Economic evaluation of second generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in Norway

Background

A seven valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7) was introduced in the Norwegian childhood immunization programme in 2006, and since then the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease has declined substantially. Recently, two new second generation pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have become available, and an update of the economic evidence is needed. The aim of this study was to estimate incremental costs, health effects and cost-effectiveness of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccines PCV7, PCV13 and PHiD-CV in Norway.

Methods

We used a Markov model to estimate costs and epidemiological burden of pneumococcal- and NTHi-related diseases (invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD), Community Acquired Pneumonia (CAP) and acute otitis media (AOM)) for a specific birth cohort. Using the most relevant evidence and assumptions for a Norwegian setting, we calculated incremental costs, health effects and cost-effectiveness for different vaccination strategies. In addition we performed sensitivity analyses for key parameters, tested key assumptions in scenario analyses and explored overall model uncertainty using probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

Results

The model predicts that both PCV13 and PHiD-CV provide more health gains at a lower cost than PCV7. Differences in health gains between the two second generation vaccines are small for invasive pneumococcal disease but larger for acute otitis media and myringotomy procedures. Consequently, PHiD-CV saves more disease treatment costs and indirect costs than PCV13.

Conclusion

This study predicts that, compared to PVC13, PHiD-CV entails lower costs and greater benefits if the latter is measured in terms of quality adjusted life years. PVC13 entails more life years gained than PHiD-CV, but those come at a cost of NOK 3.1 million (∼€0.4 million) per life year. The results indicate that PHiD-CV is cost-effective compared to PCV13 in the Norwegian setting.     

Cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in Bolivia from the state perspective

Background

In Bolivia, in 2008, the under-five mortality rate is 54 per 1000 live births. Diarrhea causes 15% of these deaths, and 40% of pediatric diarrhea-related hospitalizations are caused by rotavirus illness (RI). Rotavirus vaccination (RV), subsidized by international donors, is expected to reduce morbidity, mortality, and economic burden to the Bolivian state. Estimates of illness and economic burden of RI and their reduction by RV are essential to the Bolivian state's policies on RV program financing. The goal of this report is to estimate the economic burden of RI and the cost-effectiveness of the RV program.

Methods

To assess treatment costs incurred by the healthcare system, we abstracted medical records from 287 inpatients and 6751 outpatients with acute diarrhea between 2005 and 2006 at 5 sentinel hospitals in 4 geographic regions. RI prevalence rates were estimated from 4 years of national hospital surveillance. We used a decision-analytic model to assess the potential cost-effectiveness of universal RV in Bolivia.

Results

Our model estimates that, in a 5-year birth cohort, Bolivia will incur over US$3 million in direct medical costs due to RI. RV reduces, by at least 60%, outpatient visits, hospitalizations, deaths, and total direct medical costs associated with rotavirus diarrhea. Further, RV was cost-savings below a price of US$3.81 per dose and cost-effective below a price of US$194.10 per dose. Diarrheal mortality and hospitalization inputs were the most important drivers of rotavirus vaccine cost-effectiveness.

Discussion

Our data will guide Bolivia's funding allocation for RV as international subsidies change.     

Economic burden of rotavirus disease in children under 5 years in Kazakhstan

Background

We aimed to estimate the societal costs of rotavirus cases among children less than 5 years in Kazakhstan, an upper-middle income country in Central Asia.

Methods

Data on medical, non-medical and indirect costs were collected for 190 patients less than 5 years, hospitalized with severe diarrhea in 2009 in two pediatric hospitals. Data on resource use for moderate and mild diarrhea cases were obtained from published sources. A probabilistic sensitivity analysis was performed to explore uncertainty in cost estimates.

Results

Approximately 4,000 severe, 30,700 moderate, and 122,900 mild rotavirus cases were estimated annually in children <5 years old. The mean societal cost of a severe, moderate and mild rotavirus case was estimated at US$ 454, 82, and 21, respectively. The total annual cost of rotavirus disease was $37.53 million or on average $107.36 for a child under 5 years old in Kazakhstan. Ninety-four percent of total costs (35.13 million) are indirect costs (productivity losses) from fatal cases and parents’ job absenteeism, while direct medical costs account for 2.04 million (5.4%), and direct non-medical for 0.46 million (1.2%).

Conclusions

Rotavirus-associated diarrhea represents a significant economic burden in Kazakhstan, largely due to indirect costs. The costs of rotavirus infections should be considered when planning further preventive actions, including the introduction of rotavirus vaccination.     

Pharmacoeconomic assessment of implementing a universal PCV-13 vaccination programme in the Valencian public health system (Spain)

Background

Heptavalent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-7) was licensed to provide immunity against pneumococcal disease caused by seven serotypes of S. pneumoniae. Thirteen-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) includes 6 additional serotypes for preventing invasive pneumococcal disease.

Objective

The objective of this study was to estimate the potential health benefits, costs, and cost-effectiveness of vaccination with PCV-13 in the Community of Valencia and to generate valuable information for policy makers at regional and country levels.

Methods

A decision tree was designed to determine the health and economic outcomes in hypothetical cohorts of vaccinated and unvaccinated children followed over their lifetime. Information about disease incidence and serotype distribution were gathered from local databases and from published and unpublished local records. PCV-13 effectiveness was extrapolated from PCV-7 efficacy data. A 5% of herd effect and a serotype replacement of 25% were considered for the base case scenario. Only direct costs were taken into account and results were expressed in terms of life-years gained (LYG) and quality adjusted life years (QALY).

Results

Implementing a universal PCV-13 vaccination program in the Community of Valencia would decrease the number of hospital admitted pneumonia to less than 4571 cases while avoiding 310 cases of IPD and 82,596 cases of AOM throughout the cohort lifetime. A total of 190 S. pneumoniae related deaths would be averted over the same period. Total medical costs of non-vaccinating the cohort of newborns would reach up to 403,850.859 € compared to 438,762.712 € that would represent vaccinating the cohort. The incremental cost of vaccinating the children was estimated in 12,794 €/LYG and 10,407 €/QALY, respectively.

Conclusions

A universal PCV-13 vaccination program in the Community of Valencia would be a cost-effective intervention from the payer perspective after preventing for pneumococcal infections and for decreasing its associated mortality and morbidity.     

The Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index predicts increased healthcare costs and hospitalization in a cohort of community-dwelling older adults: Results from the MONICA/KORA Augsburg cohort study, 1994-2005

Objective

To determine if the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI), an index for the risk of nutrition-related complications, is associated with healthcare costs and risk of hospitalization at baseline and after 10 y.

Methods

Data from a German population-based cohort of 1999 subjects 55 to 74 y of age at baseline were used. Self-reported physician visits, length of hospital stay, and drug intake were used to estimate costs. The GNRI is based on serum albumin values and the discrepancy between real and ideal body weights. Low GNRI values were defined as mean minus 2 times standard deviation. Mean GNRI values were regarded as normal.

Results

Low baseline GNRI was consistently associated with increased total costs, probability of hospitalization, inpatient costs, and pharmaceutical costs at baseline and follow-up, after adjustment for socioeconomic characteristics, lifestyle factors, and coexisting conditions. Subjects with low GNRI at baseline had approximately 47% higher total costs, 50% higher risk of hospitalization, 62% higher inpatient costs and 27% higher pharmaceutical costs at follow-up than subjects with normal GNRI values.

Conclusion

The GNRI risk predicted increased future healthcare costs and higher risk of hospitalization in independent-living older adults. The GNRI is a rapid and low-cost tool that might be routinely used in population-based settings.     

Public health and economic impact of 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in US adults aged ≥50 years

Background

A 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) was recently developed for use in older adults, and may be effective not only against invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) but also nonbacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia. The potential public health and economic impact of PCV13 in this population is unknown.

Methods

A microsimulation model depicting risk and costs of IPD and all-cause nonbacteremic pneumonia (NBP) in US adults aged ≥50 years (n = 96.1 million), as well as expected impact of vaccination, was developed. Effectiveness of PPSV23 was based on published literature, and for all-cause NBP, was zero; effectiveness of PCV13 was based on PCV7 data in children, and for all-cause NBP, was varied across a reasonable range. Lifetime outcomes and costs were projected assuming: (1) use of PCV13 in all subjects at model entry, with and without periodic revaccination; and (2) use of PPSV23 per current ACIP recommendations.

Results

Use of PCV13 in all subjects at model entry without revaccination – in lieu of PPSV23 use per recommendations – reduced cases of IPD by 15,000 (95% CI 9000–21,000); cases of NBP by 1.2 million (0.9–1.5); total healthcare costs by $3.5 billion (1.9–5.2); and total societal costs by $7.4 billion (5.3–9.8). Use of PCV13 with revaccination every 5–10 years resulted in fewest cases of disease and lowest total costs. Findings were largely unchanged in sensitivity analyses.

Conclusions

Assuming that the effectiveness of PCV13 in adults is comparable to that observed for PCV7 in children and under reasonable assumptions regarding the underlying risks and costs of IPD and NBP, model projections suggest that routine use of PCV13 – in lieu of PPSV23 – would result in a greater reduction in the overall burden of pneumococcal disease in older US adults.     

Cost-effectiveness of conjugate pneumococcal vaccination in Singapore: comparing estimates for 7-valent, 10-valent, and 13-valent vaccines

Introduction

Although multiple studies of cost-effectiveness of pneumococcal conjugate vaccines have been conducted, no such study has examined Singapore's situation nor compared the licensed conjugate vaccines in an Asian population. This paper estimates the costs and public health impacts of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine programs, varying estimates of serotype replacement and herd immunity effects as key parameters in the analysis. Based in part on a 2008 analysis also presented here, Singapore has approved the PCV-7, PHiD-10, and PCV-13 pneumococcal conjugate vaccines as part of its National Childhood Immunisation Programme.

Methods

An economic evaluation was performed using a Markov simulation model populated with Singapore-specific population parameters, vaccine costs, treatment costs, and disease incidence data. The vaccinated infant and child cohort of 226,000 was 6% of the Singapore resident population of 3.8 million. Vaccine efficacy estimates were constructed for PCV-7, PHiD-10, and PCV-13 vaccines based on their serotype coverage in Singapore and compared to ‘no vaccination’. The model estimated impacts over a five-year time horizon with 3% per year discounting of costs and health effects. Costs were presented in 2010 U.S. dollars (USD) and Singapore dollars (SGD). Sensitivity analyses included varying herd immunity, serotype replacement rates, vaccine cost, and efficacy against acute otitis media.

Results

Under base case assumptions for the revised analysis (i.e., herd effects in the unvaccinated population equivalent to 20% of direct effects) PCV-13 prevented 834 cases and 7 deaths due to pneumonia, meningitis, and bacteremia in the vaccinated population, and 952 cases and 191 deaths in the unvaccinated population over the 5-year time horizon. Including herd effects, the cost-effectiveness ratio for PCV-13 was USD $37,644 (SGD $51,854) per QALY. Without herd effects, however, the ratio was USD $204,535 (SGD $281,743) per QALY. The PCV-7 cost per QALY including herd effects was USD $43,275 (SGD $59,610) and for PHiD-10 the ratios were USD $45,100 (SGD $62,125). The original 2008 analysis, which had higher estimates of pneumonia prevention due to herd immunity and lower estimates of cost per dose, had found a cost-effectiveness ratio of USD $5562 (SGD $7661) per QALY for PCV-7.

Conclusions

When compared to cost-effectiveness thresholds recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), our 2008 analysis found that vaccination of infants in Singapore with PCV-7 was very cost-effective if herd immunity effects were present. However, knowledge on herd immunity and serotype replacement that emerged subsequent to this analysis changed our expectations about indirect effects. Given these changed inputs, our current estimates of infant vaccination against pneumococcal disease in Singapore find such programs to be moderately cost-effective compared to WHO thresholds. The different findings from the 2008 and 2011 analyses suggest that the dynamic issue of serotype replacement should be monitored post-licensure and, as changes occur, vaccine effectiveness and cost-effectiveness analyses should be re-evaluated.     

Serotype-specific avidity is achieved following a single dose of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and is enhanced by 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide booster at 12 months

Aim

To evaluate whether the avidity of serotype-specific IgG to pneumococcal serotypes is enhanced by an increased number of doses of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) in infancy or by a 12 month 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (23vPPS) booster, and/or subsequent re-exposure to a small dose of pneumococcal polysaccharide antigens (mPPS) at 17 months.

Methods

Fijian infants aged 6 weeks were recruited, stratified by ethnicity and randomized to 8 groups to receive 0, 1, 2, or 3 doses of PCV, with or without 23vPPS at 12 months. All children received mPPS at 17 months of age. Avidity of serotype-specific IgG for PCV serotypes in the first 12 months and for all 23vPPS serotypes thereafter was assessed by EIA after sodium thiocyanate elution.

Results

At one month post primary series, the 2 and 3 PCV dose groups demonstrated similar avidity, with the single dose group tending to have lower avidity. However, by age 9 months, the single dose group had similar avidity to the 2 and 3 PCV groups for most serotypes. The 23vPPS booster enhanced affinity maturation for most serotypes and this was most marked in those groups that received a single PCV dose. There was little further increase following the mPPS.

Conclusions

By 9 months of age, similar avidity can be induced following one, 2 or 3 doses of PCV. A 23vPPS booster at 12 months enhanced affinity maturation with an increase in antibody avidity for most serotypes. Subsequent re-challenge with mPPS at 17 months did not further enhance the avidity of serotype-specific response in the 12 month 23vPPS groups.     

Pharmacists as providers: targeting pneumococcal vaccinations to high risk populations

Background

Older adults and persons with chronic conditions are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease. Severe pneumococcal disease represents a substantial humanistic and economic burden to society. Although pneumococcal vaccination (PPSV) can decrease risk for serious consequences, vaccination rates are suboptimal. As more people seek annual influenza vaccinations at community pharmacies, pharmacists have the ability to identify at-risk patients and provide PPSV.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of pharmacists educating at-risk patients on the importance of receiving a pneumococcal vaccination.

Methods

Using de-identified claims from a large, national pharmacy chain, all patients who had received an influenza vaccination between August 1, 2010 and November 14, 2010 and who were eligible for PPSV were identified for the analysis. Based on the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommendations, at-risk patients were identified as over 65 years of age or as aged 2-64 with a comorbid conditions. A benchmark medical and pharmacy claims database of commercial and Medicare health plan members was used to derive a PPSV vaccination rate typical of traditional care delivery to compare to pharmacy-based vaccination. Period incidence of PPSV was calculated and compared.

Results

Among the 1.3 million at-risk patients who were vaccinated by a pharmacist during the study period, 65,598 (4.88%) also received a pneumococcal vaccine. This vaccination rate was significantly higher than the benchmark rate of 2.90% (34,917/1,204,104; p < .001) representing traditional care. Patients aged 60-70 years had the highest vaccination rate (6.60%; 26,430/400,454) of any age group.

Conclusions

Pharmacists were successful at identifying at-risk patients and providing additional immunization services. Concurrent immunization of PPSV with influenza vaccination by pharmacists has potential to improve PPSV coverage. These results support the expanding role of community pharmacists in the provision of wellness and prevention services.     

Cost-effectiveness analysis of the 10- and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines in Argentina

Objective

Since the 10-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-10) and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV-13) were recently licensed for use in Argentina, both vaccines were evaluated to estimate the costs, health benefits and cost-effectiveness of adding a PCV to the routine child immunization schedule.

Methodology

The integrated TRIVAC vaccine cost-effectiveness model from Pan American Health Organization's ProVac Initiative (Version 1.0.65) was used to assess the health outcomes of 20 successive cohorts from birth to 5 years of age. PCV-10 and PCV-13 were each compared to a scenario assuming no PCV vaccination. A 3 + 1 (three doses + booster) schedule and a vaccination price of US$ 20.75 per dose was assumed in the base case for both vaccines.

Results

Introduction of PCV-13 rather than PCV-10 would increase the number of life years gained (LYG) by at least 10%. The number of LYG (and LYG after adjustment for DALY morbidity weights) was 56,882 (64,252) for PCV-10 compared to 65,038 (71,628) for PCV-13. From the health system perspective, the cost per DALY averted was US$ 8973 and US$ 10,948 for PCV-10 and PCV-13 respectively, and US$ 8546 and US$ 10,510 respectively, after incorporating costs saved by households. When PCV13 was compared to PCV10 directly, the additional benefits of PCV-13 was conferred at a cost of US$ 28,147 per DALY averted. Cost-effectiveness was influenced mainly by vaccine price, serotype replacement, pneumonia mortality and discount rate.

Conclusion

Routine vaccination against S. pneumoniae in Argentina would be cost-effective with either PCV-10 or PCV-13. PCV-13, with higher coverage of local serotypes, would prevent more cases of pneumonia, invasive pneumococcal disease, sequelae and deaths with a higher number of LYG and DALYs averted, but PCV-10, due its higher impact in the prevention of AOM, would save more costs to the healthcare system.     

Population-based incidence of herpes zoster after introduction of a publicly funded varicella vaccination program

Background

Past varicella infection (chicken pox) may reactivate into herpes zoster (shingles). Varicella vaccination leads to a reduction in cases of varicella that may in turn increase herpes zoster rates due to reduction in the immune boosting effect of exposure to varicella zoster virus against varicella reactivation. We assessed the impact of childhood varicella vaccination in Ontario, Canada on zoster incidence and healthcare visits, and established baseline zoster rates prior to zoster vaccine introduction.

Methods

We used population-based, administrative databases to identify zoster incidence and healthcare use from April 1992 to March 2010.

Results

After routine varicella vaccination, zoster incidence rates decreased 29% for children aged 0-9 and changed minimally for other ages. Age-standardized rates of hospitalizations during the study period declined by 53%, while outpatient rates declined by 9%. The annual zoster incidence for those 60 or older was 740 per 100,000.

Conclusions

In the early post-varicella vaccination period, incidence rates of medically attended herpes zoster did not increase for the overall population and decreased moderately for children 9 years and younger, the age group targeted for varicella vaccination.     

Healthcare Costs for Pneumococcal Disease in the Era of Infant Immunization With 13-Valent Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine: A Population-Based Study

ObjectivesInvasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and a variety of clinical syndromes caused by pneumococci, such as acute otitis media (AOM), acute sinusitis (AS), and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), cause a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Few studies have explored the short-term financial burden of pneumococcal disease after the 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) introduction in the infant immunization programs. This population-based study evaluated changes in costs associated with healthcare utilization for pneumococcal disease after the PCV13 introduction in the infant immunization program in British Columbia, Canada.MethodsIndividuals with pneumococcal disease were identified using provincial administrative data for the 2000 to 2018 period. Total direct healthcare costs were determined using case-mix methodology for hospitalization and fee-for-service codes for outpatient visits and medications dispensed. Costs were adjusted to 2018 Canadian dollars. Changes in the annual healthcare costs were evaluated across vaccine eras (pre-PCV13, 2000-2010; PCV13, 2011-2018) using generalized linear models, adjusting for the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine program (2004-2010).ResultsDuring the 19-year study period, pneumococcal disease resulted in 6.3 million cases among 85 million total patient-years, resulting in total healthcare costs of $7.9 billion. More than 6.2 million cases were treated in outpatient setting, costing $0.65 billion (8% of total costs associated with pneumococcal disease treatment), whereas 370 000 hospitalized cases were 3% of all cases, which accrued $7.25 billion (92% of total costs) in costs. Healthcare costs for all studied infections nearly doubled over the study period from $248 million in 2000 to $476 million in 2018 (P = .003). In contrast, there were large declines in total annual costs in the PCV13 era for IPD (adjusted relative rate (aRR) 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.56-0.95; P = .032), AOM (aRR 0.70; 95% CI 0.59-0.83; P = .001), and AS (aRR 0.68; 95% CI 0.54-0.85; P = .004) compared with the pre-PCV13 era. Total costs increased marginally in the PCV13 era for all-cause CAP (aRR 1.04; 95% CI 0.94-1.15; P = .484).ConclusionsThis study confirms a temporal association in declining economic burden for IPD, AOM, and AS after the PCV13 introduction. Nevertheless, the total economic burden continues to be high in the PCV13 era, mainly driven by increasing CAP costs.     

Burden of disease and costs of treating rotavirus diarrhea in Mexican children for the period 2001-2006

Objectives

To estimate the health impact and the costs of treatment associated with rotavirus diarrhea in six yearly cohorts (2001-2006) of Mexican infants.

Methods

The perspective of study is from the health care system. We estimated the effect of rotavirus diarrhea on disability adjusted life years (DALYS) and diarrhea treatment costs in hypothetical cohorts of infants who are followed from birth up to five years of age beginning in years from 2001 to 2006. We used information from administrative databases on mortality and health care from the National System of Information on Health and from the Mexican Institute for Social Security to feed a decision analysis to project the burden of disease and costs of treatment.

Results

Estimates of DALYS were 19,426 in 2001 and decreased by 28.9% for 2006 meanwhile costs of treatment were relatively constant, estimated at US$ 38.7 million and increased only by 5%.

Conclusion

Rotavirus diarrhea in Mexican children is a major disease burden, presenting significant treatment costs. Rotavirus diarrhea mortality is decreasing; however this has not led to a steady decrease in treatment costs in the 6 years period of analysis. A sensitivity analysis showed that incidences of rotavirus diarrhea as well as the parameters associated with health-care access were the main factors, which had a significant effect on the projected burden of disease and costs.     

Parental decline of pneumococcal vaccination and risk of pneumococcal related disease in children

Background

An increasing number of parents are choosing to decline immunizations for their children. This study examined the association between the parental decision to decline pneumococcal conjugate (PCV7) vaccinations and the risk of hospitalization due to pneumococcal disease or lobar pneumonia in children.

Methods

We conducted a case-control study nested within a cohort of children enrolled in the Kaiser Permanente Colorado (KPCO) health plan between 2004 and 2009. Each child hospitalized with pneumococcal disease or lobar pneumonia (n = 106) was matched to 4 randomly selected controls (n = 401). Cases were matched to controls by age, sex, high-risk status, calendar time, and length of enrollment in KPCO. Disease status and parental vaccination decisions were validated with medical record review. Cases and controls were classified as vaccine decliners or vaccine acceptors.

Results

Among 106 cases, there were 6 (6%) PCV7 vaccine decliners; among 401 controls, there were 4 (1%) vaccine decliners. Children of parents who declined PCV7 immunization were 6.5 times (OR = 6.5; 95% CI = 1.7, 24.5) more likely to be hospitalized for invasive pneumococcal disease or lobar pneumonia than vaccinated children.

Conclusions

Parental decline of pneumococcal vaccination apparently increases the risk for hospitalization due to pneumococcal disease or lobar pneumonia in children. Providers can use this information when helping parents weigh the benefits and risks of immunizing their children.     

Direct costs of a single case of refugee-imported measles in Kentucky

Background

Refugees are highly vulnerable populations with limited access to health care services. The United States accepts 50,000-75,000 refugees for resettlement annually. Despite residing in camps and other locations where vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks, such as measles, occur frequently, refugees are not required to have any vaccinations before they arrive in the United States.

Purpose

We estimated the medical and public-health response costs of a case of measles imported into Kentucky by a refugee.

Methods

The Kentucky Refugee Health Coordinator recorded the time and labor of local, state, and some federal personnel involved in caring for the refugee and implementing the public health response activities. Secondary sources were used to estimate the labor and medical care costs of the event.

Results

The total costs to conduct the response to the disease event were approximately $25,000. All costs were incurred by government, either public health department or federal, because refugee health costs are paid by the federal government and the event response costs are covered by the public health department.

Conclusion

A potentially preventable case of measles that was imported into the United States cost approximately $25,000 for the public health response.

Recommendation

To maintain the elimination of measles transmission in the United States, U.S.-bound refugees should be vaccinated overseas. A refugee vaccination program administered during the overseas health assessment has the potential to reduce the risk of importation of measles and other vaccine-preventable disease and would eliminate costs associated with public health response to imported cases and outbreaks.     

Costs and impact of meningitis epidemics for the public health system in Burkina Faso

Background

Epidemic meningococcal meningitis remains a serious health threat in the African meningitis belt. New meningococcal conjugate vaccines are relatively costly and their efficiency will depend on cost savings realized from no longer having to respond to epidemics.

Methods

We evaluated the cost and impacts to the public health system of the 2007 epidemic bacterial meningitis season in Burkina Faso through a survey at the different level of the health system. A micro-economic approach was used to evaluate direct medical and non medical costs for both the public health system and households, as well as indirect costs for households.

Results

The total national cost was 9.4 million US$ (0.69 US$ per capita). Health system costs were 7.1 million US$ (1.97% of annual national health spending), with 85.6% for reactive vaccination campaigns. The remaining 2.3 million US$ was borne by households of meningitis cases. The mean cost per person vaccinated was 1.45 US$; the mean cost of case management per meningitis case was 116.3 US$ when including household costs and 26.4 US$ when including only health sector costs. Meningitis epidemics disrupted all health services from national to operational levels with the main contributor being a large increase in medical consultations.

Conclusions

Preventive meningococcal conjugate vaccines should contribute to more efficient use of funds dedicated to meningitis epidemics and limit the disruption of routine health services.     

The cost-burden of paediatric pneumococcal disease in Sweden and the potential cost-effectiveness of prevention using 7-valent pneumococcal vaccine

Aims

A cost-effectiveness model was used to estimate the change in disease burden that might be expected if PCV7 was included as part of the routine 3-dose vaccination schedule in Sweden.

Methods

An economic model was populated with data from the main clinical PCV7 efficacy trials, demographic data from government sources, surveillance and epidemiologic data from the US and Nordic region, and average treatment costs, considering the impact of disease on the whole national population.

Results

The model estimated that PCV7 would prevent 18,856 cases of AOM, 684 of pneumonia, 86 of pneumococcal bacteraemia and 21 cases of pneumococcal meningitis in children <10 years, further 221 cases of IPD would be avoided in older children and adults and 397 cases of pneumonia in adults aged 18–39 years. Annually, 4 childhood (<10 years) deaths and 39 deaths in older children and adults would be prevented, resulting in an annual saving of 632 life years. The reduction of cost for the society was estimated to 27.9 (−205, +160) million SEK. The sensitivity analysis showed that it was most sensitive to the efficacy of the vaccine against AOM, the cost of managing infections and the incidence of all disease.

Conclusion

This model demonstrates that implementing a universal vaccine programme in Sweden with PCV7 would be cost-effective with an estimated net reduction of costs for the society.     

Impact of disease management programs on healthcare expenditures for patients with diabetes, depression, heart failure or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a systematic review of the literature

Objective

Evaluating the impact of disease management programs on healthcare expenditures for patients with diabetes, depression, heart failure or COPD.

Methods

Systematic Pubmed search for studies reporting the impact of disease management programs on healthcare expenditures. Included were studies that contained two or more components of Wagner's chronic care model and were published between January 2007 and December 2009.

Results

Thirty-one papers were selected, describing disease management programs for patients with diabetes (n = 14), depression (n = 4), heart failure (n = 8), and COPD (n = 5). Twenty-one studies reported incremental healthcare costs per patient per year, of which 13 showed cost-savings. Incremental costs ranged between −$16,996 and $3305 per patient per year. Substantial variation was found between studies in terms of study design, number and combination of components of disease management programs, interventions within components, and characteristics of economic evaluations.

Conclusion

Although it is widely believed that disease management programs reduce healthcare expenditures, the present study shows that evidence for this claim is still inconclusive. Nevertheless disease management programs are increasingly implemented in healthcare systems worldwide. To support well-considered decision-making in this field, well-designed economic evaluations should be stimulated.