Cost-effectiveness of Antiviral Stockpiling and Testing for Influenza Pandemic
Author Information
Author(s): Siddiqui M. Ruby, Edmunds W. John
Primary Institution: Health Protection Agency, London, UK
Hypothesis
Is stockpiling antiviral drugs and using near-patient testing cost-effective for managing a potential influenza pandemic?
Conclusion
Stockpiling sufficient antiviral drugs is cost-effective for treating all patients with clinical cases during a potential influenza pandemic.
Supporting Evidence
- Stockpiling antiviral drugs is cost-effective at £1,900–£13,700 per QALY gained.
- The treat-only strategy is more cost-effective than the test-treat strategy.
- Near-patient testing may not be cost-effective compared to stockpiling antiviral drugs alone.
Takeaway
This study shows that having enough antiviral medicine ready for a flu pandemic is a smart way to save lives and money.
Methodology
A decision analytical model was used to compare costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) for different treatment strategies during a potential influenza pandemic.
Potential Biases
Potential bias in estimating the effectiveness of antiviral drugs against pandemic influenza.
Limitations
The study assumes fixed stockpiles and does not account for variations in pandemic severity or antiviral efficacy against new strains.
Participant Demographics
The study focuses on the UK population, estimating that 28.1% would develop influenza-like illness during a pandemic.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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