scholarly journals Cost-effectiveness of WHO-Recommended Algorithms for TB Case Finding at Ethiopian HIV Clinics

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Max W Adelman ◽  
Deborah A McFarland ◽  
Mulugeta Tsegaye ◽  
Abraham Aseffa ◽  
Russell R Kempker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
False Positive ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Case Finding ◽  
World Health ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
True Positive ◽  
High Burden ◽  
Model Based

Abstract Background The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends active tuberculosis (TB) case finding and a rapid molecular diagnostic test (Xpert MTB/RIF) to detect TB among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in high-burden settings. Information on the cost-effectiveness of these recommended strategies is crucial for their implementation. Methods We conducted a model-based cost-effectiveness analysis comparing 2 algorithms for TB screening and diagnosis at Ethiopian HIV clinics: (1) WHO-recommended symptom screen combined with Xpert for PLHIV with a positive symptom screen and (2) current recommended practice algorithm (CRPA; based on symptom screening, smear microscopy, and clinical TB diagnosis). Our primary outcome was US$ per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted. Secondary outcomes were additional true-positive diagnoses, and false-negative and false-positive diagnoses averted. Results Compared with CRPA, combining a WHO-recommended symptom screen with Xpert was highly cost-effective (incremental cost of $5 per DALY averted). Among a cohort of 15 000 PLHIV with a TB prevalence of 6% (900 TB cases), this algorithm detected 8 more true-positive cases than CRPA, and averted 2045 false-positive and 8 false-negative diagnoses compared with CRPA. The WHO-recommended algorithm was marginally costlier ($240 000) than CRPA ($239 000). In sensitivity analysis, the symptom screen/Xpert algorithm was dominated at low Xpert sensitivity (66%). Conclusions In this model-based analysis, combining a WHO-recommended symptom screen with Xpert for TB diagnosis among PLHIV was highly cost-effective ($5 per DALY averted) and more sensitive than CRPA in a high-burden, resource-limited setting.

scholarly journals Population Health and Cost-Effectiveness Implications of a “Treat All” Recommendation for HCV: A Review of the Model-Based Evidence

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 238146831877663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Cipriano ◽  
Jeremy D. Goldhaber-Fiebert
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Population Health ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Treatment As Prevention ◽  
Treatment Access ◽  
Model Based ◽  
Treat All ◽  
Access Policies

The World Health Organization HCV Guideline Development Group is considering a “treat all” recommendation for persons infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV). We reviewed the model-based evidence of cost-effectiveness and population health impacts comparing expanded treatment policies to more limited treatment access policies, focusing primarily on evaluations of all-oral directly acting antivirals published after 2012. Searching PubMed, we identified 2,917 unique titles. Sequentially reviewing titles and abstracts identified 226 potentially relevant articles for full-text review. Sixty-nine articles met all inclusion criteria—42 cost-effectiveness analyses and 30 models of population-health impacts, with 3 articles presenting both types of analysis. Cost-effectiveness studies for many countries concluded that expanding treatment to people with mild liver fibrosis, who inject drugs (PWID), or who are incarcerated is generally cost-effective compared to more restrictive treatment access policies at country-specific prices. For certain patient subpopulations in some countries—for example, elderly individuals without fibrosis—treatment is only cost-effective at lower prices. A frequent limitation is the omission of benefits and consequences of HCV transmission (i.e., treatment as prevention; risks of reinfection), which may underestimate or overestimate the cost-effectiveness of a “treat all” policy. Epidemiologic modeling studies project that through a combination of prevention, aggressive screening and diagnosis, and prompt treatment for all fibrosis stages, it may be possible to virtually eliminate HCV in many countries. Studies show that if resources are not available to diagnose and treat all HCV-infected individuals, treatment prioritization may be needed, with alternative prioritization strategies resulting in tradeoffs between reducing mortality or reducing incidence. Notably, because most new HCV infections are among PWID in many settings, HCV elimination requires unrestricted treatment access combined with injection transmission disruption strategies. The model-based evidence suggests that a properly constructed strategy that substantially expands HCV treatment could achieve cost-effective improvements in population health in many countries.

Prediction of Adnexal Torsion by Ultrasound in Women with Acute Abdominal Pain

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (06) ◽  
pp. 688-694
Author(s):  
Ron Bardin ◽  
Noga Perl ◽  
Reuven Mashiach ◽  
Eitan Ram ◽  
Sharon Orbach-Zinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Abdominal Pain ◽  
Positive Predictive Value ◽  
Predictive Value ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Acute Abdominal Pain ◽  
Cohort Analysis ◽  
False Negative ◽  
True Positive ◽  
Adnexal Torsion ◽  
Positive Group

Abstract Purpose To investigate the accuracy of ultrasound in the diagnosis of adnexal torsion. Materials and Methods Retrospective cohort analysis of 322 women, presenting to a tertiary medical center with acute abdominal pain, who underwent gynecological examination, sonographic evaluation and laparoscopic surgery, between 2010 and 2016. Findings for adnexal torsion were compared among three groups: positive sonographic findings consistent with surgically confirmed adnexal torsion (true positive, n = 228); negative sonographic findings inconsistent with surgically confirmed adnexal torsion (false negative, n = 42); and positive sonographic findings inconsistent with a surgical diagnosis other than adnexal torsion (false positive, n = 52). Outcome measures were sensitivity and positive predictive value of ultrasound, and its specific features, for the diagnosis of adnexal torsion. Results The sensitivity of ultrasound for adnexal torsion diagnosis was 84.4 %, and the positive predictive value was 81.4 %. Edematous ovary and/or tube, as well as positive whirlpool sign had the highest sensitivity and positive predictive value. The false-negative group had the highest frequency of ovarian cysts (p = 0.0086) and the lowest frequency of ovarian edema (p < 0.0001). The false-positive group had the lowest proportion of pregnant women (p = 0.0022). Significantly more women in the true-positive group had a prior event of adnexal torsion (p = 0.026). Conclusion Ultrasound examination is highly accurate in the diagnosis of adnexal torsion. Clinicians should be aware of the presence of demographic and clinical characteristics that may positively or negatively affect sonographic diagnostic accuracy.

Cost-effectiveness of targeted screening for hepatitis C in The Netherlands

2011 ◽  
Vol 140 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. W. HELSPER ◽  
B. A. BORKENT-RAVEN ◽  
N. J. DE WIT ◽  
G. A. VAN ESSEN ◽  
M. J. M. BONTEN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Case Finding ◽  
Hard Drug ◽  
Effective Interventions ◽  
Additional Support

SUMMARYOn account of the serious complications of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and the improved treatment possibilities, the need to improve HCV awareness and case-finding is increasingly recognized. To optimize a future national campaign with this objective, three pilot campaigns were executed in three regions in The Netherlands. One campaign was aimed at the general population, a second (similar) campaign was extended with a support programme for primary care and a third campaign was specifically aimed at hard-drug users. Data from the pilot campaigns were used to build a mathematical model to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of the different campaigns. The campaign aimed at the general public without support for primary care did not improve case-finding and was therefore not cost-effective. The similar campaign accompanied by additional support for primary care and the campaign aimed at hard-drug users emerged as cost-effective interventions for identification of HCV carriers.

scholarly journals Economic Evaluation of Five Tobacco Control Policies Across Seven European Countries

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 1202-1209
Author(s):  
Teresa Leão ◽  
Julian Perelman ◽  
Luke Clancy ◽  
Martin Mlinarić ◽  
Jaana M Kinnunen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Tobacco Control ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
World Health ◽  
Economic Evaluations ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Healthy Life ◽  
Control Policies ◽  
Tobacco Control Policies

Abstract Introduction Economic evaluations of tobacco control policies targeting adolescents are scarce. Few take into account real-world, large-scale implementation costs; few compare cost-effectiveness of different policies across different countries. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of five tobacco control policies (nonschool bans, including bans on sales to minors, bans on smoking in public places, bans on advertising at points-of-sale, school smoke-free bans, and school education programs), implemented in 2016 in Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Portugal. Methods Cost-effectiveness estimates were calculated per country and per policy, from the State perspective. Costs were collected by combining quantitative questionnaires with semi-structured interviews on how policies were implemented in each setting, in real practice. Short-term effectiveness was based on the literature, and long-term effectiveness was modeled using the DYNAMO-HIA tool. Discount rates of 3.5% were used for costs and effectiveness. Sensitivity analyses considered 1%–50% short-term effectiveness estimates, highest cost estimates, and undiscounted effectiveness. Findings Nonschool bans cost up to €253.23 per healthy life year, school smoking bans up to €91.87 per healthy life year, and school education programs up to €481.35 per healthy life year. Cost-effectiveness depended on the costs of implementation, short-term effectiveness, initial smoking rates, dimension of the target population, and weight of smoking in overall mortality and morbidity. Conclusions All five policies were highly cost-effective in all countries according to the World Health Organization thresholds for public health interventions. Cost-effectiveness was preserved even when using the highest costs and most conservative effectiveness estimates. Implications Economic evaluations using real-world data on tobacco control policies implemented at a large scale are scarce, especially considering nonschool bans targeting adolescents. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of five tobacco control policies implemented in 2016 in Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Portugal. This study shows that all five policies were highly cost-effective considering the World Health Organization threshold, even when considering the highest costs and most conservative effectiveness estimates.

Parotid Tumors: Fine-Needle Aspiration and/or Frozen Section

2008 ◽  
Vol 139 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. P42-P43
Author(s):  
Peter Zbaren ◽  
Heinz Loosli ◽  
Edouard Stauffer
Keyword(s):  
Sensitivity And Specificity ◽  
Fine Needle Aspiration ◽  
False Positive ◽  
Frozen Section ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Needle Aspiration ◽  
True Positive ◽  
True Negative ◽  
Fine Needle ◽  
Parotid Neoplasms

Objective Assess the difficulties of preoperative and intraoperative tumor typing of parotid neoplasms. Know the advantages and pitfalls of fine-needle-aspiration cytology (FNAC) and frozen section (FS) analysis in primary parotid neoplasms. Methods In 113 parotid neoplasms (70 malignancies and 43 benign tumors) preoperative FNAC as well as intraoperative FS analysis were performed. FNAC and FS findings were analyzed and compared with the final histopathologic diagnosis. Results The FNAC smear was non-diagnostic in 6 tumors. In 2 FS specimens, it was not possible to determine the tumor dignity. FNAC findings and FS findings were both available in 105 neoplasMS The FNAC findings were true positive for malignancy in 54, true negative in 36, false positive in 4, and false negative in 11 tumors. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 86%, 83%, and 90% respectively. The FS findings were true positive in 60, true negative in 38, false positive in 2, and false negative in 5 tumors. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were 93%, 92% and 95% respectively. The exact histologic tumor typing by FNAC was correct, false or not mentioned in 58%, 20% and 22% true positive or true negative evaluated tumors, and by FS in 83%, 5% and 12% true positive or true negative evaluated tumors. Conclusions The current analysis showed a superiority of FS compared with FNAC regarding the diagnosis of malignancy and especially of tumor typing. FNAC alone is not prone in many cases to determine the surgical management of primary parotid carcinomas.

scholarly journals Tuberculosis screening costs and cost-effectiveness in high-risk groups: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Alsdurf ◽  
B. Empringham ◽  
C. Miller ◽  
A. Zwerling
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Systematic Review ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Screening Tools ◽  
Molecular Diagnostic ◽  
Systematic Screening ◽  
Structural Risk

Abstract Background Systematic screening for active tuberculosis (TB) is a strategy which requires the health system to seek out individuals, rather than waiting for individuals to self-present with symptoms (i.e., passive case finding). Our review aimed to summarize the current economic evidence and understand the costs and cost-effectiveness of systematic screening approaches among high-risk groups and settings. Methods We conducted a systematic review on economic evaluations of screening for TB disease targeting persons with clinical and/or structural risk factors, such as persons living with HIV (PLHIV) or persons experiencing homelessness. We searched three databases for studies published between January 1, 2010 and February 1, 2020. Studies were included if they reported cost and a key outcome measure. Owing to considerable heterogeneity in settings and type of screening strategy, we synthesized data descriptively. Results A total of 27 articles were included in our review; 19/27 (70%) took place in high TB burden countries. Seventeen studies took place among persons with clinical risk factors, including 14 among PLHIV, while 13 studies were among persons with structural risk factors. Nine studies reported incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) ranging from US$51 to $1980 per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted. Screening was most cost-effective among PLHIV. Among persons with clinical and structural risk factors there was limited evidence, but screening was generally not shown to be cost-effective. Conclusions Studies showed that screening is most likely to be cost-effective in a high TB prevalence population. Our review highlights that to reach the “missing millions” TB programmes should focus on simple, cheaper initial screening tools (i.e., symptom screen and CXR) followed by molecular diagnostic tools (i.e., Xpert®) among the highest risk groups in the local setting (i.e., PLHIV, urban slums). Programmatic costs greatly impact cost-effectiveness thus future research should provide both fixed and variable costs of screening interventions to improve comparability.

scholarly journals Progressive Realisation of Universal Health Coverage in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Beyond the "Best Buys"

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Y. Bertram ◽  
Jeremy A. Lauer ◽  
Karin Stenberg ◽  
Ambinintsoa H. Ralaidovy ◽  
Tessa Tan-Torres Edejer
Keyword(s):  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Universal Health Coverage ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Health Benefit ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
World Health ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Universal Health

Background: World Health Organization Choosing Interventions that are Cost-Effective (WHO CHOICE) has been a programme of the WHO for 20 years. In this latest update, we present for the first time a cross-programme analysis of the comparative cost-effectiveness of 479 intervention scenarios across 20 disease programmes and risk factors. Methods: This analysis follows the standard WHO CHOICE approach to generalized cost-effectiveness analysis applied to two regions, Eastern sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. The scope of the analysis is all interventions included in programme specific WHO CHOICE analyses, using WHO treatment guidelines for major disease areas as the foundation. Costs are measured in 2010 international dollars, and benefits modelled beginning in 2010, or the nearest year for which validated data was available, both for a period of 100 years. Results: Across both regions included in the analysis, interventions span multiple orders of magnitude in terms of cost-effectiveness ratios. A health benefit package optimized through a value for money lens incorporates interventions responding to all of the main drivers of disease burden. Interventions delivered through first level clinical and non-clinical services represent the majority of the high impact cost-effective interventions. Conclusion: Cost-effectiveness is one important criterion when selecting health interventions for benefit packages to progress towards universal health coverage (UHC), but it is not the only criterion and all calculations should be adapted to the local context. To support country decision-makers, WHO CHOICE has developed a downloadable tool to support the development of data for this criterion.

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