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The cost-effectiveness of ivermectin vs. albendazole in the presumptive treatment of strongyloidiasis in immigrants to the United States

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 November 2004

P. MUENNIG
Affiliation:
Department of Health Policy and Management, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, NY, USA
D. PALLIN
Affiliation:
Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, MA, USA
C. CHALLAH
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health and Social Medicine, CUNY Medical School, NY, USA
K. KHAN
Affiliation:
Inner City Health Research Unit, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Canada
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Abstract

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The presumptive treatment of parasitosis among immigrants with albendazole has been shown to save both money and lives, primarily via a reduction in the burden of Strongyloides stercoralis. Ivermectin is more effective than albendazole, but is also more expensive. This coupled with confusion surrounding the cost-effectiveness of guiding therapy based on eosinophil counts has led to disparate practices. We used the newly arrived year 2000 immigrant population as a hypothetical cohort in a decision analysis model to examine the cost-effectiveness of various interventions to reduce parasitosis among immigrants. When the prevalence of S. stercoralis is greater than 2%, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of all presumptive treatment strategies were similar. Ivermectin is associated with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $1700 per QALY gained for treatment with 12 mg ivermectin relative to 5 days of albendazole when the prevalence is 10%. Any presumptive treatment strategy is cost-effective when compared with most common medical interventions.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press