Estimating the potential health economic value of introducing universal opt-out testing for HIV in emergency departments in Italy.

ABSTRACT: In Italy, an estimated 13 000-15 000 people have undiagnosed HIV, and in 2020, 60% of new diagnoses were late-stage (CD4 < 350 cells/mm3). In hospitals, including emergency departments (EDs), testing is largely limited to indicator-condition-guided testing (IC), with written consent universally required. We developed a closed-cohort hybrid decision tree-Markov model to compare health economic values of two HIV testing strategies in the ED: (1) universal opt-out and (2) IC (Italian standard of care). Data sources included healthcare costs and HIV public health data, obtained from national reports and published studies. A lifetime time horizon and a National Health Service perspective were used. Primary outcomes were life years, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and costs. Universal opt-o

SUBMITTER: d'Arminio Monforte A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12529270 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature