| 1. |
- Lökk, J, et al.
(författare)
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Drug and treatment costs in Parkinson's disease patients in Sweden.
- 2012
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1600-0404 .- 0001-6314. ; 125, s. 142-147
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lökk J, Borg S, Svensson J, Persson U, Ljunggren G. Drug and treatment costs in Parkinson's disease patients in Sweden. Acta Neurol Scand: DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.2011.01517.x. © 2011 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Background - Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disease expected to cause great costs. The aim of this study was to calculate drug and treatment costs in patients with PD in Sweden. Method - All healthcare contacts of patients with PD in Stockholm County, Sweden, were extracted from registers together with information on reimbursements from the authorities to the caregivers. PD-related costs were calculated together with non-PD-related costs. Cost per patient was calculated and extrapolated to the whole Swedish population, taking population demographics into consideration. In addition, nationwide PD drug sales statistics were included. Results - The PD prevalence of Stockholm County was estimated to 196 per 100,000 inhabitants, resulting in an estimated total of about 22,000 patients with PD in Sweden. The cost per patient was estimated to SEK 76,000 of which drug costs accounted for SEK 15,880. The annual direct costs in patients with PD in Sweden were SEK 1.7 billion in 2009. Conclusion - Our study estimates high direct costs in patients with PD in Sweden, SEK 1.7 billion, 52% for inpatient care, 27% for outpatient care and 21% for drugs. With an ageing population and the medical progress, the financial burden on society will most probably increase in the future. This study might initiate and provide information for discussions about future cost allocations and healthcare priorities.
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| 2. |
- Anckarsäter, Rolf, 1956, et al.
(författare)
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Cerebrospinal fluid protein reactions during non-neurological surgery.
- 2007
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Ingår i: Acta neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 115:4, s. 254-9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: To study changes in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein markers of blood-CSF barrier integrity and immunological reactions during surgical stress. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients without neurological or psychiatric disorders undergoing knee replacements had CSF and serum samples drawn from spinal and arterial catheters before, 3 h after and the morning after surgery. RESULTS: Serum albumin decreased during surgery and CSF albumin decreased during and after surgery, and, as a consequence, the CSF/serum albumin ratio decreased significantly during the study period, especially after the intervention. In contrast, CSF concentrations of beta-2-microglobuline (beta2M) increased significantly during surgery and remained high. The CSF general marker beta-trace protein (betaTP) remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: Central nervous system protein reactions to a non-neurological surgical intervention include sharply decreased permeability of albumin into the CSF and signs of intrathecal inflammatory activity.
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| 3. |
- Brown, C., et al.
(författare)
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Post-stroke depression and functional independence : a conundrum
- 2012
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 126:1, s. 45-51
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives People who suffer a stroke are at risk of developing post-stroke depression (PSD). Not only does this lower their quality of life but it also increases their risk of another stroke or death. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with PSD in order to better direct rehabilitation efforts aimed at cutting the incidence of PSD.Material and methods This study was based on all patients admitted to the stroke unit of a hospital in southern Sweden from 1 October 2003 to 30 November 2005. The total number of patients involved was 181. Measures were collected at 2 +/- 1 weeks after discharge from hospital, 3 +/- 0.5 months after the occurrence of the stroke and 12 +/- 1 months after the occurrence of the stroke. Information collected was results from the Center of Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and the Barthel Index together with demographic data including age, sex, time since stroke and relationship status.Results Those patients involved in the study were mainly men (5859%) and generally those either married or cohabiting (5357%). The age of respondents ranged from 32 to 92 years with a mean age of 74.0 (95%CI 72.3775.63) at 2 +/- 1 weeks after discharge. The Barthel Index scores ranged from 15 to 100 with means of between 88.7 and 91.7. Between 15% and 19% of the group were clinically depressed during the time frame of the study. The Barthel Index, measuring functional independence in terms of need for assistance with personal activities of daily living (P-ADL), was consistently associated with PSD.Conclusions The differences found in levels of depression between those with lower functional independence after a stroke compared to those more independent in P-ADL, raise the possibility that attention should be paid to therapeutic rehabilitation for stroke patients to help them recover as much functional independence as possible in order to improve their quality of life and lower their chances of developing PSD.
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| 4. |
- H-Stenstam, B., et al.
(författare)
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Neuropathological postmortem evaluation of BNCT for GBM
- 2007
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1600-0404 .- 0001-6314. ; 116:3, s. 169-176
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background - Thirty patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) were treated by boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) at the Studsvik facility in Sweden, in a clinical trial exploring a procedure in which 900 mg p-boronophenylalanine (BPA) per kilo body weight was infused in 6 h. Objective - The present study was designed to assess tumor efficacy and radiation damage to the brain for the seven patients in the Studsvik trial that were available for postmortem neuropathological examination. Method - Whole brain slices containing the initial tumor site and other regions showing pathological changes were chosen for microscopy and selected areas were studied by immunological methods. Results - Local control of GBM was observed in all cases. Conclusive evidence for radiation induced brain damage was not found. Conclusion - Using a novel procedure for BPA infusion, BNCT achieves local control of GBM for minimum tumor doses as low as 15 wGy, allowing treatment with very low concomitant doses to surrounding healthy tissues.
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| 5. |
- Hagell, Peter, et al.
(författare)
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A Swedish version of the 16-item Parkinson Fatigue Scale (PFS-16)
- 2012
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 125:4, s. 288-292
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background – The PFS-16 is a 16-item fatigue scale for Parkinson’s disease (PD) developed in the UK. However, documented translations and psychometric evaluations are sparse. Aim – To translate the PFS-16 into Swedish and conduct initial testing of its psychometric properties. Methods – Following translation, the PFS-16 was administered twice (2 weeks apart) to 30 people with PD (18 men; mean age/PD duration, 60/6.4 years). The PFS-16 uses five response categories (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree), and the total score is the mean over item scores (1–5; 5 = more fatigue). An alternative, dichotomised scoring method has also been suggested (total score, 0–16; 16 = more fatigue). Scaling assumptions, floor/ceiling effects, reliability, and correlations with other variables including the generic fatigue scale Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy – Fatigue scale (FACIT-F) were tested. Results – Scaling assumptions were generally supported for the original scoring [range of mean (SD) item scores, 2.1–3.3 (1–1.4); corrected item-total correlations, ≥0.40], but not for dichotomised scoring [range of mean (SD) item scores, 0.1–0.6 (0.3–0.5); corrected item-total correlations, ≥0.16]. Reliabilities were ≥0.88. Floor effects were absent (original scoring) and >23% (dichotomised scoring); there were no ceiling effects. Correlations with other variables followed expectations (e.g. −0.88 with FACIT-F scores). Conclusions – These observations support the psychometric properties of the Swedish PFS-16, but cautions against dichotomised scoring.
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| 6. |
- Minthon, Lennart, et al.
(författare)
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Long-term rivastigmine treatment in a routine clinical setting.
- 2009
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Wiley Blackwell. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 119:3, s. 180-185
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to observe the effects of long-term rivastigmine treatment in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) in a routine clinical setting. METHODS: This was a prospective, open-label, observational, multicentre, non-randomized study. Outcome measures included the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), the Clinician's Interview-Based Impression of Change (CIBIC) and the Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale - cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog). RESULTS: Of 217 patients initiated into rivastigmine treatment, 62% (n = 135) remained on treatment for 24 months. Most patients droped out due to nursing home placement or side effects. Eighty per cent and 67% of completers exhibited a symptomatic attenuation of cognitive decline (< or = 4-point deterioration) as assessed by using the MMSE and ADAS-cog respectively. Forty-four per cent showed an unchanged/improved CIBIC rating. CONCLUSIONS: Over 60% of patients remained on treatment for 2 years in this routine clinical setting. In patients who remained on treatment, rivastigmine appeared to stabilize their condition and prevented or delayed symptomatic decline.
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| 7. |
- Parnetti, L, et al.
(författare)
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Changes in CSF acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase activity after long-term treatment with AChE inhibitors in Alzheimer's disease.
- 2011
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Ingår i: Acta neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1600-0404 .- 0001-6314. ; 124:2, s. 122-129
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives - To measure cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) participating in randomized clinical trials from three European centers, before and after long-term treatment with different AChE inhibitors (AChEIs). Materials and methods - Of the 144 patients included in the study, 104 were treated with donepezil, 15 with galantamine, 16 with rivastigmine, and nine with placebo. CSF AChE and BChE activities were measured at baseline and after 1- year treatment. Results - Donepezil and galantamine groups showed a significant increase in CSF AChE activity at follow-up, while no changes for BChE activity were observed; in donepezil group, a positive correlation between plasma concentration and AChE activity was documented. Conversely, in rivastigmine group, a decrease in CSF activity of both enzymes was observed. CSF AChE and BChE activities were not correlated with the clinical outcome in any group considered. CSF biomarkers did not show any change after treatment. Conclusions - AChEIs differently influence the activity of target enzymes in CSF independent of their pharmacodynamic effects.
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| 8. |
- Pålhagen, S. E., et al.
(författare)
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Interim analysis of long-term intraduodenal levodopa infusion in advanced Parkinson disease
- 2012
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0001-6314 .- 1600-0404. ; 126:6, s. e29-e33
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background - This interim 12-month analysis is a part of an open-label, observational, prospective study on health outcomes and cost impact of levodopa/carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG, Duodopa) in Parkinson disease (PD). The specific aim was to investigate clinical and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) effects in routine care. Methods - Unified PD rating scale (UPDRS) was the primary efficacy measurement. PD QoL questionnaire 39 (PDQ-39) assessed HRQoL. Subjects were assessed at baseline, andgt;= 3 months after surgery, and then every 3 months. Results - Twenty-seven treatment-naive subjects when started with LCIG showed a decrease in UPDRS score that was statistically significant throughout the year: UPDRS total score (mean +/- SD), baseline = 52.1 +/- 16.1, N = 27, month 0 (first visit; at least 3 months after permanent LCIG) = 43.1 +/- 16.7, N = 27, P = 0.003; month 12 = 42.5 +/- 22.6, n = 25, P = 0.017. PDQ-39 results also showed a tendency for improvement: PDQ-39 (mean +/- SD), baseline = 33.6 +/- 10.8, N = 27, month 0 = 27.1 +/- 11.8, N = 27, P = 0.001; 12 months = 28.8 +/- 12.8, n = 23, P = 0.126. Conclusions - LCIG provides functional improvement beginning at first visit that is sustained for 12 months.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Wesnes, K., et al.
(författare)
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Computerized cognition assessment during acetylcholinesterase inhibitor treatment in Alzheimer's disease
- 2010
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Ingår i: Acta Neurologica Scandinavica. - : Hindawi Limited. - 1600-0404 .- 0001-6314. ; 122:4, s. 270-277
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives - Alzheimer's disease assessment scale-cognitive subscale (ADAS-Cog) has become a standard clinical trials outcome for cognition, but has been recognized as deficient in areas including coverage of cognitive domains, sensitivity and standardization. Computerized test batteries may address some of these issues. The cognitive drug research computerized assessment (CDR) system is validated in Alzheimer's disease (AD). This study was designed to further evaluate validity in relation to ADAS-Cog, mini mental state examination (MMSE) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers and psychometric properties, in a population of Alzheimer's patients on stable anticholinesterase treatment. Materials and methods - Patients completed cognition assessments, CSF and blood sampling at baseline and 6 months later. Data for 65 patients were evaluated. Results - The CDR system demonstrated good psychometric properties in this population. Measures of psychomotor speed showed possible sensitivity to decline over 6 months. Conclusions - There are a number of methodological problems with current cognition assessment methodology for clinical trials. Computerized measures and in particular millisecond reaction time measures, may address many of these issues.
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