessment (HTA) is a process evaluating various aspects of healthcare technologies to support evidence-based decisions. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition among aging men, significantly affecting QoL. Traditional treatments like transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) and Holmium Laser Enucleation (HoLEP) are effective but often associated with complications and sexual dysfunction.

Cost-effectiveness of treatments for presymptomatic newborn patients with spinal muscular atrophy and two or three copies of the survival motor neuron 2 gene in Italy.

Objective: We assessed the cost effectiveness of onasemnogene abeparvovec (OA) for presymptomatic infants with two or three copies of the survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) gene (diagnosed/treated ≤ 6 weeks old) who lack functional SMN1 gene (biallelic SMN1 mutations). This cost-utility model compared three disease-modifying treatments and best supportive care (BSC) (scenario analysis) in an Italian setting.

Methods: For a cohort of 1000 children, a Markov model simulated costs and benefits of OA (a one-time treatment), nusinersen and risdiplam (continuous lifelong treatments), and BSC.

An Italian cost-utility analysis of 20-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine for routine vaccination in infants.

Background: Streptococcus pneumoniae represents a significant global public health threat, causing approximately 45 million lower respiratory tract infections and 350,000 deaths annually among children under 5 years of age. Conjugate pneumococcal vaccines (PCVs), such as PCV15 and PCV20, have been developed to mitigate this burden by providing protection against serotypes responsible for the disease. The present analysis aims to evaluate the cost-utility of PCV20 compared to PCV15 as a vaccination strategy for preventing pneumococcal diseases in children in Italy.

Effectiveness of a Food Education Program for healthcare workers: a pilot study in a Total Worker Health© approach.

Introduction: Obesity has been identified as a crucial cause of non-communicable diseases, especially for healthcare workers who often take a brief lunch break with high energy and micro- and macronutrients deficient food.

Methods: Our study aims to investigate the clinical and economic effectiveness of the "Food Education Program" (FEP) among healthcare workers having weight problems. Four questionnaires were administered before and after FEP to explore the risk of psychological injury ("Psychological Injury Risk Indicator"), mental and general health status ("Goldberg's General Health Questionnaire-12" and "Short Form-36 health survey") and eating behavior ("Eating Attitudes Test").

Review Article: Green Management of IBD-New Paradigms for an Eco-Friendly Approach.

Background: The worldwide prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is increasing, with its potential evolution as a global disease and a consequent increase in its burden on healthcare systems. These estimates do not factor in the 'real' price of IBD, which, beyond curbing career aspirations, instilling social stigma, and impairing the quality of life in patients, could also significantly affect the environment.

Aim: To highlight potential areas for intervention and develop management strategies aimed at minimising environmental impacts in the field of IBD over time.

Cost effectiveness of difelikefalin for the treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease-associated pruritus undergoing hemodialysis in Italy.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD)-associated pruritus is a condition that strongly impacts CKD patients and is associated with increased morbidity/mortality, and worse health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Difelikefalin is currently the only drug approved in Europe specifically for treating moderate to severe CKD-associated pruritus in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The KALM-1 and KALM-2 trials showed better efficacy of difelikefalin vs placebo and best supportive care.

The socio-environmental determinants of diabetes and their consequences.

Aims: The intricate connections between health and the environment are often overlooked globally, yet they play a pivotal role in shaping our well-being.

Results: Astonishingly, environmental risk factors contribute to nearly 24% of the global disease burden, underscoring the critical impact of our surroundings on health. At the crossroads of this issue lies Diabetes, a rapidly growing non-communicable disease that highlights the delicate balance between human health and environmental sustainability.

The emergence and organizational choices of patient advocacy associations: Evidence from the Italian context.

BackgroundWithin many advanced healthcare systems, patient advocacy associations are gaining a more relevant role in healthcare policy decisions. These associations provide help, representation, and voice to patients and citizens. However, although their role is important, a paucity of research exists analyzing their foundation dynamics, including their organizational decision, from a managerial perspective.

Feasibility of a Stop Smoking Program for Healthcare Workers in an Italian Hospital: Econometric Analysis in a Total Worker Health® Approach.

Background: Over 20% of healthcare workers (HCWs) are active smokers. Smoking is a targeted issue for workplace health promotion (WHP) programs.

Objective: Our study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the Stop Smoking Promotion (SSP) intervention, a 6-hour training course for HCWs, which took place from May 2018 to July 2019.

Analysis of the multidisciplinary approach for the management of patients affected by chronic myeloid leukaemia.

Background: Chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML) is a pathological clinical condition with a yearly incidence between 10 and 15 cases per million people, 14 in Italy. Its incidence increases with age, reaching 20-25 yearly cases per million individuals in people over 70 years. A growing importance has been given to the need of a multidisciplinary approach (MDA) for the management of patients with CML.

Budget impact of prophylactic treatment of rVIII-SingleChain in moderate and severe hemophilia A in Italy.

Introduction: rVIII-SingleChain, a recombinant factor VIII (rFVIII), has demonstrated safety and efficacy in patients with hemophilia A in clinical trials and real-world evidence. This analysis aimed to estimate the potential budget impact of increasing the usage of rVIII-SingleChain for the prophylactic treatment of hemophilia A over 3 years in Italy.

Methods: Patients with moderate and severe hemophilia A receiving prophylaxis were included in the analysis.

The added value of applying a disinvestment approach to the process of health technology assessment in Italy.

Objectives: The objective of the present policy analysis was to understand how a disinvestment approach to the process of health technology assessment (HTA), applied to the field of medical devices, might help Italian policymakers to properly spend the resources in healthcare.

Methods: Previous international and national experiences in disinvestment for medical devices were reviewed. Precious insights for the rational expenditure of the resources were derived by assessing the evidence available.

Real-World Data and Budget Impact Analysis (BIA): Evaluation of a Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing Diagnostic Approach in Two Orthopedic Rare Diseases.

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology, changing the diagnostic approach, has become essential in clinical settings, and its adoption by public health laboratories is now the practice. Despite this, as technological innovations, its intake requires an evaluation of both the clinical utility and the economic investment, especially considering the rare disease scenario. This study evaluated the analytical validity and the budget impact of an NGS-Ion Torrent™ approach for the molecular germline diagnosis of two musculoskeletal rare diseases.

Estimated direct costs of non-small cell lung cancer by stage at diagnosis and disease management phase: A whole-disease model.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the first cause of cancer-related death among men and the second among women worldwide. It also poses an economic threat to the sustainability of healthcare services. This study estimated the direct costs of care for patients with NSCLC by stage at diagnosis, and management phase of pathway recommended in local and international guidelines.

Return on Investment (ROI) and Development of a Workplace Disability Management Program in a Hospital-A Pilot Evaluation Study.

The progressive ageing of the working population and the increase in related chronic diseases tend to affect working capacity. The aim of this study was to evaluate a Workplace Disability Management Program (WDMP) within a pediatric hospital. Absenteeism due to healthcare workers' (HCWs) pre- and post- WDMP and the related costs were used for the program evaluation.

Estimating the fiscal impact of three vaccination strategies in Italy.

Objectives: When assessing the economic value of vaccines, decision makers should adopt a full societal perspective. One approach for estimation of the fiscal impact of a disease is to use the human capital method to determine productivity losses. The aim of this study was to test an analytical framework developed for the estimation of the fiscal impacts of vaccination programs for influenza (FLU), pneumococcus (PC), and herpes zoster (HZ), in Italy.

NutriCatt protocol in the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) program for colorectal surgery: The nutritional support improves clinical and cost-effectiveness outcomes.

Background: Postoperative complications and length of hospital stay (LOS) are major issues and affect hospital costs. Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols are effective in reducing morbidity and LOS after major surgery. We propose a nutritional protocol within ERAS programs in colorectal surgery, starting from preadmission.

Economic evaluation of screening programs for hepatitis C virus infection: evidence from literature.

Background: Hepatitis C is a liver infection caused by hepatitis C virus. Its main complications are cirrhosis and liver cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 185 million people worldwide are infected with hepatitis C virus and, of these, 350,000 die every year.