Abstract
Objectives: Iron chelation treatment (ICT) in β-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients undergoing blood transfusions can cause low satisfaction, low compliance, with possible negative consequences on treatment success, patients' wellbeing, and costs. The purpose was to estimate the societal burden attributable to β-TM in terms of direct and indirect costs, health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), satisfaction and compliance with ICT in patients undergoing transfusions and ICT. Research design and methods: The naturalistic, multicenter, longitudinal Italian-THAIassemia-Cost-&-Outcomes-Assessment (ITHACA) cost-of-illness study was conducted involving patients of any age, on ICT for at least 3 years, who were enrolled at 8 Italian Thalassemia Care Centers. Costs were estimated from the societal perspective, quantified with tariffs, prices, or net earnings valid in 2006. Results: One-hundred and thirty-seven patients were enrolled (median age = 28.3, 3-48 years, 49.6% male) and retrospectively observed for a median of 11.6 months. Mean direct costs were €1242/patient/month, 55.5% attributable to ICT, 33.2% attributable to transfusions. Relevant quantity and quality of productivity was lost. Both physical and mental components of HRQoL were compromised. Little difficulties remembering to take ICT and positive satisfaction with the perceived effectiveness of therapy were declared, but not good levels of satisfaction with acceptance, perception of side effects and burden of ICT. Conclusions: The management of β-TM patients undergoing transfusions and ICT is efficacious, although costly, but overall benefits were not always perceived as optimal by patients. Efforts must be focused to improve patients' acceptance and satisfaction with their therapy; this would contribute to a better compliance and hence an increase in treatment effectiveness and patients' overall wellbeing, with expected improved allocation of human and economic resources.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1905-1917 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Current Medical Research and Opinion |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2008 |
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Keywords
- β-thalassemia
- Compliance
- Cost analysis
- HRQoL
- Iron chelation therapy
- Satisfaction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
Cite this
Costs, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and compliance in patients with β-thalassemia major undergoing iron chelation therapy : The ITHACA study. / Scalone, Luciana; Mantovani, Lorenzo G.; Krol, Marieke; Rofail, Diana; Ravera, Simona; Bisconte, Maria Grazia; Borgna-Pignatti, Caterina; Borsellino, Zelia; Cianciulli, Paolo; Gallisai, Domenico; Prossomariti, Luciano; Stefàno, Ippazio; Cappellini, Maria D.
In: Current Medical Research and Opinion, Vol. 24, No. 7, 07.2008, p. 1905-1917.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Costs, quality of life, treatment satisfaction and compliance in patients with β-thalassemia major undergoing iron chelation therapy
T2 - The ITHACA study
AU - Scalone, Luciana
AU - Mantovani, Lorenzo G.
AU - Krol, Marieke
AU - Rofail, Diana
AU - Ravera, Simona
AU - Bisconte, Maria Grazia
AU - Borgna-Pignatti, Caterina
AU - Borsellino, Zelia
AU - Cianciulli, Paolo
AU - Gallisai, Domenico
AU - Prossomariti, Luciano
AU - Stefàno, Ippazio
AU - Cappellini, Maria D.
PY - 2008/7
Y1 - 2008/7
N2 - Objectives: Iron chelation treatment (ICT) in β-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients undergoing blood transfusions can cause low satisfaction, low compliance, with possible negative consequences on treatment success, patients' wellbeing, and costs. The purpose was to estimate the societal burden attributable to β-TM in terms of direct and indirect costs, health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), satisfaction and compliance with ICT in patients undergoing transfusions and ICT. Research design and methods: The naturalistic, multicenter, longitudinal Italian-THAIassemia-Cost-&-Outcomes-Assessment (ITHACA) cost-of-illness study was conducted involving patients of any age, on ICT for at least 3 years, who were enrolled at 8 Italian Thalassemia Care Centers. Costs were estimated from the societal perspective, quantified with tariffs, prices, or net earnings valid in 2006. Results: One-hundred and thirty-seven patients were enrolled (median age = 28.3, 3-48 years, 49.6% male) and retrospectively observed for a median of 11.6 months. Mean direct costs were €1242/patient/month, 55.5% attributable to ICT, 33.2% attributable to transfusions. Relevant quantity and quality of productivity was lost. Both physical and mental components of HRQoL were compromised. Little difficulties remembering to take ICT and positive satisfaction with the perceived effectiveness of therapy were declared, but not good levels of satisfaction with acceptance, perception of side effects and burden of ICT. Conclusions: The management of β-TM patients undergoing transfusions and ICT is efficacious, although costly, but overall benefits were not always perceived as optimal by patients. Efforts must be focused to improve patients' acceptance and satisfaction with their therapy; this would contribute to a better compliance and hence an increase in treatment effectiveness and patients' overall wellbeing, with expected improved allocation of human and economic resources.
AB - Objectives: Iron chelation treatment (ICT) in β-thalassemia major (β-TM) patients undergoing blood transfusions can cause low satisfaction, low compliance, with possible negative consequences on treatment success, patients' wellbeing, and costs. The purpose was to estimate the societal burden attributable to β-TM in terms of direct and indirect costs, health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL), satisfaction and compliance with ICT in patients undergoing transfusions and ICT. Research design and methods: The naturalistic, multicenter, longitudinal Italian-THAIassemia-Cost-&-Outcomes-Assessment (ITHACA) cost-of-illness study was conducted involving patients of any age, on ICT for at least 3 years, who were enrolled at 8 Italian Thalassemia Care Centers. Costs were estimated from the societal perspective, quantified with tariffs, prices, or net earnings valid in 2006. Results: One-hundred and thirty-seven patients were enrolled (median age = 28.3, 3-48 years, 49.6% male) and retrospectively observed for a median of 11.6 months. Mean direct costs were €1242/patient/month, 55.5% attributable to ICT, 33.2% attributable to transfusions. Relevant quantity and quality of productivity was lost. Both physical and mental components of HRQoL were compromised. Little difficulties remembering to take ICT and positive satisfaction with the perceived effectiveness of therapy were declared, but not good levels of satisfaction with acceptance, perception of side effects and burden of ICT. Conclusions: The management of β-TM patients undergoing transfusions and ICT is efficacious, although costly, but overall benefits were not always perceived as optimal by patients. Efforts must be focused to improve patients' acceptance and satisfaction with their therapy; this would contribute to a better compliance and hence an increase in treatment effectiveness and patients' overall wellbeing, with expected improved allocation of human and economic resources.
KW - β-thalassemia
KW - Compliance
KW - Cost analysis
KW - HRQoL
KW - Iron chelation therapy
KW - Satisfaction
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=47949125257&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1185/03007990802160834
DO - 10.1185/03007990802160834
M3 - Article
VL - 24
SP - 1905
EP - 1917
JO - Current Medical Research and Opinion
JF - Current Medical Research and Opinion
SN - 0300-7995
IS - 7
ER -