Gary A Salzman | Search PubMed

PubMed2005

Electronic asthma action plan database: asthma action plan development using Microsoft Access.

We created a user-friendly database for use with asthma management consistent with the national guidelines for asthma. A database was designed by using Microsoft Access for the creation of asthma action plans that can be shared between providers caring for patients with asthma. This database and the use of "form entry" improved documentation of asthma action plans, which are increasingly being used to assess appropriateness of care. We currently have 400 asthma action plans in the database. These action plans can be queried to document compliance with accepted best practices. Asthma action plans can be created and stored in an Access database that is both user-friendly and that can be networked to provide more consistent asthma care.

Asthma↗

PubMed2004

Cost-effectiveness analysis of omalizumab in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma.

BACKGROUND: Omalizumab can reduce hospitalization and emergency department visits and improve quality of life in patients with moderate-to-severe, suboptimally controlled allergic asthma. Given the high cost and modest efficacy of this agent, it is not clear that it is cost-effective if given to a broad population with asthma. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of omalizumab in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma. METHODS: A retrospective economic analysis was performed to determine the cost-effectiveness of omalizumab using 52-week data from 2 randomized controlled clinical trials in adults and adolescents with moderate-to-severe allergic asthma. The analysis was conducted from a third-party payer's perspective, and only direct costs were considered. RESULTS: The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios showed that the cost to achieve an additional successfully controlled day was $523, and the daily cost to achieve at least a 0.5-point increase in Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire score was $378 in 2003 dollars. CONCLUSION: From a pharmacoeconomic standpoint, omalizumab would be better used in allergic asthmatic patients with poorly controlled symptoms despite maximal therapy, given the high cost and modest efficacy of this agent. It could be cost saving if given to nonsmoking patients who are hospitalized 5 or more times or 20 days or longer per year despite maximal asthma therapy.

Adolescent↗