scholarly journals Special Low Protein Foods Prescribed in England for PKU Patients: An Analysis of Prescribing Patterns and Cost

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 3977
Author(s):  
Georgina Wood ◽  
Alex Pinto ◽  
Sharon Evans ◽  
Anne Daly ◽  
Sandra Adams ◽  
...  

Patients with phenylketonuria (PKU) are reliant on special low protein foods (SLPFs) as part of their dietary treatment. In England, several issues regarding the accessibility of SLPFs through the national prescribing system have been highlighted. Therefore, prescribing patterns and expenditure on all SLPFs available on prescription in England (n = 142) were examined. Their costs in comparison to regular protein-containing (n = 182) and ‘free-from’ products (n = 135) were also analysed. Similar foods were grouped into subgroups (n = 40). The number of units and costs of SLPFs prescribed in total and per subgroup from January to December 2020 were calculated using National Health Service (NHS) Business Service Authority (NHSBSA) ePACT2 (electronic Prescribing Analysis and Cost Tool) for England. Monthly patient SLPF units prescribed were calculated using patient numbers with PKU and non-PKU inherited metabolic disorders (IMD) consuming SLPFs. This was compared to the National Society for PKU (NSPKU) prescribing guidance. Ninety-eight percent of SLPF subgroups (n = 39/40) were more expensive than regular and ‘free-from’ food subgroups. However, costs to prescribe SLPFs are significantly less than theoretical calculations. From January to December 2020, 208,932 units of SLPFs were prescribed (excluding milk replacers), costing the NHS £2,151,973 (including milk replacers). This equates to £962 per patient annually, and prescribed amounts are well below the upper limits suggested by the NSPKU, indicating under prescribing of SLPFs. It is recommended that a simpler and improved system should be implemented. Ideally, specialist metabolic dietitians should have responsibility for prescribing SLPFs. This would ensure that patients with PKU have the necessary access to their essential dietary treatment, which, in turn, should help promote dietary adherence and improve metabolic control.

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 100466
Author(s):  
A. MacDonald ◽  
A. Pinto ◽  
S. Evans ◽  
C. Ashmore ◽  
J. MacDonald ◽  
...  

2009 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 409-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Evans ◽  
A. Daly ◽  
V. Hopkins ◽  
P. Davies ◽  
A. MacDonald

2015 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 765-773 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Scholl-Bürgi ◽  
A. Höller ◽  
K. Pichler ◽  
M. Michel ◽  
E. Haberlandt ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vjekoslav Krželj ◽  
Ivana Čulo Čagalj

Inherited metabolic disorders can cause heart diseases, cardiomyopathy in particular, as well as cardiac arrhythmias, valvular and coronary diseases. More than 40 different inherited metabolic disorders can provoke cardiomyopathy, including lysosomal storage disorders, fatty acid oxidation defects, organic acidemias, amino acidopathies, glycogen storage diseases, congenital disorders of glycosylation as well as peroxisomal and mitochondrial disorders. If identified and diagnosed on time, some of congenital metabolic diseases could be successfully treated. It is important to assume them in cases when heart diseases are etiologically undefined. Rapid technological development has made it easier to establish the diagnosis of these diseases. This article will focus on common inherited metabolic disorders that cause heart diseases, as well as on diseases that might be possible to treat.


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