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Albumin Usage in Iran
Aziz Rezapour1, Javad Javan-Noughabi2,1, Hamid Salehiniya3,4
1Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Archives of Iranian Medicine
|December 12, 2019
Summary
Inappropriate use of human albumin in Iranian hospitals is common, leading to significant healthcare costs. Adhering to standard guidelines can improve rational albumin use and reduce expenses.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacoeconomics
- Health Services Research
- Clinical Pharmacy
Background:
- Human albumin is an expensive therapeutic agent.
- Inappropriate albumin use incurs substantial economic burdens on healthcare systems.
- Drug Use Evaluation (DUE) assesses drug cost-effectiveness and appropriateness.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the appropriateness of albumin utilization in Iranian hospitals.
- To identify patterns and reasons for albumin prescription in clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- A systematic literature search was conducted in major English and Persian databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Google Scholar, SID, Magiran, Medlib, Irandoc) from 1997 to 2018.
- Studies focused on the DUE of albumin in Iranian hospitals were included.
- Exclusion criteria included studies outside Iran, editorials, letters, and review articles.
Main Results:
- Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, with most research concentrated in Tehran.
- Intensive care units showed the highest albumin consumption.
- Common indications for albumin prescription included edema, hypoalbuminemia, volume expansion, ascites, cardiac surgery, and cirrhosis.
Conclusions:
- A significant percentage of albumin use in Iran is inappropriate, contributing to high societal costs.
- Implementing prescription based on standard guidelines is crucial for rational albumin use.
- Improving albumin utilization can lead to considerable savings in treatment costs.
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