Search results for "BENEFIT"
showing 10 items of 471 documents
Converting Retirement Benefit into a Life Care Annuity with Graded Benefits: How Costly Would it Actually Be?
2016
This paper deals with life care annuities, i.e. bundled products comprising a life annuity and long-term care insurance. It aims to assess the cost of converting retirement benefit into a life care annuity with graded benefits using a pre-existing public pay-as-you-go pension scheme. With this objective in mind, we present an actuarial method based on array calculus for valuing this type of life care annuity. The health dynamics of the annuitant rely on a reversible illness-death multistate framework. The paper contains a numerical example in which mortality and disability assumptions are based on data from the USA and Australia, although this should be viewed simply as an illustration. In …
Physical activity and fat-free mass during growth and in later life.
2021
ABSTRACT Background Physical activity may be a way to increase and maintain fat-free mass (FFM) in later life, similar to the prevention of fractures by increasing peak bone mass. Objectives A study is presented of the association between FFM and physical activity in relation to age. Methods In a cross-sectional study, FFM was analyzed in relation to physical activity in a large participant group as compiled in the International Atomic Energy Agency Doubly Labeled Water database. The database included 2000 participants, age 3–96 y, with measurements of total energy expenditure (TEE) and resting energy expenditure (REE) to allow calculation of physical activity level (PAL = TEE/REE), and cal…
Economic evaluation of azoles as primary prophylaxis for the prevention of invasive fungal infections in Spanish patients undergoing allogeneic haema…
2016
Patients undergoing allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) are at risk of developing invasive fungal infections (IFIs). Even with introduction of oral triazole antifungal agents (fluconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole and voriconazole) IFI-associated morbidity and mortality rates and economic burden remain high. Despite their proven efficacy, it is currently unknown which is the most cost-effective antifungal prophylaxis (AFP) agent. To determine the costs and outcomes associated with AFP, a decision-analytic model was used to simulate treatment in a hypothetical cohort of 1000 patients undergoing alloHSCT from the perspective of the Spanish National Health System. …
Long term successful weight loss with a combination biphasic ketogenic mediterranean diet and mediterranean diet maintenance protocol.
2013
Weight loss protocols can only be considered successful if they deliver consistent results over the long term—a goal which is often elusive, so much so that the term “yo-yo” is used to describe the perennial weight loss/weight regain battle common in obesity. We hypothesized that a ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts (KEMEPHY) combined with the acknowledged health benefits of traditional Mediterranean nutrition may favor long term weight loss. We analysed 89 male and female obese subjects, aged between 25 and 65 years who were overall healthy apart from being overweight. The subjects followed a staged diet protocol over a period of 12 months: 20 day of KEMEPHY; 20 days low carb-…
Clinical applicability and cost-effectiveness of DIABSCORE in screening for type 2 diabetes in primary care
2017
Aims: To evaluate the applicability and cost-effectiveness of a clinical risk score (DIABSCORE) to screen for type 2 diabetes in primary care patients. Methods: Multicenter cross-sectional study of 10,508 adult no previously diagnosed with diabetes, in 2 Spanish regions (Canary Islands and Valencian Community). The variables comprising DIABSCORE were age, waist to height ratio, family history of diabetes and gestational diabetes. ROC curves were obtained; the diabetes prevalences odds ratios (HbA1c >= 6.5%) between patients exposed and not exposed to DIABSCORE >= 100, and to fasting blood glucose >= 126 mg/dL were calculated. The opinions of both the professionals and the patients concernin…
Extending a model of precarious employment: A qualitative study of immigrant workers in Spain.
2010
Background Since the 1980s, changes in the labor market have modified power relations between capital and labor, leading to greater levels of precarious employment among workers. Globalization has led to a growth in migration, as people leave their countries in search of work. We aimed to describe the dimensions of precarious employment for immigrant workers in Spain. Methods Qualitative study using analytic induction. Criterion sampling was used to recruit 129 immigrant workers in Spain with documented and undocumented administrative status. Data quality was ensured by triangulation. Results Immigrant workers reported that precarious employment is characterized by high job instability, a l…
Does Endovascular Treatment with Curative Intention Have Benefits for Treating High-Grade Arteriovenous Malformation versus Radiosurgery? Efficacy, S…
2021
Background The treatment of high-grade arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) remains challenging. Microsurgery provides a rapid and complete occlusion compared with other options but is associated with undesirable morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to compare the occlusion rates, incidence of unfavorable outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of embolization and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) as a curative treatment for high-grade AVMs. Methods A retrospective series of 57 consecutive patients with high-grade AVM treated with embolization or SRS, with the aim of achieving complete occlusion, was analyzed. Demographic, clinical, and angioarchitectonic variables were collected. Both t…
Tailored screening and dedicated funding for direct acting antiviral drugs: How to keep Italy on the road to hepatitis C virus elimination?
2020
Background and aims. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination for Italy is an ambitious, but achievable goal. In Italy, there is political will, which aims to achieve the World Health Organization (WHO) elimination goals recognizing the need to identify undiagnosed individuals in key high-risk groups and in the general population, however there is concern regarding HCV treatment implementation in Italian Regions. Methods. A modelling analysis was conducted, using the “Italy Polaris” model, to forecast the impact of different HCV treatment rates in achieving the HCV elimination goals in Italy. The model assessed two treatment scenarios: 2018 Scenario and 2019 Scenario, using the annually HCV trea…
Rapid Weight Loss Habits before a Competition in Sambo Athletes
2021
Background: Like other combat sports, sambo has competition rules that divide athletes into categories based on gender, age and weight. Athletes in combat sports often resort to rapid weight loss (RWL) methods to be more competitive in lower weight categories and gain an advantage against lighter, smaller and weaker competitors. The aim of this study was to examine the methodology implemented by two different sambo age categories, junior and senior athletes, in order to attain RWL. Methods: The sample consisted of 103 male sambo elite athletes (seniors/juniors: age 28.5 ± 4.3/18.9 ± 0.8
Long-term cost-effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy versus psychodynamic therapy in social anxiety disorder.
2015
Background To determine the cost-effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) versus psychodynamic therapy (PDT) in the treatment of social anxiety disorder after a follow-up of 30 months from a societal perspective. Methods This analysis was conducted alongside the multicenter SOPHO-NET trial; adults with a primary diagnosis of social anxiety disorder received CBT (n = 209) or PDT (n = 207). Data on health care utilization and productivity loss were collected at baseline, after 6 months (posttreatment), and three further follow-ups to calculate direct and indirect costs. Anxiety-free days (AFDs) calculated based on remission and response were used as measure of effect. The increment…