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PharmacoEconomics
Published in: PharmacoEconomics 12/2011

01-12-2011 | Original Research Article

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Prophylactic Lamivudine Use in Preventing Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Authors: Hui-Fang Hung, Professor Hsiu-Hsi Chen

Published in: PharmacoEconomics | Issue 12/2011

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Abstract

Background: As neonates born to mothers with positive hepatitis B e antigen may not be completely protected by hepatitis B vaccination, prophylactic lamivudine use in mothers with high viraemia has been proposed. However, the overall effectiveness and the balance between cost and benefit for such a prophylactic strategy have rarely been addressed. Objective: Using a review of recent literature, we aimed to assess the cost effectiveness, from the Taiwanese societal perspective, of administering prophylactic lamivudine to mothers to reduce vertical transmission of hepatitis B virus and its long-term sequelae in neonates.
Methods: A meta-analysis of three randomized controlled trials was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of lamivudine versus placebo. A Markov decision model was constructed in which in both treatment arms infants received active and passive immunoprophylaxis. An economic evaluation was performed to calculate costs, acute infections averted, and QALYs gained. Probabilistic sensitivity analyses were conducted and a cost-effectiveness acceptability curve drawn. All these analyses were from the societal perspective. Costs ($US) were valued in year 2008 prices.
Result: Supplemental lamivudine use gained an additional 0.0024 QALYs and averted 0.23 acute infections per birth compared with the routine activepassive immunization without lamivudine. The cost-effectiveness analysis suggested that the use of additional prophylactic lamivudine dominated the routine strategy. The acceptability curve suggested that the probability of being cost effective under the willingness-to-pay threshold of $US20 000 was 94%.
Conclusion: This analysis suggests that supplemental use of lamivudine in mothers with high hepatitis B viraemia is effective in reducing vertical transmission and may be cost effective, from a Taiwanese societal perspective, compared with the routine active-passive immunization without lamivudine.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Prophylactic Lamivudine Use in Preventing Vertical Transmission of Hepatitis B Virus Infection
Authors
Hui-Fang Hung
Professor Hsiu-Hsi Chen
Publication date
01-12-2011
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
PharmacoEconomics / Issue 12/2011
Print ISSN: 1170-7690
Electronic ISSN: 1179-2027
DOI
https://doi.org/10.2165/11586470-000000000-00000

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