Our analysts evaluate clinical trial data, along with information regarding safety issues, coverage policies from the private and public sectors, regulatory approvals, consensus statements, and an overall projection of the potential clinical efficacy and economic impact of the technology. Reports are reviewed annually up to 5 years post publication to determine if there is new literature or evidence that would impact a change in rating and warrant an updated report.
Health Problem: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the most common principal gastroenterology-related diagnosis in the United States, with 8.9 million diagnoses annually. GERD is the fifth most common hospital discharge diagnosis at 4.4 million.
Technology Description: Endoscopic therapy for GERD involves the use of a flexible endoscope placed tr…
Health Problem: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common disorder that can have many severe consequences including social isolation, excessive weight gain, alcohol or drug abuse, difficulty functioning at home and work, and desire to commit suicide. Although many antidepressant medications have been developed for treatment of MDD, these medications may not provide adequate …
Health Problem: An atrial septal defect (ASD) is a congenital cardiac anomaly that permits blood flow between the left and right sides of the heart. These defects can range from a few millimeters to 3 centimeters in diameter. ASDs occur in 0.1% of all live births and account for 10% of all congenital heart disease and up to 40% of congenital heart disease presenting in adultho…
Health Problem: Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is typically defined as depression that does not respond to at least 2 attempts at treatment of adequate duration with appropriate doses of antidepressants, but there is no official consensus definition.
Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that develops after an individual experiences or witnes…
Health Problem: Chronic wounds are those that fail to heal with at least 30 days of optimized standard wound therapy, which usually includes cleaning, debridement, infection control, dressing, and offloading. Poor circulation is a common cause across etiologies, including diabetes. Chronic foot ulcers in people with diabetes may occur when foot injuries, such as cuts, blisters…
Health Problem: Venous leg ulcers, also known as venous stasis ulcers or varicose ulcers, are partial or full-thickness defects in the skin of the lower leg, typically between the knee and the ankle, caused by venous hypertension as a result of valvular incompetence and venous reflux. These wounds impair function and quality of life, and chronic venous leg ulcers are susceptib…
Health Problem: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is typically the result of trauma. Automobile accidents are the most common cause, with falls and violence (primarily gunshot wounds) next in frequency. Various studies of the prevalence of SCI in the United States for the year 2016 have reported estimates between 243,000 and 347,000 persons. Although SCI used to occur primarily in youn…
Health Problem: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a painful condition in which the cartilage between the bones degenerates, no longer providing a smooth, gliding surface for motion or adequate cushioning. Because OA damages the cartilage and may ultimately damage the bone, it disrupts how components work together, resulting in pain, swelling, inflammation, muscle weakness, impaired quali…
Health Problem: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is an enlargement or growth of the prostate that affects approximately 8 million men in the United States, including 30% of men older than 50 years of age and nearly 70% of men older than 70 years of age. The enlarged prostate restricts the urethra and applies pressure on the base of the blad…
Health Problem: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease and the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States. CAD occurs when the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the heart is limited. Plaque buildup in the coronary arteries, otherwise known as atherosclerosis, develops over many years, hardening and narrowing the artery, thus …