Reflecting the real value of health care resources in modelling and cost-effectiveness studies-The example of viral load informed differentiated care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The WHO HIV Treatment Guidelines suggest routine viral-load monitoring can be used to differentiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) delivery and reduce the frequency of clinic visits for patients stable on ART. This recommendation was informed by economic analysis that showed the approach is very likely to be cost-effective, even in the most resource constrained of settings. The health benefits were shown to be modest but the costs of introducing and scaling up viral load monitoring can be offset by anticipated reductions in the costs of clinic visits, due to these being less frequent for many patients.

Key issues for economic evaluation

The cost-effectiveness of introducing viral-load informed differentiated care depends upon whether cost reductions are possible if

SUBMITTER: Revill P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5749768 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature