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Economic Evaluation of HIV Testing Among Intravenous Drug Users: An Analytic Framework and Its Application to Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2009

Paolo Villari ,
Giovanni Fattore ,
Joanna E. Siegel ,
A. David Paltiel  and
Milton C. Weinstein
Paolo Villari
Affiliation:
Federico II University Medical School
Giovanni Fattore
Affiliation:
L. Bocconi University
Joanna E. Siegel
Affiliation:
Harvard School of Public Health
A. David Paltiel
Affiliation:
Harvard School of Public Health
Milton C. Weinstein
Affiliation:
Harvard School of Public Health
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Abstract

We performed an economic evaluation of HIV testing among intravenous drug users (IVDUs) in Italy using the analytical framework of cost-effectiveness analysis. A semi-Markov model was developed to calculate costs and life expectancy of a cohort of IVDUs with and without an annual HIV testing program. We also investigated the incremental cost-effectiveness of a hypothetical early treatment to prolong the life expectancy of HIV-infected asymptomatic subjects by 1 year. The testing program is cost saving in the low prevalence scenario (0.05), and costs L 14,000,000 (US $8,400) and L 55,800,000 (US $33,500) per year of life saved in areas of medium (0.3) and high (0.6) prevalence, respectively. The incremental cost-effectiveness of the hypothetical early treatment may compare favorably with other health care interventions. The program may be considered a cost-effective procedure in low and medium prevalence areas. Where prevalence is high, more evidence about the magnitude of the behavior change is needed. In these areas, the availability of an effective early treatment may become the economic rationale for implementing such a program.

Type
General Essays
Information
International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , Spring 1996 , pp. 336 - 357
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

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