A number of first-line chemotherapy options for patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are advocated in treatment guidelines and/or by various clinical investigators. Platinum-based chemotherapy has clearly demonstrated efficacy in patients with advanced NSCLC and is generally...

The effectiveness of drug treatment in clinical practice is considerably lower than the efficacy shown in controlled studies. The lower effectiveness in practice presumably leads to lower cost effectiveness of drug treatment in real-life situations compared with that demonstrated by studies...

Objective: To estimate the benefits of reduced cocaine consumption in terms of reduced societal costs resulting from the introduction of a medication for cocaine dependence with a small incremental treatment effect. Study design: Cost-benefit analysis is applied to study the implications of...

Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) used in the treatment of patients with HIV infection. Both US and British treatment guidelines for HIV infection recommend NNRTI- or protease inhibitor-based combinations [i.e. with nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors...

Objective: To assess the cost effectiveness of selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) in liver transplant patients. Design: Randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial with an integrated economic evaluation. Setting: Two university hospitals in The Netherlands. Cost...

Background: Influenza places a substantial burden on the affected individual and society. While there are data available on the overall occurrence of influenza in children, less information is available on the differential impact of influenza on healthcare for previously healthy children and...

Objective: To compare the cost effectiveness of the angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) olmesartan medoxomil, losartan, valsartan and irbesartan for the treatment of hypertension, from the perspective of a US managed care setting. Methods: The evaluation was based on a recently completed,...

Background: Limited information exists on the best way to organise stroke rehabilitation after hospital discharge and the relative costs of such services. Objective: To review the evidence of the cost effectiveness of services that accelerate hospital discharge and provide home-based...

Objective: To determine what benefits to the employer and to society are associated with influenza (flu) vaccination in healthy adults. Design and methods: We performed a literature review concerning cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness evaluations of influenza vaccination in healthy, working-age...