Early health technology assessment using the MAFEIP tool. A case study on a wearable device for fall prediction in elderly patients

By using a case-study on a fall-prediction device for elderly patients with orthostatic hypotension we aim to demonstrate how the MAFEIP tool, developed as part of the European Innovation Programme on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA), can be used to inform manufacturers on their product development based on a cost-effectiveness criterion. Secondly, we critically appraise the tool and suggest further improvements that may be needed for a larger-scale adoption of MAFEIP within and beside the EIP on AHA initiative. The model was implemented using the MAFEIP tool. Within the tool one way sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the model against the relative effectiveness of the fall-prevention device at different price levels. The MAFEIP tool was applied to a novel fall-prediction device and used to estimate the expected cost-effectiveness and perform threshold analysis. In our case study, the device produced estimated gains of 0.035 QALYs per patient and incremental costs of £ 518 (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio £14,719). Based on the one-way sensitivity analysis, the maximum achievable price at a willingness to pay threshold of £20,000 per QALY is estimated close to £900. The MAFEIP allows to quickly create early economic models, and to explore model uncertainty by performing deterministic sensitivity analysis for single parameters. However, the integration within the MAFEIP of common analytical tools such as probabilistic sensitivity analysis and Value of information would greatly contribute to its relevance for evaluating innovative technologies within and beside the EIP on AHA initiative.

Integrated Care in Prevention

Given health and health economy assessments, a common assessment framework for active and healthy ageing (CAFAHA) is ideally desirable, even if not yet fully feasible, given the activities developed within European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) since 2012, now moving into its subsequent framework on healthy ageing. However, as there is diversity with respect to maturity in regions, in order to fully develop prevention practices and campaigns, assets as part of maturity need to be defined more clearly.

Alergijski rinitis in njegov vpliv na astmo (ARIA) – glavni povzetek 2016: Integrirane klinične poti za napovedno medicino v vseh življenjskih obdobjih

Pobudo »Alergijski rinitis in njegov vpliv na astmo« – (angl. Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma, ARIA) – so leta 1999 ustanovili na delavnici Svetovne zdravstvene organizacije – World Health Organization (WHO). Njeni prvotni cilji so bili: 1. predlagati novo klasifikacijo alergijskega rinitisa, 2. spodbujati koncept večobolevnosti pri astmi in rinitisu ter 3. skupaj z vsemi deležniki razviti smernice, namenjene globalni uporabi v vseh državah in vsem skupinam bolnikov. Pobuda ARIA se uporablja v 70 državah, trenutno pa se osredinja na uporabo novih tehnologij za individualizirano in napovedno medicino. Mreža MASK – nadzorna mreža MACVIA (Proti kroničnim boleznim za aktivno staranje, franc. – Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif) in ARIA (angl. ARIA Sentinel NetworK) uporablja mobilno tehnologijo za razvoj klinične poti, ki bi bolnikom, multidisciplinarnim ekipam zdravnikov in raziskovalcem omogočila nadzor rinitisa in astme. Mobilna aplikacija (Android in iOS) je na voljo v 20 državah in 15 jezikih. Uporablja vizualno analogno lestvico za oceno nadzora nad simptomi in oceno delovne zmožnosti in ponuja sistem, ki pomaga pri kliničnem odločanju. Aplikacija omogoča povezovanje z zdravnikom ali drugimi zdravstvenimi delavci. Ta strategija upošteva priporočila Evropskega partnerstva za inovacije za aktivno in zdravo staranje (angl. European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing, EIP on AHA). Cilj novega pristopa pobude ARIA je zagotoviti aktivno in zdravo življenje bolnikov z rinitisom ne glede na njihovo starost, spol ali družbenogospodarski položaj zato, da bi se zmanjšali zdravstvena in družbena neenakost, ki sta posledici te bolezni.

European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing

Demographic ageing societies require a timely and well-planned response containing its negative social and economic effects. The European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) is a major European Commission led policy initiative to address the challenges of demographic change in Europe and turn it into an economic opportunity, capable of offering better prospects for the ageing population in terms of quality of life and overall health and well-being. The Greek EIP on AHA Network has been developed as a interdisciplinary scientific society, aiming at coordinating multiple remarkable but fragmented trials and group of people in Greece and aligning them with the activities of EIP on AHA.

IT-supported integrated care pathways for diabetes: A compilation and review of good practices

Introduction Integrated Care Pathways (ICPs) are a method for the mutual decision-making and organization of care for a well-defined group of patients during a well-defined period. The aim of a care pathway is to enhance the quality of care by improving patient outcomes, promoting patient safety, increasing patient satisfaction, and optimizing the use of resources. To describe this concept, different names are used, e.g. care pathways and integrated care pathways. Modern information technologies (IT) can support ICPs by enabling patient empowerment, better management, and the monitoring of care provided by multidisciplinary teams. This study analyses ICPs across Europe, identifying commonalities and success factors to establish good practices for IT-supported ICPs in diabetes care. Methods A mixed-method approach was applied, combining desk research on 24 projects from the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA) with follow-up interviews of project participants, and a non-systematic literature review. We applied a Delphi technique to select process and outcome indicators, derived from different literature sources which were compiled and applied for the identification of successful good practices. Results Desk research identified sixteen projects featuring IT-supported ICPs, mostly derived from the EIP on AHA, as good practices based on our criteria. Follow-up interviews were then conducted with representatives from 9 of the 16 projects to gather information not publicly available and understand how these projects were meeting the identified criteria. In parallel, the non-systematic literature review of 434 PubMed search results revealed a total of eight relevant projects. On the basis of the selected EIP on AHA project data and non-systematic literature review, no commonalities with regard to defined process or outcome indicators could be identified through our approach. Conversely, the research produced a heterogeneous picture in all aspects of the projects’ indicators. Data from desk research and follow-up interviews partly lacked information on outcome and performance, which limited the comparison between practices. Conclusion Applying a comprehensive set of indicators in a multi-method approach to assess the projects included in this research study did not reveal any obvious commonalities which might serve as a blueprint for future IT-supported ICP projects. Instead, an unexpected high degree of heterogeneity was observed, that may reflect diverse local implementation requirements e.g. specificities of the local healthcare system, local regulations, or preexisting structures used for the project setup. Improving the definition of and reporting on project outcomes could help advance research on and implementation of effective integrated care solutions for chronic disease management across Europe.

MACVIA-LR (FIGHTING CHRONIC DISEASES FOR ACTIVE AND HEALTHY AGEING IN LANGUEDOC-ROUSSILLON): A SUCCESS STORY OF THE EUROPEAN INNOVATION PARTNERSHIP ON ACTIVE AND HEALTHY AGEING

The Région Languedoc Roussillon is the umbrella organisation for an interconnected and integrated project on active and healthy ageing (AHA). It covers the 3 pillars of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA): (A) Prevention and health promotion, (B) Care and cure, (C) and (D) Active and independent living of elderly people. All sub-activities (poly-pharmacy, falls prevention initiative, prevention of frailty, chronic respiratory diseases, chronic diseases with multimorbidities, chronic infectious diseases, active and independent living and disability) have been included in MACVIA-LR which has a strong political commitment and involves all stakeholders (public, private, patients, policy makers) including CARSAT-LR and the Eurobiomed cluster. It is a Reference Site of the EIP on AHA. The framework of MACVIA-LR has the vision that the prevention and management of chronic diseases is essential for the promotion of AHA and for the reduction of handicap. The main objectives of MACVIA-LR are: (i) to develop innovative solutions for a network of Living labs in order to reduce avoidable hospitalisations and loss of autonomy while improving quality of life, (ii) to disseminate the innovation. The three years of MACVIA-LR activities are reported in this paper.