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

Framework for developing cost-effectiveness analysis threshold: the case of Egypt

BACKGROUND

Cost-effectiveness analyses rarely offer useful insights to policy decisions unless their results are compared against a benchmark threshold. The cost-effectiveness threshold (CET) represents the maximum acceptable monetary value for achieving a unit of health gain. This study aimed to identify CET values on a global scale, provide an overview of using multiple CETs, and propose a country-specific CET framework specifically tailored for Egypt. The proposed framework aims to consider the globally identified CETs, analyze global trends, and consider the local structure of Egypt's healthcare system.

METHODS

We conducted a literature review to identify CET values, with a particular focus on understanding the basis of differentiation when multiple thresholds are present. CETs of different countries were reviewed from secondary sources. Additionally, we assembled an expert panel to develop a national CET framework in Egypt and propose an initial design. This was followed by a multistakeholder workshop, bringing together representatives of different governmental bodies to vote on the threshold value and finalize the recommended framework.

RESULTS

The average CET, expressed as a percentage of the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita across all countries, was 135%, with a range of 21 to 300%. Interestingly, while the absolute value of CET increased with a country's income level, the average CET/GDP per capita showed an inverse relationship. Some countries applied multiple thresholds based on disease severity or rarity. In the case of Egypt, the consensus workshop recommended a threshold ranging from one to three times the GDP per capita, taking into account the incremental relative quality-adjusted life years (QALY) gain. For orphan medicines, a CET multiplier between 1.5 and 3.0, based on the disease rarity, was recommended. A two-times multiplier was proposed for the private reimbursement threshold compared to the public threshold.

CONCLUSION

The CET values in most countries appear to be closely related to the GDP per capita. Higher-income countries tend to use a lower threshold as a percentage of their GDP per capita, contrasted with lower-income countries. In Egypt, experts opted for a multiple CET framework to assess the value of health technologies in terms of reimbursement and pricing.

Impact of rotavirus vaccination on diarrheal disease burden of children in South America

INTRODUCTION

Rotavirus is a leading cause of severe diarrheal disease and death in children under five years of age worldwide. Vaccination is one of the most important public health interventions to reduce this significant burden.

AREAS COVERED

This literature review examined vaccination coverage, hospitalization rate, mortality, genotypic distribution, immunogenicity, cost-effectiveness, and risk versus benefit of rotavirus vaccination in children in South America. Nine out of twelve countries in South America currently include a rotavirus vaccine in their national immunization program with coverage rates in 2022 above 90%.

EXPERT OPINION

Introduction of the rotavirus vaccination has led to a marked reduction in hospitalizations and deaths from diarrheal diseases in children under 5 years, particularly infants under 1 year, in several South American countries. In Brazil, hospitalizations decreased by 59% and deaths by 21% (30-38% in infants). In Peru, hospitalizations in infants fell by 46% and deaths by 37% (56% in infants). Overall, data suggest that rotavirus vaccination has reduced rotavirus deaths by 15-50% in various South American countries. There is some evidence that immunity wanes after the age of 1-year old. Ongoing surveillance of vaccine coverage and changes in morbidity and mortality is important to maximize protection against this disease.

Critical Analysis of Economic Evaluation of the Childhood Rotavirus Vaccination in Low- and Lower-Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVES

To identify, critically appraise, and summarize the use of different methods and results of economic evaluations to assess the efficiency of rotavirus vaccination programs in low- and lower-middle-income countries.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was performed in 3 bibliographic databases, including PubMed, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, and Science Direct (Elsevier) journal website, using key search terms. The study selection process was based on predefined inclusion criteria. The search results were presented using the research flow diagram based on guidelines of PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis). The quality assessment of the selected studies was carried out using the CHEERS (Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards) checklist.

RESULTS

A total of 21 studies were selected for review. All the studies, except 1, reported rotavirus vaccination to be a cost-effective intervention and a high-impact strategy to reduce substantial rotavirus disease burden. A decision analysis model was considered appropriate by all studies, although there were variabilities in the analytic horizon used. Lack of country-level data was highlighted by most studies. Multiples of gross domestic product of respective countries were used as a threshold to interpret cost-effectiveness.

CONCLUSIONS

Rotavirus vaccination was found to be cost-efficient in most settings, including complex humanitarian emergencies. The use of thresholds for interpreting incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and lack of local-level disease incidence and cost of illness data remains a point of contention. Lack of reporting probabilistic sensitivity analysis renders limited robustness to study results.

The performance of licensed rotavirus vaccines and the development of a new generation of rotavirus vaccines: a review

Rotavirus, which causes acute gastroenteritis and severe diarrhea, has posed a great threat to children worldwide over the last 30 y. Since no specific drugs and therapies against rotavirus are available, vaccination is considered the most effective method of decreasing the morbidity and mortality related to rotavirus-associated gastroenteritis. To date, six rotavirus vaccines have been developed and licensed by local governments. Notably, Rotarix™ and RotaTeq™ have been recommended as universal agents against rotavirus infection by the World Health Organization; however, lower efficacies were found in less-developed and developing regions with medium and high child mortality than well-developed ones with low child mortality. For now, two promising novel vaccines, Rotavac™ and RotaSiil™ were pre-qualified by the World Health Organization in 2018. Other rotavirus vaccines in the pipeline including neonatal strain (RV3-BB) and several non-replicating rotavirus vaccines with a parenteral delivery strategy are currently undergoing investigation, with the potential to improve the performance of, and eliminate the safety concerns associated with, previous live oral rotavirus vaccines. This paper reviews the important developments in rotavirus vaccines in the last 20 y and discusses problems and challenges that require investigation in the future.

A framework for explaining the role of values in health policy decision-making in Latin America: a critical interpretive synthesis

BACKGROUND

Although values underpin the goals pursued in health systems, including how health systems benefit the population, it is often not clear how values are incorporated into policy decision-making about health systems. The challenge is to encompass social/citizen values, health system goals, and financial realities and to incorporate them into the policy-making process. This is a challenge for all health systems and of particular importance for Latin American (LA) countries. Our objective was to understand how and under what conditions societal values inform decisions about health system financing in LA countries.

METHODS

A critical interpretive synthesis approach was utilised for this work. We searched 17 databases in December 2016 to identify articles written in English, Spanish or Portuguese that focus on values that inform the policy process for health system financing in LA countries at the macro and meso levels. Two reviewers independently screened records and assessed them for inclusion. One researcher conceptually mapped the included articles, created structured summaries of key findings from each, and selected a purposive sample of articles to thematically synthesise the results across the domains of agenda-setting/prioritisation, policy development and implementation.

RESULTS

We identified 5925 references, included 199 papers, and synthesised 68 papers. We identified 116 values and developed a framework to explain how values have been used to inform policy decisions about financing in LA countries. This framework has four categories - (1) goal-related values (i.e. guiding principles of the health system); (2) technical values (those incorporated into the instruments adopted by policy-makers to ensure a sustainable and efficient health system); (3) governance values (those applied in the policy process to ensure a transparent and accountable process of decision-making); and (4) situational values (a broad category of values that represent competing strategies to make decisions in the health systems, their influence varying according to the four factors).

CONCLUSIONS

It is an effort to consolidate and explain how different social values are considered and how they support policy decision-making about health system financing. This can help policy-makers to explicitly incorporate values into the policy process and understand how values are supporting the achievement of policy goals in health system financing.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The protocol was registered with PROSPERO, ID=CRD42017057049 .

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Cost-effectiveness of Rotavirus Vaccine in Low-Income and Lower-Middle-Income Countries

BACKGROUND

Rotavirus causes morbidity and mortality in children particularly in low-income countries (LICs) and lower-middle-income countries (LMICs). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in LICs and LMICs.

METHODS

Relevant studies were identified from PubMed and Scopus from their inception to January 2019. Studies were eligible if they assessed the cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccine in children in LICs and LMICs and reported incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. Risk of bias and quality assessment was assessed based on the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standard checklist. Incremental net benefits (INBs) were estimated, and meta-analysis based on the DerSimonian and Laird method was applied to pool INBs across studies.

RESULTS

We identified 1614 studies, of which 28 studies (29 countries) were eligible and conducted using cost-utility analysis in LICs (n = 8) and LMICs (n = 21). The pooled INB was estimated at $62.17 (95% confidence interval, $7.12-$117.21) in LICs, with a highly significant heterogeneity (χ2 = 33.96; df = 6; P < .001; I 2 = 82.3%), whereas the pooled INB in LMICs was $82.46 (95% confidence interval, $54.52-$110.41) with no heterogeneity (χ2 = 8.46; df = 11; P = .67; I 2 = 0%).

CONCLUSIONS

Rotavirus vaccine would be cost-effective to introduce in LICs and LMICs. These findings could aid decision makers and provide evidence for introduction of rotavirus vaccination.

Experiences with rotavirus vaccines: can we improve rotavirus vaccine impact in developing countries?

Rotavirus vaccines have been introduced into over 95 countries globally and demonstrate substantial impact in reducing diarrheal mortality and diarrheal hospitalizations in young children. The vaccines are also considered by WHO as "very cost effective" interventions for young children, particularly in countries with high diarrheal disease burden. Yet the full potential impact of rotavirus immunization is yet to be realized. Large countries with big birth cohorts and where disease burden is high in Africa and Asia have not yet implemented rotavirus vaccines at all or at scale. Significant advances have been made demonstrating the impact of the vaccines in low- and lower-middle income countries, yet the modest effectiveness of the vaccines in these settings is challenging. Current research highlights these challenges and considers alternative strategies to overcome them, including alternative immunization schedules and host factors that may inform us of new opportunities.

Impact of rotavirus vaccines in low and middle-income countries

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Rotavirus vaccines are playing a pivotal role in improving lives of infants and young children in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Many of these countries have adopted the vaccine into their routine immunization, whereas others are considering introduction. This article provides an update on the impact of rotavirus vaccines in LMICs on morbidity and mortality in children aged less than 5 years, and their cost-effectiveness.

RECENT FINDINGS

The WHO, in 2013, updated its recommendation to prioritize introduction of rotavirus vaccines in the routine immunization schedule, without age restrictions. Despite the decreased efficacy of the vaccines in LMICs, data from Sub-Saharan Africa have demonstrated a decrease in rotavirus-related morbidity, with some sites reporting an indirect protective effect on children age ineligible to receive the vaccine. Even with improvements in sanitation, nutritional status in children, and other health-related indices in LMICs, the use of rotavirus vaccines will play an important role in preventing rotavirus-related gastroenteritis. Economic models predict a reduction in economic burden because of rotavirus-related health costs, making vaccine introduction cost-effective in resource-constrained settings.

SUMMARY

Increasing evidence from impact studies shows the significant impact of rotavirus vaccination on hospitalizations and economic burden because of rotavirus gastroenteritis in LMICs. Universal rotavirus vaccination is recommended, and introductions should be monitored by robust surveillance systems to measure effectiveness and impact.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of introducing universal childhood rotavirus vaccination in Bangladesh

Diarrhea is one of the world's leading killers of children, and globally, rotavirus is the most common cause of severe diarrhea among under 5 children. In Bangladesh, rotavirus kills nearly 6,000 under 5 children in each year. To reduce the burden of childhood rotavirus diseases, universal rotavirus vaccination is recommended by World Health Organization. The objective of this study is to assess the cost-effectiveness of introducing universal childhood rotavirus vaccination with the newly developed ROTAVAC vaccine in national Expanded Programme of Immunization in Bangladesh. We developed a decision model to examine the potential impact of vaccination in Bangladesh and to examine the effect if the vaccination is applied in the nationwide immunization program schedule. Introduction of childhood universal rotavirus vaccination in Bangladesh scenario appears as highly cost-effective and would offer substantial future benefits for the young population if vaccinated today. The cost per DALY averted of introducing the rotavirus vaccine compared with status quo is approximately US$ 740.27 and US$ 728.67 per DALY averted from the health system and societal perspective respectively which is "very cost-effective" using GDP threshold level according to World Health Organization definition. The results of this analysis seek to contribute to an evidence-based recommendation about the introduction of universal rotavirus vaccination in national Expanded Programme of Immunization (EPI) in Bangladesh.

Cost-effectiveness of rotavirus vaccination in Turkey

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Cost-effectiveness studies about rotavirus (RV) vaccination programs were performed in many countries due to the severe economic burden of RV infections. This study is an economic evaluation performed to assess the potential for introducing the RV vaccine to the Turkish National Immunization Program.

METHODS

In this retrospective clinical study, the records and laboratory findings of a total of 4126 patients admitted to Turgut Ozal University Hospital, Ankara, Turkey with acute gastroenteritis were analyzed. A model described by Parashar et al. was used to obtain the annual episodes of diarrhea, hospitalization and outpatients visits in Turkey. Monovalent and pentavalent vaccination was assumed to protect in average 85% of RV acute gastroenteritis. All costs are expressed in 2012 United States (US) $, where US$1 equals 1.8 Turkish Liras (TL). Losses of labor costs were not taken into consideration.

RESULTS

The vaccination program with 85% coverage was cost effective and cost saving compared to no vaccination. A projected birth cohort of 1.25 million children was followed until 5 years of age; a routine vaccination could potentially avert 210,994 cases of diarrhea treated in outpatient hospital facilities and 42,715 hospitalizations. The RV associated economic burden was obtained as US$17,909 million per year (US$14.33 per birth annually) in medical direct costs by using the national level of RV diarrhea disease burden estimates. For monovalent and pentavalent vaccination, assuming a cost of US$31.5 and US$38 per vaccine course, the cost of the vaccination program was estimated to be approximately US$37,878 million and US$45,475 million, respectively.

CONCLUSION

At a cost per vaccine course of US$31.5 for monovalent and US$38 for pentavalent vaccine, routine RV vaccination could be potentially cost effective and also cost saving in Turkey. National RV vaccinations will play a significant role in preventing RV infections.

Risk factors for diarrhea in children under five years of age residing in peri-urban communities in Cochabamba, Bolivia

This study examined the relationship between childhood diarrhea prevalence and caregiver knowledge of the causes and prevention of diarrhea in a prospective cohort of 952 children < 5 years of age in Cochabamba, Bolivia. The survey of caregiver knowledge found that more than 80% of caregivers were unaware that hand washing with soap could prevent childhood diarrhea. Furthermore, when asked how to keep food safe for children to eat only 17% of caregivers reported hand washing before cooking and feeding a child. Lack of caregiver awareness of the importance of practices related to hygiene and sanitation for diarrhea prevention were significant risk factors for diarrheal disease in this cohort. The knowledge findings from this study suggest that health promotion in these communities should put further emphasis on increasing knowledge of how water treatment, hand washing with soap, proper disposal of child feces, and food preparation relate to childhood diarrhea prevention.

The economic burden of pediatric gastroenteritis to Bolivian families: a cross-sectional study of correlates of catastrophic cost and overall cost burden

BACKGROUND

Worldwide, acute gastroenteritis causes substantial morbidity and mortality in children less than five years of age. In Bolivia, which has one of the lower GDPs in South America, 16% of child deaths can be attributed to diarrhea, and the costs associated with diarrhea can weigh heavily on patient families. To address this need, the study goal was to identify predictors of cost burden (diarrhea-related costs incurred as a percentage of annual income) and catastrophic cost (cost burden ≥ 1% of annual household income).

METHODS

From 2007 to 2009, researchers interviewed caregivers (n = 1,107) of pediatric patients (<5 years old) seeking treatment for diarrhea in six Bolivian hospitals. Caregivers were surveyed on demographics, clinical symptoms, direct (e.g. medication, consult fees), and indirect (e.g. lost wages) costs. Multivariate regression models (n = 551) were used to assess relationships of covariates to the outcomes of cost burden (linear model) and catastrophic cost (logistic model).

RESULTS

We determined that cost burden and catastrophic cost shared the same significant (p < 0.05) predictors. In the logistic model that also controlled for child sex, child age, household size, rural residence, transportations taken to the current visit, whether the child presented with complications, and whether this was the child's first episode of diarrhea, significant predictors of catastrophic cost included outpatient status (OR 0.16, 95% CI [0.07, 0.37]); seeking care at a private hospital (OR 4.12, 95% CI [2.30, 7.41]); having previously sought treatment for this diarrheal episode (OR 3.92, 95% CI [1.64, 9.35]); and the number of days the child had diarrhea prior to the current visit (OR 1.14, 95% CI [1.05, 1.24]).

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis highlights the economic impact of pediatric diarrhea from the familial perspective and provides insight into potential areas of intervention to reduce associated economic burden.

Systematic review of the economic value of diarrheal vaccines

Diarrheal disease is a leading cause of child mortality in low-income settings and morbidity across a range of settings. A growing number of studies have addressed the economic value of new and emerging vaccines to reduce this threat. We conducted a systematic review to assess the economic value of diarrheal vaccines targeting a range of pathogens in different settings. The majority of studies focused on the economic value of rotavirus vaccines in different settings, with most of these concluding that vaccination would provide significant economic benefits across a range of vaccine prices. There is also evidence of the economic benefits of cholera vaccines in specific contexts. For other potential diarrheal vaccines data are limited and often hypothetical. Across all target pathogens and contexts, the evidence of economic value focuses the short-term health and economic gains. Additional information is needed on the broader social and long-term economic value of diarrhea vaccines.

Economics and financing of vaccines for diarrheal diseases

The considerable burden of infectious disease-caused diarrhea around the world has motivated the continuing development of a number of vaccine candidates over the past several decades with some reaching the market. As with all major public health interventions, understanding the economics and financing of vaccines against diarrheal diseases is essential to their development and implementation. This review focuses on each of the major infectious pathogens that commonly cause diarrhea, the current understanding of their economic burden, the status of vaccine development, and existing economic evaluations of the vaccines. While the literature on the economics and financing of vaccines against diarrhea diseases is growing, there is considerable room for more inquiry. Substantial gaps exist for many pathogens, circumstances, and effects. Economics and financing studies are integral to vaccine development and implementation.

Systematic review of studies on rotavirus disease cost-of-illness and productivity loss in Latin America and the Caribbean

BACKGROUND

Rotavirus is the most common cause of severe acute diarrhea among children in both developed and developing countries. Vaccination can reduce the disease burden and its incorporation into health care systems should consider future costs and benefits.

OBJECTIVES

To systematically review studies on costs due to rotavirus infection in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region, considering their methods and results.

METHODS

A search of relevant databases including the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, MEDLINE via PubMed, the Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature database (LILACS), and the Brazilian Thesis Databank was performed. Inclusion criteria for studies were: (a) economic evaluation or cost-of-illness studies; (b) conducted in the LAC region; (c) assess economic burden of rotavirus disease or the economic impact of rotavirus vaccination programs. Two authors independently screened the studies for eligibility.

RESULTS

Of 444 studies initially retrieved, 21 met the eligibility criteria and were included (14 cost-effectiveness analyses of vaccination programs and 7 cost-of-illness studies). Direct medical costs were assessed in all 21 studies, but only 10 also investigated indirect and non-medical direct costs. The most commonly observed methods for cost estimation were retrospective database analysis and hospital-based surveillance study. Only one study was a household-based survey.A wide cost range was identified (e.g., inpatient care US$79.91 to US$858.40 and outpatient care US$13.06 to US$64.10), depending on the methods, study perspective, and type of costs included.

CONCLUSION

Rotavirus-associated costs were assessed in 21 studies across the Latin America and Caribbean region. The majority of studies were made alongside economic evaluations of vaccination programs. Methods are broadly different among studies but administrative databases seem to be the most employed source of data.

The burden of pediatric diarrhea: a cross-sectional study of incurred costs and perceptions of cost among Bolivian families

Background

Worldwide, acute gastroenteritis represents an enormous public health threat to children under five years of age, causing one billion episodes and 1.9 to 3.2 million deaths per year. In Bolivia, which has one of the lower GDPs in South America, an estimated 15% of under-five deaths are caused by diarrhea. Bolivian caregiver expenses related to diarrhea are believed to be minimal, as citizens benefit from universal health insurance for children under five. The goals of this report were to describe total incurred costs and cost burden associated with caregivers seeking treatment for pediatric gastroenteritis, and to quantify relationships among costs, cost burden, treatment setting, and perceptions of costs.

Methods

From 2007 to 2009, researchers interviewed caregivers (n=1,107) of pediatric patients (<5 years of age) seeking treatment for diarrhea in sentinel hospitals participating in Bolivia’s diarrheal surveillance program across three main geographic regions. Data collected included demographics, clinical symptoms, direct costs (e.g. medication, consult fees) and indirect costs (e.g. lost wages).

Results

Patient populations were similar across cities in terms of gender, duration of illness, and age, but familial income varied significantly (p<0.05) when stratified on appointment type. Direct, indirect, and total costs to families were significantly higher for inpatients as compared to outpatients of urban (p<0.001) and rural (p<0.05) residence. Consult fees and indirect costs made up a large proportion of total costs. Forty-five percent of patients’ families paid ≥1% of their annual household income for this single diarrheal episode. The perception that cost was affecting family finances was more frequent among those with higher actual cost burden.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that indirect costs due to acute pediatric diarrhea were a large component of total incurred familial costs. Additionally, familial costs associated with a single diarrheal episode affected the actual and perceived financial situation of a large number of caregivers. These data serve as a baseline for societal diarrheal costs before and immediately following the implementation of the rotavirus vaccine and highlight the serious economic importance of a diarrheal episode to Bolivian caregivers.

Prevalence, seasonality and severity of disease caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli in children with diarrhoea in Bolivia

The prevalence of infection caused by different categories of diarrhoeagenic E. coli (DEC) strains, including enteroaggregative (EAEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC) and enterohaemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli, in children who suffered from diarrhoea (n = 3943) or did not have diarrhoea (n = 1026) were analysed in two areas in Bolivia over a period of 4 years. We also analysed the seasonality of DEC infections and severity of diarrhoea in children with DEC infection and compared antibiotic resistance in DEC strains isolated from children with and without diarrhoea. Stool samples were analysed for the presence of DEC by culturing followed by PCR. The most prevalent DEC categories in samples from the children were: EAEC (11.2 %); ETEC (6.6 %); EPEC (5.8 %); and EIEC and EHEC (<1 %). DEC strains were isolated significantly more often from diarrhoea cases (21.6 %) than from controls (17.6 %; P = 0.002). The number of children with diarrhoea associated with EAEC, EPEC and ETEC infections peaked in the Bolivian winter (April-September), although the proportion of DEC-positive stool samples was higher during the warm rainy season (October-March). High levels of antibiotic resistance were detected among the DEC strains. In particular, resistance to tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim was significantly higher in strains isolated from individuals with diarrhoea than in samples from controls. The severity of disease in children infected with EAEC, EPEC and ETEC varied from mild to severe diarrhoea, although disease severity did not differ significantly between the different DEC categories. ETEC, EPEC and EAEC are commonly found in Bolivia and may cause severe disease in children.