Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a public health issue due to late diagnosis, often caused by its initial silent manifestation and economic barriers. This leads to higher rates of metastasis and recurrence. Diagnosis is made through biopsy, followed by staging using imaging techniques such as neck or chest computed tomography (CT), neck magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) for metastasis detection.

A cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted using a decision tree model with a one-year time horizon and no discount rate applied. The model included estimates of direct costs related to OSCC management and used correct diagnosis as the main outcome. The approach was based on a comparative evaluation of costs and clinical outcomes, considering the resources available in the healthcare system. Data were extracted from reliable sources, ensuring the robustness of the results and their applicability to public health practices related to the management of patients with this neoplasm.

PET-CT had an incremental cost of USD362.54, an incremental effectiveness of 0.17, and an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of USD2,122.33 for each correct diagnosis. PET-CT was classified as a non-dominated strategy, meaning it is economically viable for improving case identification. In contrast, neck MRI combined with chest CT had an ICER of −USD1,969.85 per correct diagnosis, indicating that it is a dominated strategy—less efficient and with an unfavorable cost-benefit when compared with other diagnostic alternatives.

PET-CT for detecting cervical and distant metastases in patients with OSCC had higher effectiveness but incurred greater costs than clinical strategies such as neck and chest CT or neck MRI combined with chest CT. While more precise, PET-CT is less favorable economically, presenting a trade-off between accuracy and cost.

Although several studies have explored the prevalence of low back pain (LBP) in Brazilian individuals, no meta-analysis has yet been carried out to comprehensively estimate epidemiological aspects, such as the point, period, and lifetime prevalence of LBP in this population. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the one-off, annual, and lifetime prevalence of LBP in the Brazilian population.

Systematic searches were carried out in the following databases, with no restriction on publication date: MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, Scientific Electronic Library Online, and LILACS. Google Scholar was also checked. The reference lists of included studies were also screened for potentially relevant studies. Prevalence rates per period were combined and calculated.

Sixty-seven studies were included in the review. Eight of these studies (11.8%) were of higher methodological quality. The pooled prevalence of LBP was 23 percent (95% confidence interval: 11, 43) based on a random-effects model. Heterogeneity was extremely high (I²=99.5%; p<0.0001), indicating significant variability between studies. Each study contributed equally to the analysis (approximately 12.5% weight).

LBP prevalence in Brazil exceeds global averages, affecting a significant portion of the population. This study highlighted the need for policies focused on LBP prevention and management, to improve health outcomes for Brazilians and potentially benefit a large global population.

Horizon scanning is an advanced health technology assessment (HTA) tool integrated into the decision-making process to proactively inform stakeholders about new health technologies. The objective of this pilot was to conduct horizon scanning for new health technologies for HIV/AIDS that could be appropriate for Ukraine’s health system, and to assess prospects for using the horizon scanning tool in Ukraine.

The pilot project was conducted at the State Expert Centre of the Ministry of Health in Ukraine. The pilot project tested the basic horizon scanning methodology as well as the PRITECTOOLS prioritization tool using a dataset compiled from international and local databases of clinical trials, patents, academic publications, international horizon scanning and early assessment databases, media resources (including online resources), and websites of public and charitable organizations.

The team identified the following new medicines that may be relevant for Ukraine: cabotegravir (long-acting injectable integrase strand transfer inhibitor—an alternative to tablet-based regimens for daily pre-exposure prophylaxis to increase patient adherence); ibalizumab. an injectable CD4 receptor inhibitor that, in combination with other antiretroviral therapy, is indicated for treatment of HIV-1 in adults with multidrug-resistant HIV (more than five lines of therapy) to expand access and coverage of HIV treatment services; and dapivirine vaginal ring, a vaginal ring used to reduce the risk of HIV-1 infection in women during sexual intercourse to increase adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis.

The pilot showed that the horizon scanning tool can be used to inform the Ukrainian healthcare system about new medicines for prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of HIV/AIDS. The tool can also be one of the stages in the HTA process in Ukraine for healthcare decision-makers to proactively anticipate and plan for HTA for priority health conditions.

Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS) ensures universal and free healthcare access. However, when technologies are unavailable in this system, users can appeal to the courts. To support such decisions, the National Council of Justice established technical support centers that provide technical-scientific reports (TRs) to evaluate health technologies. This study aimed to analyze these TRs and rank the most judicialized health conditions.

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Center of Health Technology Assessment, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo-SP, Brazil, using the TRs available in the e-NATJus system (https://www.pje.jus.br/e-natjus/pesquisaPublica.php). The sample was limited to TRs published between 3 December 2018 and 12 November 2024. Quantitative analyses were summarized as percentages.

Over 235,000 TRs were analyzed, with requests rising from 1,004 in 2019 to 71,120 in 2024. Medications represented 56.1 percent of TR demands, and 56.5 percent of the requested technologies were available in SUS. Favorable rulings occurred in 50.5 percent of cases. The most judicialized conditions were autism spectrum disorder (ASD), insulin-dependent diabetes, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, prostate cancer, and diabetic retinopathy. The main requests for ASD were aripiprazole, cannabis derivates, and applied behavior analysis therapy. Insulin glargine was the most requested drug for insulin-dependent diabetes, dapagliflozin for non-insulin-dependent diabetes, abiraterone acetate for prostate cancer, and ranibizumab for diabetic retinopathy.

The surge in TRs highlights growing demand for innovative treatments, many of which are unavailable in the SUS or lack robust evidence. Access challenges persist even for included therapies, emphasizing the need for equitable access and reliable evidence to guide decisions.

The Health Technology Assessment Network of the Americas (RedETSA) working groups gather members aiming to develop projects and research jointly. The Real-World Evidence (RWE) Working Group seeks to identify methodologies and approaches allowing RWE integration into health technology assessment (HTA) in the region. This collaborative initiative is crucial to enhancing evidence-based decision-making processes in the Americas, shaping regional health policies.

A survey was conducted among RedETSA members to identify RWE use in the context of HTA within the network. The survey included responses from 22 members, reflecting diverse perspectives from across the Americas. A search of official documents issued by various regulatory and HTA agencies was carried out to perform a detailed analysis of the RWE frameworks accessible online. Relevant documents published between 2013 and 2024 were selected, reviewing both the official portals of each agency and publicly accessible academic databases. Documents in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French were searched.

RWE documents from various HTA or regulatory agencies from different countries or regions were identified. The following domains were analyzed from each document: institution type, RWE definition, objective or purpose of RWE use, data quality and tools to assess RWE, data sources used, proposals for analytical methodologies, approved regulatory uses, and specific initiatives or tools. The RWE Working Group document was developed in Spanish. The document provides practical guidelines and checklists for implementing RWE, making it accessible for both specialists and general stakeholders within RedETSA.

The document was a helpful tool aimed at RedETSA members integrating RWE into HTA. Additional tools will include a procedure to meet regulatory and HTA expectations; and a decision tool to support a particular study design adoption. By leveraging these tools, decision-makers in the region can justify their choice of study design and align with regulatory requirements more effectively.

The EDiHTA project aims to deliver an innovative health technology assessment (HTA) framework for digital health technologies (DHT) that integrates existing methods with new ones to inform decision-making across Europe at different levels. In the development phase of the EDiHTA framework, it has been essential to identify all relevant stakeholders and their roles in the innovation process, while also capturing their needs and requirements.

The Innovation of Health Technology Assessment Methods framework was applied to identify relevant stakeholders and their needs and requirements regarding the design of the EDiHTA framework. Once stakeholders and their roles (practitioners or beneficiaries) were identified, their needs were assessed by reviewing existing and new HTA methodologies for DHT as used in 17 countries across Europe. Future scenarios were examined and gaps to be addressed were determined. Various methods were used to elicit the views of different stakeholders (policymakers, HTA agencies and bodies, industry, healthcare professionals, patients). including literature reviews, two online surveys, semi-structured online interviews, and focus groups.

We engaged policymakers from 15 European countries; 15 HTA agencies from nine European countries; 29 developers (startups and big companies) from 10 different European markets; 14 healthcare professionals from nine European countries plus eight from Brazil, Canada, and the USA; and 15 patient representatives from 10 European countries. The analysis highlighted the heterogeneity among European health systems in assessing, implementing, and reimbursing DHT. All stakeholder groups emphasized the need for a harmonized HTA framework to assess DHT efficiently and accurately, including elements specific to DHT, such as cybersecurity, economic and organizational impact, and patient-centered outcomes.

There is a clear need among European stakeholders for an agile, flexible, and multidimensional HTA framework that facilitates stepwise assessments across the technology life cycle and involves all relevant stakeholders in the assessment to inform decision-making. The stakeholder interaction also identified new HTA topics and domains essential for effectively addressing the unique challenges of DHT within the EDiHTA framework.

Ethical, legal, social, and organizational (ELSO) issues are increasingly recognized in health technology assessment (HTA). However, information retrieval methods for ELSO aspects are scarce, and there are no widely accepted standard methods for developing these analyses. Here, we present the methodology and results of the ELSO analysis included in two HTA reports developed in 2024.

Two HTA reports were developed to analyze the value of: (i) genetic testing in congenital hearing loss (cHL); and (ii) a minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) technique to determine cause of death. ELSO domains were considered necessary for decision-making. To address the assessment, we conducted scoping reviews to synthesize the evidence, following the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews, and used a prespecified extraction sheet for defining facilitators and barriers. The literature searches included specific search filters for ELSO issues developed by HTA information specialists from the Spanish Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (RedETS).

The scoping review for ELSO issues in genetic testing for cHL identified 452 references. After eligibility assessment, four reports were included, providing eight ELSO issues: two organizational, two social, and four ethical. Six concerns were facilitators and two were barriers to implementing genetic testing in cHL. The scoping review for ELSO issues in the MITS to determine cause of death identified 903 references. After eligibility assessment, 25 reports were included, bringing forth 43 ELSO concerns: 18 organizational, 15 social, seven ethical, and three legal. Twenty-three issues were facilitators and 20 may be barriers to implementing MITS.

The analysis of ELSO domains through a scoping review provided crucial information for implementing the two selected technologies. However, challenges remain in ELSO information retrieval: (i) key concepts related to ELSO concerns could be described in a variety of ways; and (ii) ELSO terms are not being used or indexed consistently.

Assessing the risk of bias (RoB) using validated tools is an important aspect of any health technology assessment (HTA). However, many of these tools were designed with pharmaceuticals in mind. Well conducted trials of medical devices often face different challenges. Consequently, choosing the RoB tool to use in any assessment may play a large role in how evidence of such technologies is perceived.

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted on renal denervation devices for treating uncontrolled hypertension. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included, so the revised Cochrane RoB tool was chosen to assess bias in individual studies. RoB assessments were undertaken by two reviewers.

Twenty-five RCTs met the eligibility criteria for the systematic review and were assessed for RoB. Application of the revised Cochrane RoB tool resulted in some disparity in the final assessments, compared with the quality criteria for RCTs defined in previously published clinical guidelines for hypertension. Specifically, some of the sham-controlled RCTs had an overall RoB rating of “some concerns”, whereas some of the open-label RCTs had a low RoB and the tool seemed unable to distinguish between the designs. Given that sham-controlled trials can control for a potential placebo effect, this result was both unexpected and unintuitive.

Designing RCTs for medical devices requires substantial input, planning, and consideration from multiple stakeholders. Assessing the RoB of such studies, although necessary from a decision-maker perspective, requires careful contextual interpretation to understand and fully appreciate the nuances at play. Potential for a new RoB tool for assessing studies of medical devices is warranted.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected endemic disease in several states in Brazil. The direct costs of CL treatment from the patient’s perspective can be significant, as can the indirect costs, which include the various non-medical expenses and loss of income incurred during treatment. The study objective was to identify the direct and indirect costs during the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis from the patient perspective.

A cross-sectional study was conducted at the René Rachou Institute/Fiocruz between April 2022 and April 2023 and included patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CL. Participants were interviewed during the treatment period to assess direct medical and non-medical costs as well as indirect costs associated with treatment. Direct costs were estimated using the micro-costing approach and indirect costs were estimated using the human capital method. Descriptive analyses and hypothesis tests were performed for associations between costs and sociodemographic and clinical variables, with a statistical significance level of five percent. The study had ethical approval (CAAE 28929220.0.0000.5091).

The study included 68 patients, predominantly male (77.9%) with an average age of 53 years. CL was the most common clinical form (76.4%), with new cases accounting for 79.4 percent of participants. Direct costs per treatment cycle averaged USD117.36, resulting from transportation, food, and medical examinations. Indirect costs from lost workdays amounted to USD9,936.58, with an average of USD160.12 per patient. Catastrophic expenditure (>10% of monthly income) was observed in 41.9 percent of families. This was significantly associated with direct cost, bacterial infection, and sociodemographic factors such as sex, age, and distance traveled.

This study confirmed that treatment for CL, although free in the Brazilian health system, generates significant direct and indirect costs for patients. The highest costs are related to travel and accommodation resulting from the centralized healthcare model, where treatment is not available close to where patients live.

In 2023, we published widely cited cost-effectiveness thresholds (CETs) for 174 countries. This update refined our approach by incorporating gross domestic product (GDP) growth projections to adjust target increases in life expectancy and health expenditure. This methodology provides more precise estimates tailored to the economic and health contexts of individual countries, enabling better informed resource allocation decisions.

We revised our 2023 methodology by integrating International Monetary Fund projections of GDP growth for the next five years to establish customized targets for life expectancy (LE) and health expenditure (HE) growth. This update accommodates countries where the prior assumption of median growth within income groups was less applicable. The CETs were derived so that the effect of new interventions on the evolution of LE and HE is set within predefined goals. To provide guidance on CETs, we projected country-level HE and LE increases by income level based on World Bank data to ensure the estimates align with individual country realities.

The updated thresholds yielded values consistent with our 2023 estimates, yet notable differences emerged in countries with distinct GDP growth trajectories or unique health spending patterns. For example, thresholds for India and similar countries adjusted upward to reflect ambitious yet realistic targets for HE and LE growth. Across 174 countries, most thresholds remained below one GDP per capita, confirming their relevance for guiding economic evaluations. These nuanced updates demonstrate the flexibility and applicability of our approach in diverse contexts, particularly for low- and middle-income countries.

By incorporating GDP growth projections, this study enhanced the precision of cost-effectiveness thresholds, ensuring their applicability across varying country contexts. These updates provide critical guidance for health systems aiming to balance efficiency, equity, and sustainability, particularly in resource constrained settings.

Sensory burden, a momentary experience of being bothered by sensory stimuli, is a frequent challenge following acquired brain injury (ABI). This study quantitatively tested a theoretical model conceptualizing sensory burden as a dynamic interaction between situational triggers and an individual’s biopsychosocial resources using an experience sampling method.

41 individuals with ABI (median age = 59 years, median time since injury = 6.3 years) provided real-time data at seven semi-random intervals per day over seven consecutive days. Multilevel regression modeling assessed the influence of situational triggers (setting, company, effort, activity dissatisfaction, and negative affect) and individual resources (processing speed, fatigue, and sleep quality) on sensory burden.

Momentary fluctuations in sensory burden varied in severity and variability across individuals. Sensory burden was associated with higher levels of negative affect (β = .58, p < .01), activity dissatisfaction (β = .07, p < .01), effort (β = .09, p < .01), and being in company (β = .39, p < .01). Moreover, sensory burden was related to slower processing speed (β = −0.04, p = .02) and higher fatigue (β = .19, p < .01). However, no interaction effects were found. Effort was the only positive, significant between-person predictor (β = .56, p < .01).

These findings underscore the dynamic and individualized nature of sensory burden after ABI, emphasizing the need for personalized interventions targeting sensory hypersensitivity. Future research should explore additional triggers, resources, and causal pathways to further elucidate the proposed mechanisms and inform treatment development.

Patient and public involvement (PPI) is becoming increasingly embedded in research. While financial constraints are cited as barriers to PPI, there is a lack of understanding of its financial affordability and factors influencing costs. This work aimed to: (i) clarify PPI board costs; (ii) find cost-saving opportunities; and (iii) provide a cost template for others to implement a PPI board.

A cost analysis was conducted to identify the financial capital and staffing hours required to establish and maintain a PPI board. This analysis involved the following steps: (i) identifying the stages of the project; (ii) outlining the activities associated with each stage; (iii) establishing the time frame for each stage and its activities; (iv) identifying the necessary positions; and (v) calculating the associated costs.

The board’s design, implementation, one-year operation, and evaluation cost AUD150,229 (EUR84,076.41) (43% for design, 21% for implementation, 19% for operation, and 17% for evaluation). Although the distribution of hours allocated per position was consistent with the distribution of costs, the results varied by stage. The highest proportion of hours (and costs) on design (67%) and implementation (46%) were attributed to the head researcher position, whereas the research assistant had the highest proportion of hours for operations (53%). The board members accounted for the lowest proportion of the total hours (5%). No time was allocated to them during the design or evaluation phase, and only 11 and 14 percent were attributed to them for implementation and operation, respectively.

The absence of PPI representatives and junior researchers in the design and evaluation stages led to higher costs and some inconsistencies with the PPI model, which requires public involvement from the outset of any project. A deeper level of PPI from the design of this project would not only make it more financially efficient but also, even more critically, enhance and ensure community engagement.

Lack of persistence and adherence to growth hormone therapy negatively impacts growth outcomes. Real-world international studies report that a significant proportion of children discontinue somatropin treatment. However, this information is not available for Argentina. The aim of this study was to describe the persistence and reasons for discontinuation of somatropin treatment in pediatric patients in the real-world setting of Argentina.

This retrospective cohort study analyzed data from the Anhelos program (Argentina) to evaluate somatropin treatment in children under 16 years of age. Persistence and treatment discontinuation were measured, with causes classified as medical or non-medical. Statistical methods were used to analyze predictive factors such as sex, age, diagnosis, region, and healthcare coverage. Persistence was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier, while discontinuation was studied through logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models. SPSS v26.0 was used, with significance defined as p-value≤0.05.

We analyzed 1,159 patients, 42.8 percent of whom were female; 58.7 percent were aged eight years or younger. A total of 56.7 percent discontinued somatropin treatment at least once. No significant differences were observed in sex, age, or region between those who interrupted treatment and those who did not. However, differences were found based on diagnosis and healthcare coverage. Non-medical causes accounted for 64.6 percent of treatment discontinuations, primarily due to delivery issues. Public healthcare coverage was associated with a higher likelihood of discontinuation and lower treatment persistence than social security or private health insurance coverage.

Our data suggested a high rate of at least one treatment discontinuation among pediatric patients in Argentina receiving somatropin, primarily driven by non-medical causes.

Decision-making in the context of health technology assessment (HTA) of gene therapies for hemophilia needs to be tailored toward patients’ preferences. To promote equitable and patient-centered decision-making, it is crucial to provide patients with culturally attuned educational materials to ensure comprehension of key aspects of gene therapy so they can make legitimate and informed treatment decisions based on their preferences.

In this mixed methods study, we used a contextualization approach to translate the educational tool from the PAVING study (Patient Preferences to Assess Value IN Gene Therapies in Hemophilia) into Brazilian Portuguese. Translated versions were reviewed by a hematologist, a patient association representative, and two industry professionals. The tool was subsequently piloted with two people with hemophilia (PWH). After revisions, the tool was virtually presented to 12 PWH to transfer knowledge in preparation for the interview about their willingness to receive gene therapy. They were also required to perform the attribute-ranking exercise from the PAVING study.

The translation process led to minor adaptations required for local context. The original version designed for computer use was adapted for use on a mobile phone. Pilot testing with PWH resulted in minor changes to optimize clickstreams. Ten participants indicated some baseline awareness of gene therapy for hemophilia (good n=2; reasonable n=3; bad or very bad n=5). Participants indicated a general willingness to receive gene therapy (very willing n=7; willing n=2; neutral n=3). The six top-ranked treatment attributes were “effect on factor level,” “dose frequency,” “impact on daily life,” “probability that prophylaxis can be stopped after treatment,” and “effect on annual bleeding rate.”

These findings may contribute to further developments of the design and contextualization of hemophilia educational resources of gene therapy. The preliminary results on patient preferences will also inform future quantitative preference studies to be considered in the decision-making related to individual care and to reimbursement and coverage decisions in health systems, thus incorporating the patient perspective in HTA processes.

Clinical assessment is a continuous process during the life cycle of a medical device for obtaining evidence about performance, safety, demand, and effectiveness in patient care. The objective of this work was to carry out the clinical evaluation of a sample of 66 mechanical ventilators from the National Institute of Respiratory Diseases in Mexico.

The multi-criteria decision analysis method was used. Eleven variables were defined: three related to the patient (number of patients treated, illness, and average length of stay), and eight related to the medical device (amount, location, type, function, use hours, out of service hours, brand, and model). Three partial indicators were developed to evaluate availability, demand, and operation aspects of the medical device. These partial indicators were integrated into a global indicator called clinical use. The numerical result was interpreted with a qualitative scale defined with four levels of clinical use (low, regular, medium, and high). Data from the year 2023 were used.

The sample evaluated contained seven brands and 12 different models of mechanical ventilators. Forty-two percent were classified as low clinical use (they are underutilized) and 39 percent were regular clinical use. These two results indicated that these 54 devices have a low impact on patient care. On the other hand, only 11 percent had medium use and 8 percent had high use. In this last case, we must note the overuse of these five ventilators; that is, they were used almost 24 hours a day in patient care.

Sixty-two devices in the sample had a clinical use that allowed them to be available for mechanical ventilation of patients with respiratory conditions that require it. In the case of ventilators with high clinical use, technological improvements due to the brand had an influence on their constant use, allowing effective care for the patients in critical condition.

People frequently use litigation to access technologies in Brazil. From 2020 to 2023 there was a 38 percent increase in the lawsuits requesting drugs (55,600 to 76,700). The Ministry of Health’s expenditure on litigation reached USD428 million in 2023. This study analyzed the decision issued on September 2024 by the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) to address litigation.

The study reviewed the STF decision, identifying the requirements for judicial provision of medicines not incorporated into the public health system that are directly related to the health technology assessment process.

By a 10-to-one majority, the STF decided that medicines not incorporated into the public health system should not be judicially granted. Exceptions apply to medicines registered by the National Health Surveillance Agency and are based on several criteria: evidence of illegality in a decision by the National Committee for Health Technology Incorporation (CONITEC) or excessive delays in its analysis; lack of substitutes in the public health system; or scientific evidence of efficacy and safety. It was also concluded that CONITEC’s recommendation not to incorporate a drug should be considered, and that when a drug is judicially granted it could be submitted to CONITEC for assessment.

The STF decision seeks to guarantee both the right to health and the financial sustainability of the public health system. By requiring robust scientific evidence for judicially granted medicines, it underscores CONITEC’s crucial role and the need for evidence-based decision-making at an individual level. Its determination also pushes for greater coordination between the Judiciary and Executive Branches of the government.