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Health Affairs Study Finds No Link Between Cost, Quality Of Care
Quality of care is not linked to the cost of care, according to a study published last week on the Web site of the journal Health Affairs, CQ HealthBeat reports. For the study, researchers from Dartmouth College and Harvard University analyzed the health care bills of chronically ill Medicare beneficiaries in their last two years of life who received end-of-life care from 2,172 unidentified hospitals. The patients had one of three common conditions: heart attack, pneumonia or congestive heart failure. The study -- sponsored by the National Institute on Aging -- looked at common quality indicators at a hospital-by-hospital level instead of regional level (Norman, CQ HealthBeat, 5/22). Researchers compared the data with some of the quality measures reported on the HHS Hospital Compare Web site (Goldstein, "Health Blog," Wall Street Journal, 5/21). The study found that among the one-fifth of hospitals that spent the least, the cost of end-of-life care was $16,059 on average. In comparison, the cost of end-of-life care at the top 20% of highest-spending hospitals was $34,742 on average. The study also found no link -- or even evidence against a link -- between spending and the quality indicators. The researchers noted that the results might be skewed because the quality indicators they used might penalize hospitals that treat sicker patients. In addition, the study used process-of-care measures instead of patient outcomes. According to CQ HealthBeat, the findings of the study could have an effect on the debate over health care reform legislation because lawmakers and President Obama both have said that a reform plan must be able to control costs and expand access to high-quality, affordable health care (CQ HealthBeat, 5/22).

Tumor Metabolism Discovery Opens New Detection And Treatment Options For Rare Form Of Colon Cancer
People who suffer from Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a rare inherited cancer syndrome, develop gastrointestinal polyps and are predisposed to colon cancer and other tumor types. Carefully tracing the cellular chain-of-command that links nutrient intake to cell growth (and which is interrupted in Peutz-Jeghers syndrome), allowed researchers at the Salk Institute for Biological Studies to exploit the tumors" weak spot.
News of the day
Japanese Ministry Of Health Approves Rasilez(R), A First-in-class Direct Renin Inhibitor (DRI), For The Treatment Of High Blood Pressure
Rasilez® (aliskiren), the first new type of high blood pressure medicine in more than a decade, has been approved for use in Japan. Rasilez directly inhibits renin9, an enzyme that triggers a process leading to high blood pressure and organ damage. The Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) in Japan approved Rasilez for the treatment of high blood pressure alone or in combination with other high blood pressure medicines.
Oncology

SPECT MPI With Cardiolite(R) Used In BARI 2D Study To Evaluate Type 2 Diabetes And Coronary Artery Disease Treatment Strategies

Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc., a worldwide leader in diagnostic imaging, announced today that the company"s leading imaging agent, Cardiolite® (Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi for Injection), was used in a recently completed five-year study examining appropriate treatment regimens for patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease. The results of this study, known as The Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation 2 Diabetes (BARI 2D), will be presented by the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health at a special symposium on Sunday, June 7, 2009, from 4:15 p.m. - 5:15 p.m. (CT) at the American Diabetes Association 69th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans. In the study, SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with Cardiolite® was used to objectively identify coronary artery disease during initial patient recruitment and for subsequent one, three and five-year follow-up of patients enrolled in the study to determine the impact of therapy on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), ischemic burden and scar. One of the two primary objectives for the BARI 2D study was to determine if a strategy of initial elective coronary revascularization combined with aggressive medical therapy results in a lower five-year mortality compared with a strategy of initial aggressive medical therapy alone. Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. provided support for the study. "As the number of patients affected by a combination of type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease continues to rapidly increase, the results of the BARI 2D study could potentially impact millions and better inform patient management decisions as clinicians seek to establish the best possible course of treatment for this growing patient population," stated Don Kiepert, president and chief executive officer of Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. "We are proud to have supported and supplied our product for this pivotal clinical effort and recognize the importance of improving treatment protocols for patients with type 2 diabetes to manage cardiovascular risk and prevent further complications." About Cardiolite® Cardiolite® (Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi for Injection) is one of the world"s most widely-used cardiac imaging agents and the only technetium labeled myocardial perfusion agent that has been used to image more than 40 million patients. For almost two decades, Cardiolite® has played a vital role in the diagnosis and management of patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease. Cardiolite® is the first technetium labeled myocardial perfusion tracer to provide physicians with prognostic information that can be helpful in making patient management decisions. Cardiolite® is the subject of more than 10,000 publications and the imaging agent of choice within several post marketing cardiology clinical trials -DIAD, COURAGE, ERASE, INSPIRE and CHRISTMAS - which have resulted in changes in patient care. Cardiolite® leads the way with the most FDA approved clinical indications as a myocardial perfusion imaging agent. Indication and Important Safety Information Regarding Cardiolite® Cardiolite® (Kit for the Preparation of Technetium Tc99m Sestamibi for Injection) is a myocardial perfusion agent that is indicated for detecting coronary artery disease by localizing myocardial ischemia (reversible defects) and infarction (non-reversible defects), in evaluating myocardial function and developing information for use in patient management decisions. Cardiolite® evaluation of myocardial ischemia can be accomplished with rest and cardiovascular stress techniques (e.g., exercise or pharmacologic stress in accordance with the pharmacologic stress agent"s labeling). It is usually not possible to determine the age of a myocardial infarction or to differentiate a recent myocardial infarction from ischemia. Exercise and pharmacologic stress testing should be performed only under the supervision of a qualified physician. Cardiolite® has been rarely associated with acute severe allergic events of angioedema and urticaria. The most frequently reported adverse events include headache, chest pain/angina, ST segment changes on ECG, nausea, and abnormal taste and smell. For full prescribing information, please visit http://www.cardiolite.com. Cardiolite® is a registered trademark of Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc. Lantheus Medical Imaging, Inc.


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