scholarly journals Cost-effectiveness of early versus delayed antiretroviral therapy in tuberculosis patients infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa

F1000Research ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 253
Author(s):  
Rashidah T. Uthman ◽  
Olalekan A. Uthman

Background: The most challenging issue physicians are facing is the appropriate timing of introducing antiretroviral therapy (ART) along with ongoing tuberculosis (TB) therapy in HIV and TB co-infected patients. This study examined the cost-effectiveness of early versus delayed ART initiation in TB patients, infected with HIV (co-infected patients) in a sub-Saharan Africa setting. Methods: A decision analytic model based on previously published and real-world evidence was applied to evaluate clinical and economic outcomes associated with early versus delayed ART in TB and HIV co-infection. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated with both costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Different assumptions of treatment benefits and costs were taken to address uncertainties and were tested with sensitivity analyses. Results: In base case analysis, the expected cost of giving early ART to TB patients infected with HIV was $1372, with a QALY gain of 0.68, while the cost of delayed ART was $955, with a QALY gain of 0.62. The ICER shows $6775 per QALYs, which suggests that it is not as cost-effective, since it is greater than 3 x GDP per capita ($5,086) for sub-Saharan Africa willingness to pay (WTP) threshold. At $10,000 WTP, the probability that early ART is cost effective compared to delayed ART is 0.9933. At cost-effectiveness threshold of $5086, the population expected value of perfect information becomes substantial (≈US$5 million), and is likely to exceed the cost of additional investigation. This suggests that further research will be potentially cost-effective. Conclusions: From the perspective of the health-care payer in sub-Saharan Africa, early initiation of ART in HIV and TB co-infection cannot be regarded as cost-effective based on current information. The analysis shows that further research will be worthwhile and potentially cost-effective in resolving uncertainty about whether or not to start ART early in HIV and TB co-infection.

2019 ◽  
Vol 69 (4) ◽  
pp. 588-595 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Chen ◽  
Lawrence Mwenge ◽  
Shabir Lakhi ◽  
Duncan Chanda ◽  
Peter Mwaba ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Mortality from cryptoccocal meningitis remains high. The ACTA trial demonstrated that, compared with 2 weeks of amphotericin B (AmB) plus flucystosine (5FC), 1 week of AmB and 5FC was associated with lower mortality and 2 weeks of oral flucanozole (FLU) plus 5FC was non-inferior. Here, we assess the cost-effectiveness of these different treatment courses. Methods Participants were randomized in a ratio of 2:1:1:1:1 to 2 weeks of oral 5FC and FLU, 1 week of AmB and FLU, 1 week of AmB and 5FC, 2 weeks of AmB and FLU, or 2 weeks of AmB and 5FC in Malawi, Zambia, Cameroon, and Tanzania. Data on individual resource use and health outcomes were collected. Cost-effectiveness was measured as incremental costs per life-year saved, and non-parametric bootstrapping was done. Results Total costs per patient were US $1442 for 2 weeks of oral FLU and 5FC, $1763 for 1 week of AmB and FLU, $1861 for 1 week of AmB and 5FC, $2125 for 2 weeks of AmB and FLU, and $2285 for 2 weeks of AmB and 5FC. Compared to 2 weeks of AmB and 5FC, 1 week of AmB and 5FC was less costly and more effective and 2 weeks of oral FLU and 5FC was less costly and as effective. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for 1 week of AmB and 5FC versus oral FLU and 5FC was US $208 (95% confidence interval $91–1210) per life-year saved. Clinical Trials Registration ISRCTN45035509. Conclusions Both 1 week of AmB and 5FC and 2 weeks of Oral FLU and 5FC are cost-effective treatments.


2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii68-iii69
Author(s):  
X Armoiry ◽  
P Auguste ◽  
C Dussart ◽  
J Guyotat ◽  
M Connock

Abstract BACKGROUND The addition of novel therapy “Tumor-Treating fields” (TTF) to standard radio-chemotherapy with Temozolomide (TMZ) has recently shown superiority over conventional TMZ regimen in patients with glioblastoma. Despite the clinical benefit of TTF, there is a strong concern regarding the cost of this new treatment. A first cost-effectiveness analysis, which was published in 2016, was based on effectiveness outcomes from an interim analysis of the pivotal trial and used a “standard” Markov model. Here, we aimed to update the cost-effectiveness evaluation using a partitioned survival model design and using the latest effectiveness data. MATERIAL AND METHODS A partitioned survival model was developed with three mutually exclusive health states: stable disease, progressive disease, and dead. Parametric models were fitted to the Kaplan-Meier data for overall and progression-free survival. These generated clinically plausible extrapolations beyond the observed data. The perspective of the French national health insurance was adopted and the time horizon was 20 years. Base case results were expressed as cost/life-years (LY) gained (LYG). Secondary analyses were undertaken, with the results presented as cost/per quality adjusted life years (QALY) gained. Last, we undertook deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. RESULTS After applying 4% annual discounting of benefits and costs, the base case model generated incremental benefit of 0.507 LY at a incremental cost of €258,695 yielding an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) of €510,273 / LYG. Secondary analyses yielded an ICER of €667,173/QALY. Sensitivity analyses and bootstrapping methods showed the model was relatively robust. The model was sensitive to TTF device costs and the parametric model fitted to the Kaplan-Meier data for overall survival. The cost-effectiveness acceptability curve showed TTF has 0% of being cost-effective under conventional thresholds. CONCLUSION Using a partitioned survival model, uprated costs and more mature survival outcomes, TTF when compared to standard radio-chemotherapy with TMZ is not likely to be cost-effective. This has major implications in terms of access of newly eligible patients


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 226-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel Gomes ◽  
Mark Pennington ◽  
Raphael Wittenberg ◽  
Martin Knapp ◽  
Nick Black ◽  
...  

Background Policy makers in England advocate referral of patients with suspected dementia to Memory Assessment Services (MAS), but it is unclear how any improvement in patients’ health-related quality of life (HRQL) compares with the associated costs. Aims To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of MAS for the diagnosis and follow-up care of patients with suspected dementia. Method We analysed observational data from 1318 patients referred to 69 MAS, and their lay carers (n = 944), who completed resource use and HRQL questionnaires at baseline, three and six months. We reported mean differences in HRQL (disease-specific DEMQOL and generic EQ-5D-3L), quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and costs between baseline and six months after referral to MAS. We also assessed the cost-effectiveness of MAS across different patient subgroups and clinic characteristics. Results Referral to MAS was associated with gains in DEMQOL (mean gain: 3.48, 95% confidence interval: 2.84 to 4.12), EQ-5D-3L (0.023, 0.008 to 0.038) and QALYs (0.006, 0.002 to 0.01). Mean total cost over six months, assuming a societal perspective, was £1899 (£1277 to £2539). This yielded a negative incremental net monetary benefit of −£1724 (−£2388 to −£1085), assuming NICE’s recommended willingness-to-pay threshold (£30,000 per QALY). These base case results were relatively robust to alternative assumptions about costs and HRQL. There was some evidence that patients aged 80 or older benefitted more from referral to MAS (p < 0.01 from adjusted mean differences in net benefits) compared to younger patients. MAS with over 75 new patients a month or cost per patient less than £2500 over six months were relatively more cost-effective (p < 0.01) than MAS with fewer new monthly patients or higher cost per patient. Conclusions Diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care provided by MAS to patients with suspected dementia appears to be effective, but not cost-effective, in the six months after diagnosis. Longer term evidence is required before drawing conclusions about the cost-effectiveness of MAS.


2019 ◽  
pp. 105984051989002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Yan Wang ◽  
Kwame Owusu-Edusei ◽  
J. Terry Parker ◽  
Kristina Wilson

During the 2015–2016 school year, the Florida Department of Health in Duval County hosted Teen Health Centers (TeenHC) at five high schools of Jacksonville providing HIV/STD screening and pregnancy testing. The purpose of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of the TeenHC chlamydia screening program and determine at what student participation level, the program can be cost-effective. We assessed the costs and effectiveness of the chlamydia screening program compared with “no TeenHC”. Cost-effectiveness was measured as cost per quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gained. At a program cost of US$61,001 and 3% participation rate, the cost/QALY gained was $124,328 in the base-case analysis and $81,014–$264,271 in 95% of the simulation trials, all greater than the frequently citied $50,000/QALY benchmark. The cost/QALY gained could be <$50,000/QALY if student participation rate was >7%. The TeenHC chlamydia screening has the potential to be cost-effective. Future program efforts should focus on improving student participation.


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. e033455
Author(s):  
Anton L.V. Avanceña ◽  
Kim Patrick S Tejano ◽  
David W. Hutton

ObjectivesThe objective of this study is to explore the cost-effectiveness of Doctor to the Barrios (DTTB), a physician deployment program in the Philippines.DesignCost-effectiveness analysis using decision tree models with a lifetime time horizon and probabilistic sensitivity analysis.SettingSocietal and healthcare perspectives.PopulationHypothetical cohort of children under 5 years in two provinces (Aklan and Nueva Ecija) and in a representative rural municipality.ParticipantsNone.InterventionsDTTB’s impact on paediatric pneumonia and diarrhoea outcomes compared with a scenario without DTTB.Main outcome measuresCosts, effectiveness (in terms of lives saved and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) gained) and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER).ResultsDTTB is cost-effective in the two provinces that were included in the study from societal and healthcare perspectives. Looking at a representative rural municipality, base case analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analyses suggest that DTTB has an ICER of 27 192 per QALY gained from a societal perspective. From a healthcare perspective, the base case ICER of DTTB is Philippine pesos (PHP) 71 839 per QALY gained and PHP 2 064 167 per life saved, and 10 000 Monte Carlo simulations produced similar average estimates. The cost per QALY of DTTB from a healthcare perspective is lower than the WHO recommended willingness-to-pay threshold of 100% of the country’s per-capita gross domestic product.ConclusionsDTTB can be a cost-effective intervention, but its value varies by setting and the conditions of the municipality where it is implemented. By focusing on a narrow set of paediatric outcomes, this study has likely underestimated the health benefits of DTTB. Additional research is needed to understand the full extent of DTTB’s impact on the health of communities in rural and remote areas. Future cost-effectiveness analysis should empirically estimate various parameters and include other health conditions in addition to pneumonia and diarrhoea in children.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 26-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fujian Song ◽  
James Raftery ◽  
Paul Aveyard ◽  
Chris Hyde ◽  
Pelham Barton ◽  
...  

To evaluate the relative cost-effectiveness of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and bupropion SR for smoking cessation, the authors reviewed published studies and developed a decision analytic model from the UK National Health Services perspective. Irrespective of the methods or assumptions involved, the results of published studies consistently indicated that NRT for smoking cessation is cost-effective. No published studies have evaluated the relative cost-effectiveness of bupropion SR for smoking cessation. The results of the decision analyses indicated that, as compared with advice or counseling alone, the incremental cost per life-years saved is about $1,441~$3,455 for NRT, $920~$2,150 for bupropion SR, and $1,282~$2,836 for NRT plus bupropion SR. The cost-effectiveness of adding NRT and bupropion SR to advice or counseling for smoking cessation is better than many other accepted health care interventions.


2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Radha Rajasingham ◽  
Nira R Pollock ◽  
Benjamin P Linas

Abstract Background Persons with HIV and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection require transaminase monitoring while on hepatotoxic medications. A novel paper-based, point-of-care transaminase test is in development at an anticipated cost of $1 per test. Methods To project long-term clinical outcomes and estimate the cost-effectiveness of using a paper-based fingerstick test to monitor for drug-induced liver injury (DILI), as compared with automated testing and with no laboratory monitoring. The design was a decision analytic model, including deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Data sources were observational cohorts and a validation study of the paper-based test. The target population was HIV/TB co-infected persons in South Africa on antiretroviral therapy who were initiating TB therapy. Interventions: (1) clinical (no laboratory) monitoring; (2) monitoring using the paper-based test with a ≥120 IU/mL threshold for positivity; (3) monitoring using the paper-based test with a ≥200 IU/mL threshold for positivity; (4) monitoring using the paper-based test using 1 of 3 categories: &lt;120 IU/mL, 120 to 200 IU/mL, and &gt;200 IU/mL (“bin placement”); (5) monitoring using automated ALT testing using the same 3 categories (“automated testing”). The outcome measures were discounted quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). Results The ICER of automated testing was $5180/QALY. Use of the paper-based test with the bin placement strategy was cost-effective compared with clinical monitoring alone. Conclusion At its current performance, monthly DILI monitoring by bin placement using the paper-based test was cost-effective, compared with clinical monitoring, in HIV/TB co-infected persons in South Africa.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
James Kiragu Ngacha ◽  
Richard Ayah

Abstract Background: Kenya’s Contraceptive Prevalence Rate at 53% is low, with wide disparity among the 47 counties that make up the country (2% - 76%). Significant financial investment is required to maintain this level of contraceptive use and increase it to levels seen in more developed countries. This is in the context of a growing population, declining donor funding, limited fiscal space and competing health challenges. Studies have shown that long-term contraceptive methods are more cost-effective than short-term methods. However, it is unclear if this applies in Sub-Saharan Africa; with limited financial resources, lower social economic status among users, and publicly managed commodity supply chains, in vertical programs largely dependent on donor funding. This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of contraceptive methods used in Kenya.Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in a county referral hospital in mid-2018. Purposive sampling of 5 Family Planning clinic providers and systematic sampling of 15 service delivery sessions per method was done. Questionnaire aided interviews were done to determine inputs required to provide services and direct observation to measure time taken to provide each method. Cost per method was determined using Activity Based Costing, effectiveness via couple year protection conversion factors, and cost-effectiveness was expressed as cost per couple year protection. Results: The Intra-Uterine Copper Device was most cost-effective at 4.87 US dollars per couple year protection followed by the 2-Rod Implant at 6.36, the 1-Rod Implant at 9.50, DMPA at 23.68, while the Combined Oral Contraceptive Pills were least cost-effective at 38.60 US dollars per couple year protection. Long-term methods attracted a higher initial cost of service delivery when compared to short-term methods.Conclusion: Long-term contraceptive methods are more cost-effective. As such, investing in long-term contraceptives would save costs despite higher initial cost of service delivery. It is recommended, therefore, that Sub-Saharan Africa countries allocate more domestic financial resources towards availability of contraceptive services, preferably with multi-year planning and budget commitment. The resources should be invested in a wide range of interventions shown to increase uptake of long-term methods, including reduction of cost barriers for the younger population, thereby increasing Contraceptive Prevalence Rates.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document