A novel Markov model projecting costs and outcomes of providing antiretroviral therapy to public patients in private practices versus public clinics in South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Providing private antiretroviral therapy (ART) care for public sector patients could increase access to ART in low- and middle-income countries. We compared the costs and outcomes of a private-care and a public-care ART program in South Africa.

Methods

A novel Markov model was developed from the public-care program. Patients were first tunneled for 6 months in their baseline CD4 category before being distributed into a dynamic CD4 and viral load model. Patients were allowed to return to ART care from loss to follow up (LTFU). We then populated this modeling framework with estimates derived from the private-care program to externally validate the model.

Results

Baseline characteristics were similar in the two programs. Clinic visit utilization was higher a

SUBMITTER: Leisegang R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3566152 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature