Browsing by Author "Unal, Serhat"

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    Analysis of the treatment costs of HIV/AIDS in Turkey
    (2016) Malhan, Simtem; Zengin, Tuba Elbir; Yenilmez, Fatma Betul; Dalgic, Canan; Cerci, Pamir; Oksuz, Ergun; Unal, Serhat; 0000-0002-5723-5965; K-8238-2012
    OBJECTIVE: Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agent of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), is a major global health problem. Patients with HIV can live normal lives with today's new treatment options. As the treatment is generally successful, the life expectancy of patients infected with HIV is rising. As a result, the economic burden of HIV treatment on health systems is set to increase. According to the Ministry of Health, there were more than 6000 HIV-positive patients in Turkey in 2013. The aim of this study was to determine the direct costs of HIV treatment in Turkey. METHOD: A retrospective data analysis was performed from the reimbursement agency perspective. Data for 252 patients at a university hospital in Ankara from 2001 to 2012 were used for the analysis. The average costs of treatment per HIV patient and the average costs per HIV patient, depending on the state of the patient's health, were calculated. The latter was determined according to the number of CD4 cells/ml, as defined by the CDC's classification system for HIV infection. The cost of treatment was calculated based on published reimbursement prices in 2013, per patient per year. RESULTS: The CD4 values of 25.3%, 29%, and 45.7% of the 252 patients were < 100 cells/mm(3), 100-300 cells/mm(3), and > 300 cells/mm(3), respectively. The treatment costs per patient per year for 2013 for those with CD4 values of < 100 cells/ mm(3), 100-300 cells/mm(3), and > 300+ cells/mm(3) were $ 5,637.04, $ 2,211.54, and $ 2,182.35, respectively. The weighted average of the treatment cost per patient was $ 3,344.64 for 2013. CONCLUSION: This analysis is unique to Turkey and calculates the cost only of HIV treatment in Turkey. Lower CD4 values are associated with higher treatment costs. Appropriate HIV treatment is crucial for controlling CD4 values and lowering the treatment costs of HIV patients. These findings need to be considered by policy makers who may need to focus on HIV.
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    Turkish Doctors' Cohort: Healthy Despite Low Screening
    (2017) Unal, Serhat; Tanriover, Mine Durusu; Ascioglu, Sibel; Demirkazik, Ahmet; Ertenli, Ihsan; Eskioglu, Erdal; Guler, Kerim; Kiraz, Sedat; Ozbakkaloglu, Mert; Ozer, Birol; Tukek, Tufan; Akyar, Serra; Erdem, Yunus; 27960640
    Objectives: We aimed to determine the prevalence of chronic diseases and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors of Turkish doctors as compared with the general population and the frequency of compliance with preventive clinical practices among doctors. Methods: This was an observational, prospective cohort study that enrolled graduates between 1975 and 2004 from six medical schools in Turkey. Data on demographics, disease conditions, and unhealthy lifestyle behaviors were gathered. Preventive care practices were analyzed with regards to age and gender. Results: A total of 7228 doctors participated in the study. Comparison with the national data revealed higher hyperlipidemia and coronary artery disease rates. While 54.5% of the doctors had a doctor visit in the last 12months, only 31.5% of those over 40years of age reported a recent blood pressure measurement. Colon cancer screening rate over 50years of age with any of the acceptable methods was only 3%. One-fourth of the female doctors over 40years of age underwent mammography within the last two years. Only 7.1% of the doctors over 65years of age and 10% of the doctors having an indication for a chronic disease had a pneumococcal vaccine, while nearly one-fifth had no hepatitis B vaccine. Conclusion: In this cohort of mainly middle-aged Turkish doctors, the age-standardized rates of chronic diseases were lower than the rates in the general population except for the rates of hyperlipidemia and coronary artery disease. However, doctors did show quite low rates of receipt of screening practices. These results might provoke questions about how to use Turkish doctors' health behaviors to further improve doctors' and, relatedly, patients' health.