How methodologic differences affect results of economic analyses: a systematic review of interferon gamma release assays for the diagnosis of LTBI.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Cost effectiveness analyses (CEA) can provide useful information on how to invest limited funds, however they are less useful if different analysis of the same intervention provide unclear or contradictory results. The objective of our study was to conduct a systematic review of methodologic aspects of CEA that evaluate Interferon Gamma Release Assays (IGRA) for the detection of Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI), in order to understand how differences affect study results.

Methods

A systematic review of studies was conducted with particular focus on study quality and the variability in inputs used in models used to assess cost-effectiveness. A common decision analysis model of the IGRA versus Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) screening strategy was developed and use

SUBMITTER: Oxlade O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3591384 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature