Objective: The negative metabolic and psychosocial consequences of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in adults are now well established. In the present study, an attempt was made to quantify the burden of illness, in terms of lost productivity and increased medical consumption, associated with...

Background: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD) is widespread in the general population and presents in most cases with heartburn as the main symptom. The severity of symptoms is not necessarily related to erosive damage to the oesophagus due to acid reflux, but the frequency and severity...

Background: Asthma is a major public health problem in developed countries. In Canada, the prevalence of asthma is approximately 5 to 7%, with some provincial variation. A retrospective study using data collected in 1990 estimated the total costs of asthma in Canada to be between $Can504 million...

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the costs and effects associated with a community pharmacy-based smoking-cessation programme in Northern Ireland, using the perspective of the payer in the main analysis. Design and setting: Data from a pilot study conducted in 2 community...

Objective: To estimate indirect costs in Spanish ambulatory patients with HIV/AIDS and to identify changes in employment status and their current QOL. Method: Information was obtained through 32 interviews/enquiries carried out with ambulatory patients receiving medical attention at Gregorio...

The purpose of this article is to review the data from pharmacotherapeutic and surgical intervention studies for the management of obesity. Clinical outcomes assessed include weight changes over time and the effects of weight loss on blood pressure, serum lipid profiles and blood glucose...

_ Donepezil is a specific acetylcholinesterase inhibitor that can improve symptoms in patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease; cognitive function is maintained above baseline levels for up to 1 year and normal decline of cognitive function is slowed. The ability of the patient to...

The primary purpose of pharmacoeconomic research is to assist in making healthcare decisions. Rapid growth in the supply of pharmacoeconomic data over the past few years suggests that pharmacoeconomics can be of help in delivering good, cost-effective healthcare. Greater challenges in...

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare, from the payor perspective, the clinical and economic outcomes of olanzapine to those of haloperidol for the treatment of schizophrenia. Design and setting: Clinical, quality-of-life and resource utilisation data were prospectively collected...

There are now a large number of instruments available for assessing health-related quality of life, many of which are used within economic evaluations. When considering the use of quality-of-life instruments, meaningful questions need to be asked to determine whether an instrument has been used...