Eplerenone has been demonstrated as being cost effective for the treatment of patients with systolic heart failure (HF) and mild symptoms in several jurisdictions; however, its cost effectiveness is unknown in the context of Alberta, Canada.
The cost-effectiveness threshold in health care systems with a constrained budget should be determined by the cost-effectiveness of displacing health care services to fund new interventions. Using comparative statics, we review some potential determinants of the threshold, including the budget for health care, the demand for existing health care interventions, the technical efficiency…
Vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) can occur despite immunoprophylaxis in mothers with high HBV DNA levels (>5-7 log10 IU/ml). Quantitative hepatitis B surface antigen (qHBsAg) testing could be used as a surrogate marker to identify high viral load carriers, but there is limited data in pregnancy. We conducted a prospective observational study to determine…
The current approach to funding kidney care in Alberta is not aligned with the strategic goals for Alberta Kidney Care, and the Alberta Health Services Kidney – Strategic Clinical Network, including increasing the appropriate use of home dialysis, non-dialysis supportive care, and kidney transplantation. Current funding models, which are not well aligned with these priorities,…
Cost is a critical element in almost all public or private decisions regarding health care and human services. While cost as “opportunity cost” is straightforward on a conceptual level, making the concept operational, quantifying costs and integrating such information into decision analysis is a continuing challenge. An IHE conference, “On the State of the Art…
The discipline of health economics can provide important information that can form part of the evidence-base for health care decision-making in Alberta. This work, conducted by the Institute for Health Economics (IHE) and the University of Calgary (Health Economics group), was performed to better understand the unmet educational needs and health economics products that could support…
