BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is strongly associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events,including severe outcomes such as pulmonary embolism.Elevated D-dimer levels are a critical biomarker for...BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is strongly associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events,including severe outcomes such as pulmonary embolism.Elevated D-dimer levels are a critical biomarker for assessing this risk.In Gabon,early implementation of anticoagulation therapy and D-dimer testing has been crucial in managing COVID-19.This study hypothesizes that elevated Ddimer levels are linked to increased COVID-19 severity.AIM To determine the impact of D-dimer levels on COVID-19 severity and their role in guiding clinical decisions.METHODS This retrospective study analyzed COVID-19 patients admitted to two hospitals in Gabon between March 2020 and December 2023.The study included patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses and available D-dimer measurements at admission.Data on demographics,clinical outcomes,D-dimer levels,and healthcare costs were collected.COVID-19 severity was classified as non-severe(outpatients)or severe(inpatients).A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between D-dimer levels and disease severity,with adjusted odds ratios(OR)and 95%CI.RESULTS A total of 3004 patients were included,with a mean age of 50.17 years,and the majority were female(53.43%).Elevated D-dimer levels were found in 65.81%of patients,and 57.21%of these experienced severe COVID-19.Univariate analysis showed that patients with elevated D-dimer levels had 3.33 times higher odds of severe COVID-19(OR=3.33,95%CI:2.84-3.92,P<0.001),and this association remained significant in the multivariable analysis,adjusted for age,sex,and year of collection.The financial analysis revealed a substantial burden,particularly for uninsured patients.CONCLUSION D-dimer predicts COVID-19 severity and guides treatment,but the high cost of anticoagulant therapy highlights the need for policies ensuring affordable access in resource-limited settings like Gabon.展开更多
Background::Despite free diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis(TB),the costs during treatment impose a significant financial burden on patients and their households.The study sought to identify the determinants for...Background::Despite free diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis(TB),the costs during treatment impose a significant financial burden on patients and their households.The study sought to identify the determinants for cata-strophic costs among patients with drug-sensitive TB(DSTB)and their households in Kenya.Methods::The data was collected during the 2017 Kenya national patient cost survey from a nationally representative sample(n=1071).Treatment related costs and productivity losses were estimated.Total costs exceeding 20%of household income were defined as catastrophic and used as the outcome.Multivariable Poisson regression analysis was performed to measure the association between selected individual,household and disease characteristics and occurrence of catastrophic costs.A deterministic sensitivity analysis was carried using different thresholds and the significant predictors were explored.Results::The proportion of catastrophic costs among DSTB patients was 27%(n=294).Patients with catastrophic costs had higher median productivity losses,39 h[interquartile range(IQR):20-104],and total median costs of USD 567(IQR:299-1144).The incidence of catastrophic costs had a dose response with household expenditure.The poorest quintile was 6.2 times[95%confidence intervals(CI):4.0-9.7]more likely to incur catastrophic costs compared to the richest.The prevalence of catastrophic costs decreased with increasing household expenditure quintiles(proportion of catastrophic costs:59.7%,32.9%,23.6%,15.9%,and 9.5%)from the lowest quintile(Q1)to the highest quintile(Q5).Other determinants included hospitalization:prevalence ratio(PR)=2.8(95%CI:1.8-4.5)and delayed treatment:PR=1.5(95%CI:1.3-1.7).Protective factors included receiving care at a public health facility:PR=0.8(95%CI:0.6-1.0),and a higher body mass index(BMI):PR=0.97(95%CI:0.96-0.98).Pre TB expenditure,hospitalization and BMI were significant predictors in all sensitivity analysis scenarios.Conclusions::There are significant inequities in the occurrence of catastrophic costs.Social protection interventions in addition to existing medical and public health interventions are important to implement for patients most at risk of incurring catastrophic costs.展开更多
文摘BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is strongly associated with an increased risk of thrombotic events,including severe outcomes such as pulmonary embolism.Elevated D-dimer levels are a critical biomarker for assessing this risk.In Gabon,early implementation of anticoagulation therapy and D-dimer testing has been crucial in managing COVID-19.This study hypothesizes that elevated Ddimer levels are linked to increased COVID-19 severity.AIM To determine the impact of D-dimer levels on COVID-19 severity and their role in guiding clinical decisions.METHODS This retrospective study analyzed COVID-19 patients admitted to two hospitals in Gabon between March 2020 and December 2023.The study included patients with confirmed COVID-19 diagnoses and available D-dimer measurements at admission.Data on demographics,clinical outcomes,D-dimer levels,and healthcare costs were collected.COVID-19 severity was classified as non-severe(outpatients)or severe(inpatients).A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess the relationship between D-dimer levels and disease severity,with adjusted odds ratios(OR)and 95%CI.RESULTS A total of 3004 patients were included,with a mean age of 50.17 years,and the majority were female(53.43%).Elevated D-dimer levels were found in 65.81%of patients,and 57.21%of these experienced severe COVID-19.Univariate analysis showed that patients with elevated D-dimer levels had 3.33 times higher odds of severe COVID-19(OR=3.33,95%CI:2.84-3.92,P<0.001),and this association remained significant in the multivariable analysis,adjusted for age,sex,and year of collection.The financial analysis revealed a substantial burden,particularly for uninsured patients.CONCLUSION D-dimer predicts COVID-19 severity and guides treatment,but the high cost of anticoagulant therapy highlights the need for policies ensuring affordable access in resource-limited settings like Gabon.
文摘Background::Despite free diagnosis and treatment for tuberculosis(TB),the costs during treatment impose a significant financial burden on patients and their households.The study sought to identify the determinants for cata-strophic costs among patients with drug-sensitive TB(DSTB)and their households in Kenya.Methods::The data was collected during the 2017 Kenya national patient cost survey from a nationally representative sample(n=1071).Treatment related costs and productivity losses were estimated.Total costs exceeding 20%of household income were defined as catastrophic and used as the outcome.Multivariable Poisson regression analysis was performed to measure the association between selected individual,household and disease characteristics and occurrence of catastrophic costs.A deterministic sensitivity analysis was carried using different thresholds and the significant predictors were explored.Results::The proportion of catastrophic costs among DSTB patients was 27%(n=294).Patients with catastrophic costs had higher median productivity losses,39 h[interquartile range(IQR):20-104],and total median costs of USD 567(IQR:299-1144).The incidence of catastrophic costs had a dose response with household expenditure.The poorest quintile was 6.2 times[95%confidence intervals(CI):4.0-9.7]more likely to incur catastrophic costs compared to the richest.The prevalence of catastrophic costs decreased with increasing household expenditure quintiles(proportion of catastrophic costs:59.7%,32.9%,23.6%,15.9%,and 9.5%)from the lowest quintile(Q1)to the highest quintile(Q5).Other determinants included hospitalization:prevalence ratio(PR)=2.8(95%CI:1.8-4.5)and delayed treatment:PR=1.5(95%CI:1.3-1.7).Protective factors included receiving care at a public health facility:PR=0.8(95%CI:0.6-1.0),and a higher body mass index(BMI):PR=0.97(95%CI:0.96-0.98).Pre TB expenditure,hospitalization and BMI were significant predictors in all sensitivity analysis scenarios.Conclusions::There are significant inequities in the occurrence of catastrophic costs.Social protection interventions in addition to existing medical and public health interventions are important to implement for patients most at risk of incurring catastrophic costs.
