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Mangu C, Cossa M, Ndege R, Khosa C, Leukes V, de la Torre-Pérez L, Machiana A, Kivuma B, Mnzava D, Zachariah C, Manjate P, Tagliani E, Schacht C, Buech J, Singh S, Ehrlich J, Riess F, Sanz S, Kranzer K, Cox H, Sabi I, Nguenha D, Meggi B, Weisser M, Ntinginya N, Schumacher S, Ruhwald M, Penn-Nicholson A, Garcia-Basteiro AL. Expanding Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra® and LF-LAM testing for diagnosis of tuberculosis among HIV-positive adults admitted to hospitals in Tanzania and Mozambique: a randomized controlled trial (the EXULTANT trial). BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:831. [PMID: 39148008 PMCID: PMC11325809 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-024-09651-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Tuberculosis (TB) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Current WHO-recommended strategies for diagnosing TB among hospitalized PLHIV rely on symptom screening and disease severity to assess eligibility for urine lipoarabinomannan lateral flow (LF-LAM) and molecular testing. Despite these recommendations, autopsy studies show a large burden of undiagnosed TB among admitted PLHIV. The EXULTANT trial aims to assess the impact of an expanded screening strategy using three specimens (sputum, stool, and urine) for TB diagnosis among PLHIV admitted to hospitals in two high HIV and TB burden African countries. METHODS This is a multicenter, pragmatic, individually randomized controlled trial conducted across eleven hospitals in Tanzania and Mozambique. Participants in the intervention arm will be tested with Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra® from expectorated sputum, stool, and urine samples, with additional urine LF-LAM testing in the first 24 h after hospital admission, irrespective of the presence of the symptoms. The control arm will implement the WHO standard of care recommendations. Hospitalized adults (≥ 18 years) with a confirmed HIV-diagnosis, irrespective of antiretroviral (ART) therapy status or presence of TB symptoms will be assessed for eligibility at admission. Patients with a pre-existing TB diagnosis, those receiving anti-tuberculosis therapy or tuberculosis preventive treatment in the 6 months prior to enrolment, and those transferred from other hospitals will not be eligible. Also, participants admitted for traumatic reasons such as acute abdomen, maternal conditions, scheduled surgery, having a positive SARS-CoV2 test will be ineligible. The primary endpoint is the proportion of participants with microbiologically confirmed TB starting treatment within 3 days of enrolment. DISCUSSION The EXULTANT trial investigates rapid implementation after admission of a new diagnostic algorithm using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra® in several non-invasive specimens, in addition to LF-LAM, in hospitalized PLHIV regardless of TB symptoms. This enhanced strategy is anticipated to detect frequently missed TB cases in this population and is being evaluated as an implementable and scalable intervention. TRIAL REGISTRATION Trial reference number: NCT04568967 (ClinicalTrials.gov) registered on 2020-09-29.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chacha Mangu
- Mbeya Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mbeya, Tanzania
| | - Marta Cossa
- Centro de Investigação Em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Manhica, Mozambique
| | - Robert Ndege
- Ifakara Health Institute, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwill, Switzerland
| | - Celso Khosa
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Mozambique
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Craysophy Zachariah
- Mbeya Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mbeya, Tanzania
| | - Patricia Manjate
- Centro de Investigação Em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Manhica, Mozambique
| | - Elisa Tagliani
- Emerging Bacterial Pathogens Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Joanna Ehrlich
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Friedrich Riess
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sergi Sanz
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Katharina Kranzer
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Munich, Germany
| | - Helen Cox
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, and Wellcome Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Africa, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Issa Sabi
- Mbeya Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mbeya, Tanzania
| | - Dinis Nguenha
- Centro de Investigação Em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Manhica, Mozambique
| | - Bindiya Meggi
- Instituto Nacional de Saúde (INS), Marracuene, Mozambique
| | - Maja Weisser
- Ifakara Health Institute, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nyanda Ntinginya
- Mbeya Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR), Mbeya, Tanzania
| | | | | | | | - Alberto L Garcia-Basteiro
- Centro de Investigação Em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Manhica, Mozambique.
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Fekadu G, Wang Y, You JHS. Standard diagnostics with and without urine-based lipoarabinomannan testing for tuberculosis disease in HIV-infected patients in a high-burden setting-A cost-effectiveness analysis. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288605. [PMID: 37450476 PMCID: PMC10348570 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent clinical findings reported the reduced mortality associated with treatment guided by sputum-based molecular test with urine-based lipoarabinomannan (LAM) assay for tuberculosis (TB) disease in HIV-infected individuals. We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of sputum-based Xpert tests with and without urine-based LAM assays among HIV-infected individuals with signs and symptoms of TB disease (TBD) from the perspective of South African healthcare providers. METHODS A one-year decision-analytic model was constructed to simulate TB-related outcomes of 7 strategies: Sputum smear microscope (SSM), Xpert, Xpert Ultra, Xpert with AlereLAM, Xpert Ultra with AlereLAM, Xpert with FujiLAM, and Xpert Ultra with FujiLAM, in a hypothetical cohort of adult HIV-infected individuals with signs and symptoms of TB. The model outcomes were TB-related direct medical cost, mortality, early treatment, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) and incremental cost per DALY averted (ICER). The model inputs were retrieved from literature and public data. Base-case analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted. RESULTS In the base-case analysis, the Xpert Ultra with FujiLAM strategy showed the highest incidence of early treatment (267.7 per 1000 tested) and lowest mortality (29.0 per 1000 tested), with ICER = 676.9 USD/DALY averted. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis of 10,000 Monte Carlo simulations showed the cost-effective probability of Xpert Ultra with FujiLAM was the highest of all 7 strategies at the willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold >202USD/DALY averted. CONCLUSION Standard sputum-based TB diagnostic Xpert Ultra with urine-based FujiLAM for TBD testing in HIV-infected individuals appears to be the preferred cost-effective strategy from the perspective of the health service provider of South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ginenus Fekadu
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Yingcheng Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Joyce H. S. You
- School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
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Pei PP, Fitzmaurice KP, Le MH, Panella C, Jones ML, Pandya A, Horsburgh CR, Freedberg KA, Weinstein MC, Paltiel AD, Reddy KP. The Value-of-Information and Value-of-Implementation from Clinical Trials of Diagnostic Tests for HIV-Associated Tuberculosis: A Modeling Analysis. MDM Policy Pract 2023; 8:23814683231198873. [PMID: 37743931 PMCID: PMC10517616 DOI: 10.1177/23814683231198873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives. Conventional value-of-information (VOI) analysis assumes complete uptake of an optimal decision. We employed an extended framework that includes value-of-implementation (VOM)-the benefit of encouraging adoption of an optimal strategy-and estimated how future trials of diagnostic tests for HIV-associated tuberculosis could improve public health decision making and clinical and economic outcomes. Methods. We evaluated the clinical outcomes and costs, given current information, of 3 tuberculosis screening strategies among hospitalized people with HIV in South Africa: sputum Xpert (Xpert), sputum Xpert plus urine AlereLAM (Xpert+AlereLAM), and sputum Xpert plus the newer, more sensitive, and costlier urine FujiLAM (Xpert+FujiLAM). We projected the incremental net monetary benefit (INMB) of decision making based on results of a trial comparing mortality with each strategy, rather than decision making based solely on current knowledge of FujiLAM's improved diagnostic performance. We used a validated microsimulation to estimate VOI (the INMB of reducing parameter uncertainty before decision making) and VOM (the INMB of encouraging adoption of an optimal strategy). Results. With current information, adopting Xpert+FujiLAM yields 0.4 additional life-years/person compared with current practices (assumed 50% Xpert and 50% Xpert+AlereLAM). While the decision to adopt this optimal strategy is unaffected by information from the clinical trial (VOI = $ 0 at $3,000/year-of-life saved willingness-to-pay threshold), there is value in scaling up implementation of Xpert+FujiLAM, which results in an INMB (representing VOM) of $650 million over 5 y. Conclusions. Conventional VOI methods account for the value of switching to a new optimal strategy based on trial data but fail to account for the persuasive value of trials in increasing uptake of the optimal strategy. Evaluation of trials should include a focus on their value in reducing barriers to implementation. Highlights In conventional VOI analysis, it is assumed that the optimal decision will always be adopted even without a trial. This can potentially lead to an underestimation of the value of trials when adoption requires new clinical trial evidence. To capture the influence that a trial may have on decision makers' willingness to adopt the optimal decision, we also consider value-of-implementation (VOM), a metric quantifying the benefit of new study information in promoting wider adoption of the optimal strategy. The overall value-of-a-trial (VOT) includes both VOI and VOM.Our model-based analysis suggests that the information obtained from a trial of screening strategies for HIV-associated tuberculosis in South Africa would have no value, when measured using traditional methods of VOI assessment. A novel strategy, which includes the urine FujiLAM test, is optimal from a health economic standpoint but is underutilized. A trial would reduce uncertainties around downstream health outcomes but likely would not change the optimal decision. The high VOT (nearly $700 million over 5 y) lies solely in promoting uptake of FujiLAM, represented as VOM.Our results highlight the importance of employing a more comprehensive approach for evaluating prospective trials, as conventional VOI methods can vastly underestimate their value. Trialists and funders can and should assess the VOT metric instead when considering trial designs and costs. If VOI is low, the VOM and cost of a trial can be compared with the benefits and costs of other outreach programs to determine the most cost-effective way to improve uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela P. Pei
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Mylinh H. Le
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher Panella
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michelle L. Jones
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ankur Pandya
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - C. Robert Horsburgh
- School of Public Health and School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth A. Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Milton C. Weinstein
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A. David Paltiel
- Public Health Modeling Unit, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Krishna P. Reddy
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Keim-Malpass J, Heysell SK, Thomas TA, Lobo JM, Mpagama SG, Muzoora C, Moore CC. Decision Analytic Modeling for Global Clinical Trial Planning: A Case for HIV-Positive Patients at High Risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis Sepsis in Uganda. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20065041. [PMID: 36981950 PMCID: PMC10049353 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Sepsis is a significant cause of mortality among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa. In the planning period prior to the start of a large multi-country clinical trial studying the efficacy of the immediate empiric addition of anti-tuberculosis therapy to standard-of-care antibiotics for sepsis in people living with HIV, we used decision analysis to assess the costs and potential health outcome impacts of the clinical trial design based on preliminary data and epidemiological parameter estimates. The purpose of this analysis was to highlight this approach as a case example where decision analysis can estimate the cost effectiveness of a proposed clinical trial design. In this case, we estimated the impact of immediate empiric anti-tuberculosis (TB) therapy versus the diagnosis-dependent standard of care using three different TB diagnostics: urine TB-LAM, sputum Xpert-MTB/RIF, and the combination of LAM/Xpert. We constructed decision analytic models comparing the two treatment strategies for each of the three diagnostic approaches. Immediate empiric-therapy demonstrated favorable cost-effectiveness compared with all three diagnosis-dependent standard of care models. In our methodological case exemplar, the proposed randomized clinical trial intervention demonstrated the most favorable outcome within this decision simulation framework. Applying the principles of decision analysis and economic evaluation can have significant impacts on study design and clinical trial planning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Keim-Malpass
- School of Nursing, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Scott K. Heysell
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Tania A. Thomas
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Jennifer M. Lobo
- Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
| | - Stellah G. Mpagama
- Kibong’oto Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kilimanjaro P.O. Box 447, Tanzania
| | - Conrad Muzoora
- Department of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara P.O. Box 1410, Uganda
| | - Christopher C. Moore
- Division of Infectious Diseases and International Health, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA
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Cummings MJ, Bakamutumaho B, Price A, Owor N, Kayiwa J, Namulondo J, Byaruhanga T, Jain K, Postler TS, Muwanga M, Nsereko C, Nayiga I, Kyebambe S, Che X, Sameroff S, Tokarz R, Shah SS, Larsen MH, Lipkin WI, Lutwama JJ, O’Donnell MR. HIV infection drives pro-inflammatory immunothrombotic pathway activation and organ dysfunction among adults with sepsis in Uganda. AIDS 2023; 37:233-245. [PMID: 36355913 PMCID: PMC9780191 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global burden of sepsis is concentrated in high HIV-burden settings in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Despite this, little is known about the immunopathology of sepsis in persons with HIV (PWH) in the region. We sought to determine the influence of HIV on host immune responses and organ dysfunction among adults hospitalized with suspected sepsis in Uganda. DESIGN Prospective cohort study. METHODS We compared organ dysfunction and 30-day outcome profiles of PWH and those without HIV. We quantified 14 soluble immune mediators, reflective of key domains of sepsis immunopathology, and performed whole-blood RNA-sequencing on samples from a subset of patients. We used propensity score methods to match PWH and those without HIV by demographics, illness duration, and clinical severity, and compared immune mediator concentrations and gene expression profiles across propensity score-matched groups. RESULTS Among 299 patients, 157 (52.5%) were PWH (clinical stage 3 or 4 in 80.3%, 67.7% with known HIV on antiretroviral therapy). PWH presented with more severe physiologic derangement and shock, and had higher 30-day mortality (34.5% vs. 10.2%; P < 0.001). Across propensity score-matched groups, PWH exhibited greater pro-inflammatory immune activation, including upregulation of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-15, IL-17 and HMGB1 signaling, with concomitant T-cell exhaustion, prothrombotic pathway activation, and angiopoeitin-2-related endothelial dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS Sepsis-related organ dysfunction and mortality in Uganda disproportionately affect PWH, who demonstrate exaggerated activation of multiple immunothrombotic and metabolic pathways implicated in sepsis pathogenesis. Further investigations are needed to refine understanding of sepsis immunopathology in PWH, particularly mechanisms amenable to therapeutic manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Cummings
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Barnabas Bakamutumaho
- Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
- Immunizable Diseases Unit, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Adam Price
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas Owor
- Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - John Kayiwa
- Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Joyce Namulondo
- Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Timothy Byaruhanga
- Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Komal Jain
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas S. Postler
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Moses Muwanga
- Entebbe General Referral Hospital, Ministry of Health, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | - Irene Nayiga
- Entebbe General Referral Hospital, Ministry of Health, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Stephen Kyebambe
- Entebbe General Referral Hospital, Ministry of Health, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Xiaoyu Che
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen Sameroff
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rafal Tokarz
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shivang S. Shah
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle H. Larsen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - W. Ian Lipkin
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julius J. Lutwama
- Department of Arbovirology, Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, Uganda Virus Research Institute, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Max R. O’Donnell
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Center for Infection and Immunity, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Huerga H, Bastard M, Lubega AV, Akinyi M, Antabak NT, Ohler L, Muyindike W, Taremwa IM, Stewart R, Bossard C, Nkosi N, Ndlovu Z, Hewison C, Stavia T, Okomo G, Ogoro JO, Ngozo J, Mbatha M, Aleny C, Wanjala S, Musoke M, Atwine D, Ascorra A, Ardizzoni E, Casenghi M, Ferlazzo G, Nakiyingi L, Gupta-Wright A, Bonnet M. Novel FujiLAM assay to detect tuberculosis in HIV-positive ambulatory patients in four African countries: a diagnostic accuracy study. Lancet Glob Health 2023; 11:e126-e135. [PMID: 36521944 PMCID: PMC9747168 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(22)00463-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Development of rapid biomarker-based tests that can diagnose tuberculosis using non-sputum samples is a priority for tuberculosis control. We aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the novel Fujifilm SILVAMP TB LAM (FujiLAM) assay with the WHO-recommended Alere Determine TB-LAM Ag test (AlereLAM) using urine samples from HIV-positive patients. METHODS We did a diagnostic accuracy study at five outpatient public health facilities in Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique, and South Africa. Eligible patients were ambulatory HIV-positive individuals (aged ≥15 years) with symptoms of tuberculosis irrespective of their CD4 T-cell count (group 1), and asymptomatic patients with advanced HIV disease (CD4 count <200 cells per μL, or HIV clinical stage 3 or 4; group 2). All participants underwent clinical examination, chest x-ray, and blood sampling, and were requested to provide a fresh urine sample, and two sputum samples. FujiLAM and AlereLAM urine assays, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay on sputum or urine, sputum culture for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and CD4 count were systematically carried out for all patients. Sensitivity and specificity of FujiLAM and AlereLAM were evaluated against microbiological and composite reference standards. FINDINGS Between Aug 24, 2020 and Sept 21, 2021, 1575 patients (823 [52·3%] women) were included in the study: 1031 patients in group 1 and 544 patients in group 2. Tuberculosis was microbiologically confirmed in 96 (9·4%) of 1022 patients in group 1 and 18 (3·3%) of 542 patients in group 2. Using the microbiological reference standard, FujiLAM sensitivity was 60% (95% CI 51-69) and AlereLAM sensitivity was 40% (31-49; p<0·001). Among patients with CD4 counts of less than 200 cells per μL, FujiLAM sensitivity was 69% (57-79) and AlereLAM sensitivity was 52% (40-64; p=0·0218). Among patients with CD4 counts of 200 cells per μL or higher, FujiLAM sensitivity was 47% (34-61) and AlereLAM sensitivity was 24% (14-38; p=0·0116). Using the microbiological reference standard, FujiLAM specificity was 87% (95% CI 85-89) and AlereLAM specificity was 86% (95 CI 84-88; p=0·941). FujiLAM sensitivity varied by lot number from 48% (34-62) to 76% (57-89) and specificity from 77% (72-81) to 98% (93-99). INTERPRETATION Next-generation, higher sensitivity urine-lipoarabinomannan assays are potentially promising tests that allow rapid tuberculosis diagnosis at the point of care for HIV-positive patients. However, the variability in accuracy between FujiLAM lot numbers needs to be addressed before clinical use. FUNDING ANRS and Médecins Sans Frontières.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Huerga
- Department of Field Epidemiology, Epicentre, Paris, France.
| | | | | | - Milcah Akinyi
- Department of Medicine, Médecins Sans Frontières, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Liesbet Ohler
- Department of Medicine, Médecins Sans Frontières, Eshowe, South Africa
| | - Winnie Muyindike
- Department of Medicine, Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, Mbarara, Uganda
| | | | - Rosanna Stewart
- Department of Medicine, Médecins Sans Frontières, Eshowe, South Africa
| | - Claire Bossard
- Department of Field Epidemiology, Epicentre, Paris, France
| | - Nothando Nkosi
- Department of Medicine, Médecins Sans Frontières, Eshowe, South Africa
| | - Zibusiso Ndlovu
- Southern African Medical Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Turyahabwe Stavia
- National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Services, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Gordon Okomo
- Department of Health Services, Ministry of Health, Homa Bay, Kenya
| | - Jeremiah Okari Ogoro
- National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Services, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Mduduzi Mbatha
- King Cetswayo District Office, Department of Health, Eshowe, South Africa
| | - Couto Aleny
- National STI, HIV/AIDS Control Program, Ministry of Health, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Stephen Wanjala
- Department of Medicine, Médecins Sans Frontières, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Mohammed Musoke
- Department of Medicine, Médecins Sans Frontières, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | | | - Elisa Ardizzoni
- Mycobacteriology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Martina Casenghi
- Department of Innovation and New Technology, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gabriella Ferlazzo
- Southern African Medical Unit, Médecins Sans Frontières, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Lydia Nakiyingi
- Department of Medicine, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | | | - Maryline Bonnet
- Université de Montpellier, TransVIHMI, INSERM, IRD, Montpellier, France
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7
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Ding C, Ji Z, Zheng L, Jin X, Ruan B, Zhang Y, Li L, Xu K. Population-based active screening strategy contributes to the prevention and control of tuberculosis. Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2022; 51:669-678. [PMID: 36915974 PMCID: PMC10262001 DOI: 10.3724/zdxbyxb-2022-0426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite the achievements obtained worldwide in the control of tuberculosis in recent years, many countries and regions including China still face challenges such as low diagnosis rate, high missed diagnosis rate, and delayed diagnosis of the disease. The discovery strategy of tuberculosis in China has changed from "active discovery by X-ray examination" to "passive discovery by self-referral due to symptoms", and currently the approach is integrated involving self-referral due to symptoms, active screening, and physical examination. Active screening could help to identify early asymptomatic and untreated cases. With the development of molecular biology and artificial intelligence-assisted diagnosis technology, there are more options for active screening among the large-scale populations. Although the implementation cost of a population-based active screening strategy is high, it has great value in social benefits, and active screening in special populations can obtain better benefits. Active screening of tuberculosis is an important component of the disease control. It is suggested that active screening strategies should be optimized according to the specific conditions of the regions to ultimately ensure the benefit of the tuberculosis control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Ding
- 1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Zhongkang Ji
- 1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Lin Zheng
- 1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xiuyuan Jin
- 1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Bing Ruan
- 1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- 1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
- 2. Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Lanjuan Li
- 1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
- 2. Jinan Microecological Biomedicine Shandong Laboratory, Jinan 250117, China
| | - Kaijin Xu
- 1. The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Hangzhou 310003, China
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8
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Freeman EE, McCann NC, Semeere A, Reddy KP, Laker-Oketta M, Byakwaga H, Pei PP, Hajny Fernandez ME, Kiprono S, Busakhala N, Martin JN, Maurer T, Bassett IV, Freedberg KA, Hyle EP. Evaluation of four chemotherapy regimens for treatment of advanced AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma in Kenya: a cost-effectiveness analysis. Lancet Glob Health 2022; 10:e1179-e1188. [PMID: 35839816 PMCID: PMC9287596 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(22)00242-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The most effective treatment for advanced AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma is paclitaxel or pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PLD); neither is routinely used in sub-Saharan Africa due to limited availability and high cost. We examined the clinical impact, costs, and cost-effectiveness of paclitaxel or PLD in Kenya, compared with etoposide or bleomycin-vincristine. METHODS In this study, we use the Cost-Effectiveness of Preventing AIDS Complications (CEPAC)-International Model to project clinical outcomes and costs among people living with HIV and advanced Kaposi sarcoma on antiretroviral therapy. We compared four different treatment strategies: etoposide, bleomycin-vincristine, paclitaxel, or PLD. We derived cohort characteristics and costs from the Kenyan Academic Model for Providing Access to Healthcare network, and adverse events, efficacy, and mortality from clinical trials. We projected model outcomes over a lifetime and included life expectancy, per-person lifetime costs, and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). We conducted budget impact analysis for 5-year total costs and did deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses to evaluate the effect of uncertainty in input parameters. FINDINGS We found that paclitaxel would be more effective than bleomycin-vincristine and would increase life expectancy by 4·2 years per person. PLD would further increase life expectancy by 0·6 years per person. Paclitaxel would be the most cost-effective strategy (ICER US$380 per year-of-life-saved compared with bleomycin-vincristine) and would remain cost-effective across a range of scenarios. PLD would be cost-effective compared with paclitaxel if its price were reduced to $100 per cycle (base case $180 per cycle). Implementing paclitaxel instead of bleomycin-vincristine would save approximately 6400 life-years and would increase the overall 5-year Kenyan health-care costs by $3·7 million; increased costs would be primarily related to ongoing HIV care given improved survival. INTERPRETATION Paclitaxel would substantially increase life expectancy and be cost-effective compared with bleomycin-vincristine for advanced AIDS-associated Kaposi sarcoma in Kenya and should be the standard of care. PLD would further improve survival and be cost-effective with a 44% price reduction. FUNDING US National Institutes of Health and Massachusetts General Hospital. TRANSLATION For the Swahili translation of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther E Freeman
- Department of Dermatology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Nicole C McCann
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aggrey Semeere
- Infectious Diseases Institute, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Krishna P Reddy
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Pamela P Pei
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Samson Kiprono
- Department of Internal Medicine, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Naftali Busakhala
- Department of Internal Medicine, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Jeffery N Martin
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Toby Maurer
- Department of Dermatology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Ingrid V Bassett
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth A Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily P Hyle
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Disease, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
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9
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Dhana A, Hamada Y, Kengne AP, Kerkhoff AD, Broger T, Denkinger CM, Rangaka MX, Gupta-Wright A, Fielding K, Wood R, Huerga H, Rücker SCM, Bjerrum S, Johansen IS, Thit SS, Kyi MM, Hanson J, Barr DA, Meintjes G, Maartens G. Diagnostic accuracy of WHO screening criteria to guide lateral-flow lipoarabinomannan testing among HIV-positive inpatients: A systematic review and individual participant data meta-analysis. J Infect 2022; 85:40-48. [PMID: 35588942 PMCID: PMC10152564 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND WHO recommends urine lateral-flow lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) testing with AlereLAM in HIV-positive inpatients only if screening criteria are met. We assessed the performance of WHO screening criteria and alternative screening tests/strategies to guide LF-LAM testing and compared diagnostic accuracy of the WHO AlereLAM algorithm (WHO screening criteria followed by AlereLAM if screen positive) with AlereLAM and FujiLAM (a novel LF-LAM test) testing in all HIV-positive inpatients. METHODS We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library from Jan 1, 2011 to March 1, 2020 for studies among adult/adolescent HIV-positive inpatients regardless of tuberculosis signs and symptoms. The reference standards were (1) AlereLAM or FujiLAM for screening tests/strategies and (2) culture or Xpert for AlereLAM/FujiLAM. We determined proportion of inpatients eligible for AlereLAM using WHO screening criteria; assessed accuracy of WHO criteria and alternative screening tests/strategies to guide LF-LAM testing; compared accuracy of WHO AlereLAM algorithm with AlereLAM/FujiLAM testing in all; and determined diagnostic yield of AlereLAM, FujiLAM, and Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert). We estimated pooled proportions with a random-effects model, assessed diagnostic accuracy using random-effects bivariate models, and assessed diagnostic yield descriptively. FINDINGS We obtained data from all 5 identified studies (n = 3,504). The pooled proportion of inpatients eligible for AlereLAM using WHO criteria was 93% (95%CI 91, 95). Among screening tests/strategies to guide LF-LAM testing, WHO criteria, C-reactive protein (≥5 mg/L), and CD4 count (<200 cells/μL) had high sensitivities but low specificities; cough (≥2 weeks), hemoglobin (<8 g/dL), body mass index (<18.5 kg/m2), lymphadenopathy, and WHO-defined danger signs had higher specificities but suboptimal sensitivities. AlereLAM in all had the same sensitivity (62%) and specificity (88%) as WHO AlereLAM algorithm. Sensitivity of FujiLAM and AlereLAM was 69% and 48%, while specificity was 88% and 96%, respectively. In 2 studies that collected sputum and non-sputum samples for Xpert and/or culture, diagnostic yield of sputum Xpert was 40-41%, AlereLAM was 39-76%, and urine Xpert was 35-62%. In one study, FujiLAM diagnosed 80% of tuberculosis cases (vs 39% for AlereLAM), and sputum Xpert combined with AlereLAM, urine Xpert, or FujiLAM diagnosed 61%, 81%, and 92% of all cases, respectively. INTERPRETATION WHO criteria and alternative screening tests/strategies have limited utility in guiding LF-LAM testing, suggesting that AlereLAM testing in all HIV-positive medical inpatients be implemented. Routine FujiLAM may improve tuberculosis diagnosis. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashar Dhana
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Yohhei Hamada
- Centre for International Cooperation and Global TB Information, The Research Institute of Tuberculosis, Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association, Tokyo, Japan; Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Andre P Kengne
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andrew D Kerkhoff
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases and Global Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tobias Broger
- Division of Tropical Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; FIND, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Claudia M Denkinger
- Division of Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine, Center for Infectious Diseases, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany; German Center of Infection Research, Heidelberg, Germany; FIND, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Molebogeng X Rangaka
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK; Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ankur Gupta-Wright
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK; Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | - Robin Wood
- Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Helena Huerga
- Field Epidemiology Department, Epicentre, Paris, France
| | | | - Stephanie Bjerrum
- Department of Clinical Research, Infectious Diseases, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Isik S Johansen
- Research Unit for Infectious Diseases, Odense University Hospital, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Swe Swe Thit
- Department of Medicine, University of Medicine 2, Yangon, Yangon Division, Myanmar
| | - Mar Mar Kyi
- Department of Medicine, University of Medicine 2, Yangon, Yangon Division, Myanmar
| | - Josh Hanson
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David A Barr
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | - Graeme Meintjes
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gary Maartens
- Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa (CIDRI-Africa), Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
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10
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Sullivan A, Nathavitharana RR. Addressing TB-related mortality in adults living with HIV: a review of the challenges and potential solutions. Ther Adv Infect Dis 2022; 9:20499361221084163. [PMID: 35321342 PMCID: PMC8935406 DOI: 10.1177/20499361221084163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death in people living with HIV (PLHIV) globally, causing 208,000 deaths in PLHIV in 2019. PLHIV have an 18-fold higher risk of TB, and HIV/TB mortality is highest in inpatient facilities, compared with primary care and community settings. Here we discuss challenges and potential mitigating solutions to address TB-related mortality in adults with HIV. Key factors that affect healthcare engagement are stigma, knowledge, and socioeconomic constraints, which are compounded in people with HIV/TB co-infection. Innovative approaches to improve healthcare engagement include optimizing HIV/TB care integration and interventions to reduce stigma. While early diagnosis of both HIV and TB can reduce mortality, barriers to early diagnosis of TB in PLHIV include difficulty producing sputum specimens, lower sensitivity of TB diagnostic tests in PLHIV, and higher rates of extra pulmonary TB. There is an urgent need to develop higher sensitivity biomarker-based tests that can be used for point-of-care diagnosis. Nonetheless, the implementation and scale-up of existing tests including molecular World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended diagnostic tests and urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) should be optimized along with expanded TB screening with tools such as C-reactive protein and digital chest radiography. Decreased survival of PLHIV with TB disease is more likely with late HIV diagnosis and delayed start of antiretroviral (ART) treatment. The WHO now recommends starting ART within 2 weeks of initiating TB treatment in the majority of PLHIV, aside from those with TB meningitis. Dedicated TB treatment trials focused on PLHIV are needed, including interventions to improve TB meningitis outcomes given its high mortality, such as the use of intensified regimens using high-dose rifampin, new and repurposed drugs such as linezolid, and immunomodulatory therapy. Ultimately holistic, high-quality, person-centered care is needed for PLHIV with TB throughout the cascade of care, which should address biomedical, socioeconomic, and psychological barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Sullivan
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruvandhi R. Nathavitharana
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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11
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Implementing Advanced HIV Disease Care for Inpatients in a Referral Hospital in Malawi – Demand, Results and Cost Implications. Ann Glob Health 2022; 88:16. [PMID: 35433287 PMCID: PMC8916058 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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12
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Reddy KP, Fitzmaurice KP, Scott JA, Harling G, Lessells RJ, Panella C, Shebl FM, Freedberg KA, Siedner MJ. Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in South Africa. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2021:2021.05.07.21256852. [PMID: 34013291 PMCID: PMC8132265 DOI: 10.1101/2021.05.07.21256852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Low- and middle-income countries are implementing COVID-19 vaccination strategies in light of varying vaccine efficacies and costs, supply shortages, and resource constraints. Here, we use a microsimulation model to evaluate clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccination program in South Africa. We varied vaccination coverage, pace, acceptance, effectiveness, and cost as well as epidemic dynamics. Providing vaccines to at least 40% of the population and prioritizing vaccine rollout prevented >9 million infections and >73,000 deaths and reduced costs due to fewer hospitalizations. Model results were most sensitive to assumptions about epidemic growth and prevalence of prior immunity to SARS-CoV-2, though the vaccination program still provided high value and decreased both deaths and health care costs across a wide range of assumptions. Vaccination program implementation factors, including prompt procurement, distribution, and rollout, are likely more influential than characteristics of the vaccine itself in maximizing public health benefits and economic efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna P. Reddy
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Justine A. Scott
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guy Harling
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health & Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
- School of Nursing & Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK
- Department of Epidemiology and Harvard Center for Population & Development Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard J. Lessells
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing (KRISP), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Christopher Panella
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fatma M. Shebl
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth A. Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark J. Siedner
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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13
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Clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in South Africa. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6238. [PMID: 34716349 PMCID: PMC8556310 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26557-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Low- and middle-income countries are implementing COVID-19 vaccination strategies in light of varying vaccine efficacies and costs, supply shortages, and resource constraints. Here, we use a microsimulation model to evaluate clinical outcomes and cost-effectiveness of a COVID-19 vaccination program in South Africa. We varied vaccination coverage, pace, acceptance, effectiveness, and cost as well as epidemic dynamics. Providing vaccines to at least 40% of the population and prioritizing vaccine rollout prevented >9 million infections and >73,000 deaths and reduced costs due to fewer hospitalizations. Model results were most sensitive to assumptions about epidemic growth and prevalence of prior immunity to SARS-CoV-2, though the vaccination program still provided high value and decreased both deaths and health care costs across a wide range of assumptions. Vaccination program implementation factors, including prompt procurement, distribution, and rollout, are likely more influential than characteristics of the vaccine itself in maximizing public health benefits and economic efficiency. Cost, supply and logistics present challenges to COVID-19 vaccine rollout in low and middle income countries. Here, the authors model vaccination programmes in South Africa and demonstrate the importance of the pace of vaccine rollout, with even moderately efficacious vaccines likely to be cost-effective.
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14
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Alsdurf H, Empringham B, Miller C, Zwerling A. Tuberculosis screening costs and cost-effectiveness in high-risk groups: a systematic review. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:935. [PMID: 34496804 PMCID: PMC8425319 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06633-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Systematic screening for active tuberculosis (TB) is a strategy which requires the health system to seek out individuals, rather than waiting for individuals to self-present with symptoms (i.e., passive case finding). Our review aimed to summarize the current economic evidence and understand the costs and cost-effectiveness of systematic screening approaches among high-risk groups and settings. METHODS We conducted a systematic review on economic evaluations of screening for TB disease targeting persons with clinical and/or structural risk factors, such as persons living with HIV (PLHIV) or persons experiencing homelessness. We searched three databases for studies published between January 1, 2010 and February 1, 2020. Studies were included if they reported cost and a key outcome measure. Owing to considerable heterogeneity in settings and type of screening strategy, we synthesized data descriptively. RESULTS A total of 27 articles were included in our review; 19/27 (70%) took place in high TB burden countries. Seventeen studies took place among persons with clinical risk factors, including 14 among PLHIV, while 13 studies were among persons with structural risk factors. Nine studies reported incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) ranging from US$51 to $1980 per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted. Screening was most cost-effective among PLHIV. Among persons with clinical and structural risk factors there was limited evidence, but screening was generally not shown to be cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS Studies showed that screening is most likely to be cost-effective in a high TB prevalence population. Our review highlights that to reach the "missing millions" TB programmes should focus on simple, cheaper initial screening tools (i.e., symptom screen and CXR) followed by molecular diagnostic tools (i.e., Xpert®) among the highest risk groups in the local setting (i.e., PLHIV, urban slums). Programmatic costs greatly impact cost-effectiveness thus future research should provide both fixed and variable costs of screening interventions to improve comparability.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Alsdurf
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Cresent, Ottawa, Canada
| | - B Empringham
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Cresent, Ottawa, Canada.,Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, Canada
| | - C Miller
- Global TB Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A Zwerling
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, 600 Peter Morand Cresent, Ottawa, Canada.
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15
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Sossen B, Ryan A, Bielawski J, Greyling R, Matthews G, Hurribunce-James S, Goliath R, Caldwell J, Meintjes G. Urine lipoarabinomannan for rapid tuberculosis diagnosis in HIV-infected adult outpatients in Khayelitsha. South Afr J HIV Med 2021; 22:1226. [PMID: 34007476 PMCID: PMC8111664 DOI: 10.4102/sajhivmed.v22i1.1226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Decreasing tuberculosis (TB) mortality is constrained by diagnostic and treatment delays. The World Health Organization (WHO) recently actively recommended the point-of-care Alere Determine Lipoarabinomannan Ag assay (AlereLAM) to assist in the diagnosis of tuberculosis in specific HIV-infected outpatients. Objectives The primary objective of this study was to compare time to ambulatory TB treatment in HIV-infected adults with CD4 ≤ 100 cells/μL before and after (‘primary comparison groups’) availability of AlereLAM. In pre-specified subgroups, we prospectively assessed AlereLAM-positive prevalence. Method Clinicians prospectively performed AlereLAM in HIV-infected adults with TB symptoms and either CD4 ≤ 100 cells/μL or ‘seriously ill’ criteria. In a retrospective arm of equal duration, clinicians retrospectively collected data on HIV-infected adults with CD4 ≤ 100 cells/μL who initiated TB treatment. Results A total of 115 prospectively eligible adults (of whom 55 had CD4 ≤ 100 cells/μL) and 77 retrospectively eligible patients were included. In the primary comparison groups, the retrospective and prospective arms had similar age and sex distribution. With availability of AlereLAM, the time to TB treatment decreased from a median of 4 to 3 days (p = 0.0557). With availability of AlereLAM, same-day TB treatment initiation rose from 9.1% to 32.7% (p = 0.0006). In those with CD4 ≤ 100 only, those with ‘seriously ill’ criteria only, and in those meeting either, or both, of these criteria, AlereLAM was positive in 10.5%, 21.9%, 34.8% and 48.4% respectively. Conclusion Availability of AlereLAM led to more patients initiating same-day TB treatment. Using both CD4 ≤ 100 and ‘seriously ill’ criteria gave the greatest yield. Results of this study have informed local policy design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Sossen
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Amanda Ryan
- Town 2 Clinic, Cape Town City Health Department, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Riana Greyling
- Matthew Goniwe Clinic, Cape Town City Health Department, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gillian Matthews
- Matthew Goniwe Clinic, Cape Town City Health Department, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - René Goliath
- Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Judy Caldwell
- Cape Town City Health Department, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Graeme Meintjes
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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16
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Shortened Tuberculosis Treatment for People with HIV in South Africa. A Model-based Evaluation and Cost-effectiveness Analysis. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2021; 17:202-211. [PMID: 31689133 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201905-418oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Recent tuberculosis treatment trials failed to show that some 4-month (4m) regimens were noninferior to conventional 6-month (6m) regimens for a composite clinical outcome. Novel shortened regimens may still have important clinical and economic benefits in populations with high loss to follow-up (LTFU) and in subgroups such as people with human immunodeficiency virus.Objectives: To identify scenarios in which a novel 4m regimen would be preferred to a conventional 6m regimen for treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis in people with human immunodeficiency virus in South Africa, in terms of short-term and long-term clinical and economic outcomes.Methods: We used the Cost-Effectiveness of Preventing AIDS Complications-International microsimulation model to project outcomes modeled on participants in the OFLOTUB trial. For calibration purposes, we did a base case analysis by applying trial-informed parameters for the 4m/6m regimens, including monthly LTFU during treatment (0.68%/0.83%), average monthly tuberculosis recurrence (0.65%/0.31%), and monthly drug costs (U.S. dollars [USD]25.90/3.70). We then evaluated different scenarios and 4m regimen characteristics, varying key parameters, including LTFU (informed by observational cohort data), recurrence, and cost. We projected outcomes, including 2-year mortality and life expectancy. We conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis, evaluating the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of a 4m versus 6m regimen.Results: In the base case model analysis, risk of the composite unfavorable outcome in the 4m/6m groups was 19.8%/15.9%, similar to the trial; projected life expectancies were 22.1/22.3 years. In analyses of alternative scenarios and 4m regimen characteristics, a 4m regimen yielded lower risk of the composite unfavorable outcome than the conventional 6m regimen if LTFU increased to greater than 3.5%/mo or if average recurrence after a 4m regimen decreased to less than 0.45%/mo, and it yielded higher life expectancy if LTFU was greater than 3.5%/mo or if recurrence was less than 0.5%/mo. A 4m regimen was not cost-effective in the base case but became cost-effective (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio <USD940/yr of life saved) in two-way sensitivity analysis; for example, if LTFU was greater than or equal to 5.3%/mo and either average recurrence was less than or equal to 0.5%/mo or drug cost was less than or equal to USD15/mo.Conclusions: A novel shortened tuberculosis treatment regimen could improve outcomes such as survival despite conferring a higher recurrence risk, particularly in settings where LTFU is higher than that seen in recent trials.
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Dunning L, Gandhi AR, Penazzato M, Soeteman DI, Revill P, Frank S, Phillips A, Dugdale C, Abrams E, Weinstein MC, Newell M, Collins IJ, Doherty M, Vojnov L, Fassinou Ekouévi P, Myer L, Mushavi A, Freedberg KA, Ciaranello AL. Optimizing infant HIV diagnosis with additional screening at immunization clinics in three sub-Saharan African settings: a cost-effectiveness analysis. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 24:e25651. [PMID: 33474817 PMCID: PMC8992471 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Uptake of early infant HIV diagnosis (EID) varies widely across sub-Saharan African settings. We evaluated the potential clinical impact and cost-effectiveness of universal maternal HIV screening at infant immunization visits, with referral to EID and maternal antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. METHODS Using the CEPAC-Pediatric model, we compared two strategies for infants born in 2017 in Côte d'Ivoire (CI), South Africa (SA), and Zimbabwe: (1) existing EID programmes offering six-week nucleic acid testing (NAT) for infants with known HIV exposure (EID), and (2) EID plus universal maternal HIV screening at six-week infant immunization visits, leading to referral for infant NAT and maternal ART initiation (screen-and-test). Model inputs included published Ivoirian/South African/Zimbabwean data: maternal HIV prevalence (4.8/30.8/16.1%), current uptake of EID (40/95/65%) and six-week immunization attendance (99/74/94%). Referral rates for infant NAT and maternal ART initiation after screen-and-test were 80%. Costs included NAT ($24/infant), maternal screening ($10/mother-infant pair), ART ($5 to 31/month) and HIV care ($15 to 190/month). Model outcomes included mother-to-child transmission of HIV (MTCT) among HIV-exposed infants, and life expectancy (LE) and mean lifetime per-person costs for children with HIV (CWH) and all children born in 2017. We calculated incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) using discounted (3%/year) lifetime costs and LE for all children. We considered two cost-effectiveness thresholds in each country: (1) the per-capita GDP ($1720/6380/2150) per year-of-life saved (YLS), and (2) the CEPAC-generated ICER of offering 2 versus 1 lifetime ART regimens (e.g. offering second-line ART; $520/500/580/YLS). RESULTS With EID, projected six-week MTCT was 9.3% (CI), 4.2% (SA) and 5.2% (Zimbabwe). Screen-and-test decreased total MTCT by 0.2% to 0.5%, improved LE by 2.0 to 3.5 years for CWH and 0.03 to 0.07 years for all children, and increased discounted costs by $17 to 22/child (all children). The ICER of screen-and-test compared to EID was $1340/YLS (CI), $650/YLS (SA) and $670/YLS (Zimbabwe), below the per-capita GDP but above the ICER of 2 versus 1 lifetime ART regimens in all countries. CONCLUSIONS Universal maternal HIV screening at immunization visits with referral to EID and maternal ART initiation may reduce MTCT, improve paediatric LE, and be of comparable value to current HIV-related interventions in high maternal HIV prevalence settings like SA and Zimbabwe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorna Dunning
- Medical Practice Evaluation CenterMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | - Aditya R Gandhi
- Medical Practice Evaluation CenterMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | - Martina Penazzato
- Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs ProgrammeWorld Health OrganizationGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Djøra I Soeteman
- Medical Practice Evaluation CenterMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Center for Health Decision ScienceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMAUSA
| | - Paul Revill
- Center for Health EconomicsUniversity of YorkYorkUnited Kingdom
| | - Simone Frank
- Medical Practice Evaluation CenterMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
| | - Andrew Phillips
- Institute for Global HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Caitlin Dugdale
- Medical Practice Evaluation CenterMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Division of Infectious DiseasesMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Elaine Abrams
- Mailman School of Public HealthICAP at Columbia UniversityNew York CityNYUSA
| | - Milton C Weinstein
- Center for Health Decision ScienceHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMAUSA
| | - Marie‐Louise Newell
- Institute for Development StudiesHuman Development and HealthFaculty of MedicineUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonUnited Kingdom
- School of Public HealthFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of WitwatersrandJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | - Intira J Collins
- Medical Research Council Clinical Trials UnitUniversity College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Meg Doherty
- Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs ProgrammeWorld Health OrganizationGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Lara Vojnov
- Global HIV, Hepatitis, and STIs ProgrammeWorld Health OrganizationGenevaSwitzerland
| | | | - Landon Myer
- Division of Epidemiology & BiostatisticsSchool of Public Health & Family MedicineUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
| | | | - Kenneth A Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation CenterMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Division of Infectious DiseasesMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| | - Andrea L Ciaranello
- Medical Practice Evaluation CenterMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Division of Infectious DiseasesMassachusetts General HospitalBostonMAUSA
- Harvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
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18
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Ricks S, Denkinger CM, Schumacher SG, Hallett TB, Arinaminpathy N. The potential impact of urine-LAM diagnostics on tuberculosis incidence and mortality: A modelling analysis. PLoS Med 2020; 17:e1003466. [PMID: 33306694 PMCID: PMC7732057 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) tests could offer important new opportunities for the early detection of tuberculosis (TB). The currently licensed LAM test, Alere Determine TB LAM Ag ('LF-LAM'), performs best in the sickest people living with HIV (PLHIV). However, the technology continues to improve, with newer LAM tests, such as Fujifilm SILVAMP TB LAM ('SILVAMP-LAM') showing improved sensitivity, including amongst HIV-negative patients. It is important to anticipate the epidemiological impact that current and future LAM tests may have on TB incidence and mortality. METHODS AND FINDINGS Concentrating on South Africa, we examined the impact that widening LAM test eligibility would have on TB incidence and mortality. We developed a mathematical model of TB transmission to project the impact of LAM tests, distinguishing 'current' tests (with sensitivity consistent with LF-LAM), from hypothetical 'future' tests (having sensitivity consistent with SILVAMP-LAM). We modelled the impact of both tests, assuming full adoption of the 2019 WHO guidelines for the use of these tests amongst those receiving HIV care. We also simulated the hypothetical deployment of future LAM tests for all people presenting to care with TB symptoms, not restricted to PLHIV. Our model projects that 2,700,000 (95% credible interval [CrI] 2,000,000-3,600,000) and 420,000 (95% CrI 350,000-520,000) cumulative TB incident cases and deaths, respectively, would occur between 2020 and 2035 if the status quo is maintained. Relative to this comparator, current and future LAM tests would respectively avert 54 (95% CrI 33-86) and 90 (95% CrI 55-145) TB deaths amongst inpatients between 2020 and 2035, i.e., reductions of 5% (95% CrI 4%-6%) and 9% (95% CrI 7%-11%) in inpatient TB mortality. This impact in absolute deaths averted doubles if testing is expanded to include outpatients, yet remains <1% of country-level TB deaths. Similar patterns apply to incidence results. However, deploying a future LAM test for all people presenting to care with TB symptoms would avert 470,000 (95% CrI 220,000-870,000) incident TB cases (18% reduction, 95% CrI 9%-29%) and 120,000 (95% CrI 69,000-210,000) deaths (30% reduction, 95% CrI 18%-44%) between 2020 and 2035. Notably, this increase in impact arises largely from diagnosis of TB amongst those with HIV who are not yet in HIV care, and who would thus be ineligible for a LAM test under current guidelines. Qualitatively similar results apply under an alternative comparator assuming expanded use of GeneXpert MTB/RIF ('Xpert') for TB diagnosis. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates qualitatively similar results in a setting like Kenya, which also has a generalised HIV epidemic, but a lower burden of HIV/TB coinfection. Amongst limitations of this analysis, we do not address the cost or cost-effectiveness of future tests. Our model neglects drug resistance and focuses on the country-level epidemic, thus ignoring subnational variations in HIV and TB burden. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that LAM tests could have an important effect in averting TB deaths amongst PLHIV with advanced disease. However, achieving population-level impact on the TB epidemic, even in high-HIV-burden settings, will require future LAM tests to have sufficient performance to be deployed more broadly than in HIV care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Ricks
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Claudia M. Denkinger
- Center of Infectious Disease, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Timothy B. Hallett
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nimalan Arinaminpathy
- MRC Centre for Global Infectious Disease Analysis, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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19
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Reddy KP, Denkinger CM, Broger T, McCann NC, Gupta-Wright A, Kerkhoff AD, Pei PP, Shebl FM, Fielding KL, Nicol MP, Horsburgh CR, Meintjes G, Freedberg KA, Wood R, Walensky RP. Cost-effectiveness of a novel lipoarabinomannan test for tuberculosis in patients with HIV. Clin Infect Dis 2020; 73:e2077-e2085. [PMID: 33200169 PMCID: PMC8492225 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A novel urine lipoarabinomannan assay (FujiLAM) has higher sensitivity and higher cost than the first-generation AlereLAM assay. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of FujiLAM for tuberculosis testing among hospitalized people with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), irrespective of symptoms. Methods We used a microsimulation model to project clinical and economic outcomes of 3 testing strategies: (1) sputum Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert), (2) sputum Xpert plus urine AlereLAM (Xpert+AlereLAM), (3) sputum Xpert plus urine FujiLAM (Xpert+FujiLAM). The modeled cohort matched that of a 2-country clinical trial. We applied diagnostic yields from a retrospective study (yields for Xpert/Xpert+AlereLAM/Xpert+FujiLAM among those with CD4 <200 cells/µL: 33%/62%/70%; among those with CD4 ≥200 cells/µL: 33%/35%/47%). Costs of Xpert/AlereLAM/FujiLAM were US$15/3/6 (South Africa) and $25/3/6 (Malawi). Xpert+FujiLAM was considered cost-effective if its incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (US$/year-of-life saved) was <$940 (South Africa) and <$750 (Malawi). We varied key parameters in sensitivity analysis and performed a budget impact analysis of implementing FujiLAM countrywide. Results Compared with Xpert+AlereLAM, Xpert+FujiLAM increased life expectancy by 0.2 years for those tested in South Africa and Malawi. Xpert+FujiLAM was cost-effective in both countries. Xpert+FujiLAM for all patients remained cost-effective compared with sequential testing and CD4-stratified testing strategies. FujiLAM use added 3.5% (South Africa) and 4.7% (Malawi) to 5-year healthcare costs of tested patients, primarily reflecting ongoing HIV treatment costs among survivors. Conclusions FujiLAM with Xpert for tuberculosis testing in hospitalized people with HIV is likely to increase life expectancy and be cost-effective at the currently anticipated price in South Africa and Malawi. Additional studies should evaluate FujiLAM in clinical practice settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna P Reddy
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Nicole C McCann
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ankur Gupta-Wright
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Clinical Research Department, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Program, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Andrew D Kerkhoff
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases, and Global Medicine, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Pamela P Pei
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fatma M Shebl
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine L Fielding
- TB Centre, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mark P Nicol
- Infection and Immunity, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
| | - C Robert Horsburgh
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Graeme Meintjes
- Department of Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa.,Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Kenneth A Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Robin Wood
- Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Rochelle P Walensky
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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20
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Reddy KP, Shebl FM, Foote JHA, Harling G, Scott JA, Panella C, Fitzmaurice KP, Flanagan C, Hyle EP, Neilan AM, Mohareb AM, Bekker LG, Lessells RJ, Ciaranello AL, Wood R, Losina E, Freedberg KA, Kazemian P, Siedner MJ. Cost-effectiveness of public health strategies for COVID-19 epidemic control in South Africa: a microsimulation modelling study. LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH 2020; 9:e120-e129. [PMID: 33188729 PMCID: PMC7834260 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(20)30452-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Health-care resource constraints in low-income and middle-income countries necessitate the identification of cost-effective public health interventions to address COVID-19. We aimed to develop a dynamic COVID-19 microsimulation model to assess clinical and economic outcomes and cost-effectiveness of epidemic control strategies in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa. Methods We compared different combinations of five public health interventions: health-care testing alone, where diagnostic testing is done only for individuals presenting to health-care centres; contact tracing in households of cases; isolation centres, for cases not requiring hospital admission; mass symptom screening and molecular testing for symptomatic individuals by community health-care workers; and quarantine centres, for household contacts who test negative. We calibrated infection transmission rates to match effective reproduction number (Re) estimates reported in South Africa. We assessed two main epidemic scenarios for a period of 360 days, with an Re of 1·5 and 1·2. Strategies with incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of less than US$3250 per year of life saved were considered cost-effective. We also did sensitivity analyses by varying key parameters (Re values, molecular testing sensitivity, and efficacies and costs of interventions) to determine the effect on clinical and cost projections. Findings When Re was 1·5, health-care testing alone resulted in the highest number of COVID-19 deaths during the 360-day period. Compared with health-care testing alone, a combination of health-care testing, contact tracing, use of isolation centres, mass symptom screening, and use of quarantine centres reduced mortality by 94%, increased health-care costs by 33%, and was cost-effective (ICER $340 per year of life saved). In settings where quarantine centres were not feasible, a combination of health-care testing, contact tracing, use of isolation centres, and mass symptom screening was cost-effective compared with health-care testing alone (ICER $590 per year of life saved). When Re was 1·2, health-care testing, contact tracing, use of isolation centres, and use of quarantine centres was the least costly strategy, and no other strategies were cost-effective. In sensitivity analyses, a combination of health-care testing, contact tracing, use of isolation centres, mass symptom screening, and use of quarantine centres was generally cost-effective, with the exception of scenarios in which Re was 2·6 and when efficacies of isolation centres and quarantine centres for transmission reduction were reduced. Interpretation In South Africa, strategies involving household contact tracing, isolation, mass symptom screening, and quarantining household contacts who test negative would substantially reduce COVID-19 mortality and would be cost-effective. The optimal combination of interventions depends on epidemic growth characteristics and practical implementation considerations. Funding US National Institutes of Health, Royal Society, Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna P Reddy
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Fatma M Shebl
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julia H A Foote
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guy Harling
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa; Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK; MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Justine A Scott
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher Panella
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kieran P Fitzmaurice
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clare Flanagan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily P Hyle
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anne M Neilan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amir M Mohareb
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linda-Gail Bekker
- Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard J Lessells
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing, College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Andrea L Ciaranello
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Robin Wood
- Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Elena Losina
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA; Orthopaedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research and Policy and Innovation eValuation in Orthopaedic Treatments (PIVOT) Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth A Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pooyan Kazemian
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark J Siedner
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Africa Health Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
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21
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Reddy KP, Shebl FM, Foote JHA, Harling G, Scott JA, Panella C, Fitzmaurice KP, Flanagan C, Hyle EP, Neilan AM, Mohareb AM, Bekker LG, Lessells RJ, Ciaranello AL, Wood R, Losina E, Freedberg KA, Kazemian P, Siedner MJ. Cost-effectiveness of public health strategies for COVID-19 epidemic control in South Africa: a microsimulation modelling study. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2020. [PMID: 32637979 PMCID: PMC7340205 DOI: 10.1101/2020.06.29.20140111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Background Healthcare resource constraints in low and middle-income countries necessitate selection of cost-effective public health interventions to address COVID-19. Methods We developed a dynamic COVID-19 microsimulation model to evaluate clinical and economic outcomes and cost-effectiveness of epidemic control strategies in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Interventions assessed were Healthcare Testing (HT), where diagnostic testing is performed only for those presenting to healthcare centres; Contact Tracing (CT) in households of cases; Isolation Centres (IC), for cases not requiring hospitalisation; community health worker-led Mass Symptom Screening and molecular testing for symptomatic individuals (MS); and Quarantine Centres (QC), for household contacts who test negative. Given uncertainties about epidemic dynamics in South Africa, we evaluated two main epidemic scenarios over 360 days, with effective reproduction numbers (Re) of 1·5 and 1·2. We compared HT, HT+CT, HT+CT+IC, HT+CT+IC+MS, HT+CT+IC+QC, and HT+CT+IC+MS+QC, considering strategies with incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) <US$3,250/year-of-life saved (YLS) cost-effective. In sensitivity analyses, we varied Re, molecular testing sensitivity, and efficacies and costs of interventions. Findings With Re 1·5, HT resulted in the most COVID-19 deaths over 360 days. Compared with HT, HT+CT+IC+MS+QC reduced mortality by 94%, increased costs by 33%, and was cost-effective (ICER $340/YLS). In settings where quarantine centres cannot be implemented, HT+CT+IC+MS was cost-effective compared with HT (ICER $590/YLS). With Re 1·2, HT+CT+IC+QC was the least costly strategy, and no other strategy was cost-effective. HT+CT+IC+MS+QC was cost-effective in many sensitivity analyses; notable exceptions were when Re was 2·6 and when efficacies of ICs and QCs for transmission reduction were reduced. Interpretation In South Africa, strategies involving household contact tracing, isolation, mass symptom screening, and quarantining household contacts who test negative would substantially reduce COVID-19 mortality and be cost-effective. The optimal combination of interventions depends on epidemic growth characteristics and practical implementation considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna P Reddy
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fatma M Shebl
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julia H A Foote
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Guy Harling
- Department of Epidemiology and Harvard Center for Population & Development Studies, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,Institute for Global Health, University College London, London, UK.,MRC/Wits Rural Public Health & Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Justine A Scott
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher Panella
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kieran P Fitzmaurice
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Clare Flanagan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Emily P Hyle
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Anne M Neilan
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amir M Mohareb
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Linda-Gail Bekker
- Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Richard J Lessells
- KwaZulu-Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing (KRISP), College of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Andrea L Ciaranello
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard University Center for AIDS Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Robin Wood
- Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Elena Losina
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Orthopedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research (OrACORe), Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Policy and Innovation eValuation in Orthopedic Treatments (PIVOT) Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kenneth A Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pooyan Kazemian
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark J Siedner
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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22
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Stamping out Tuberculosis: The Importance of Diagnostic Innovation and Effective Implementation. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2020; 16:1112-1113. [PMID: 31145637 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.201902-173ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
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23
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Sohn H, Tucker A, Ferguson O, Gomes I, Dowdy D. Costing the implementation of public health interventions in resource-limited settings: a conceptual framework. Implement Sci 2020; 15:86. [PMID: 32993713 PMCID: PMC7526415 DOI: 10.1186/s13012-020-01047-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Failing to account for the resources required to successfully implement public health interventions can lead to an underestimation of costs and budget impact, optimistic cost-effectiveness estimates, and ultimately a disconnect between published evidence and public health decision-making. METHODS We developed a conceptual framework for assessing implementation costs. We illustrate the use of this framework with case studies involving interventions for tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in resource-limited settings. RESULTS Costs of implementing public health interventions may be conceptualized as occurring across three phases: design, initiation, and maintenance. In the design phase, activities include developing intervention components and establishing necessary infrastructure (e.g., technology, standard operating procedures). Initiation phase activities include training, initiation of supply chains and quality assurance procedures, and installation of equipment. Implementation costs in the maintenance phase include ongoing technical support, monitoring and evaluation, and troubleshooting unexpected obstacles. Within each phase, implementation costs can be incurred at the site of delivery ("site-specific" costs) or more centrally ("above-service" or "central" costs). For interventions evaluated in the context of research studies, implementation costs should be classified as programmatic, research-related, or shared research/program costs. Purely research-related costs are often excluded from analysis of programmatic implementation. CONCLUSIONS In evaluating public health interventions in resource-limited settings, accounting for implementation costs enables more realistic estimates of budget impact and cost-effectiveness and provides important insights into program feasibility, scale-up, and sustainability. Assessment of implementation costs should be planned prospectively and performed in a standardized manner to ensure generalizability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hojoon Sohn
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street E6531, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Austin Tucker
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street E6531, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Olivia Ferguson
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street E6531, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Isabella Gomes
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street E6531, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - David Dowdy
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N. Wolfe Street E6531, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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24
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Esmail A, Pooran A, Sabur NF, Fadul M, Brar MS, Oelofse S, Tomasicchio M, Dheda K. An Optimal Diagnostic Strategy for Tuberculosis in Hospitalized HIV-Infected Patients Using GeneXpert MTB/RIF and Alere Determine TB LAM Ag. J Clin Microbiol 2020; 58:e01032-20. [PMID: 32727831 PMCID: PMC7512177 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01032-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in HIV-infected patients is challenging. Both a urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) test (Alere TB LAM) and GeneXpert-MTB/RIF (Xpert) are useful for the diagnosis of TB. However, how to optimally integrate Xpert and LAM tests into clinical practice algorithms remain unclear. We performed a post hoc analysis of 561 HIV-infected sputum-expectorating patients (median CD4 count of 130 cells/ml) from a previously published randomized controlled trial evaluating the LAM test in hospitalized HIV-infected patients with suspected TB. We evaluated 5 different diagnostic strategies using sputum culture as a reference standard (Xpert alone, LAM alone, sequential Xpert followed by LAM and vice versa [LAM in Xpert-negative patients and Xpert in LAM-negative patients], and both tests concurrently [LAM + Xpert]). A cost-consequence analysis was performed. Strategy-specific sensitivity and specificity, using culture as a reference, were similar with the Xpert-only and sequential and concurrent strategies. However, when any positive TB-specific test was used as a reference, the incremental yield of LAM over Xpert was 29.6% (45/152) and that of Xpert over LAM was 75% (84/11). The incremental yield of LAM increased with decreasing CD4 count. The costs per TB case diagnosed were similar for the sequential and concurrent strategies ($1,617 to $1,626). In sputum-expectorating hospitalized patients with advanced HIV and access to both tests, concurrent testing with Xpert and LAM may be the best strategy for diagnosing TB. These data inform clinical practice in settings where TB and HIV are endemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aliasgar Esmail
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- UCT Lung Institute & South African MRC/UCT Centre for the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anil Pooran
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- UCT Lung Institute & South African MRC/UCT Centre for the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Natasha F Sabur
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Respirology, St. Michael's Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mohammed Fadul
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- UCT Lung Institute & South African MRC/UCT Centre for the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Mantaj S Brar
- Division of General Surgery, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Suzette Oelofse
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- UCT Lung Institute & South African MRC/UCT Centre for the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Michele Tomasicchio
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- UCT Lung Institute & South African MRC/UCT Centre for the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Keertan Dheda
- Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity, Division of Pulmonology, Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- UCT Lung Institute & South African MRC/UCT Centre for the Study of Antimicrobial Resistance, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
- Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Department of Infection Biology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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25
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Zwerling A. Costs of tuberculosis screening among inpatients with HIV. LANCET GLOBAL HEALTH 2020; 7:e163-e164. [PMID: 30683225 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(18)30564-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alice Zwerling
- School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1G5z3, Canada.
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26
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Reddy KP, Bulteel AJB, Levy DE, Torola P, Hyle EP, Hou T, Osher B, Yu L, Shebl FM, Paltiel AD, Freedberg KA, Weinstein MC, Rigotti NA, Walensky RP. Novel microsimulation model of tobacco use behaviours and outcomes: calibration and validation in a US population. BMJ Open 2020; 10:e032579. [PMID: 32404384 PMCID: PMC7228509 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-032579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Simulation models can project effects of tobacco use and cessation and inform tobacco control policies. Most existing tobacco models do not explicitly include relapse, a key component of the natural history of tobacco use. Our objective was to develop, calibrate and validate a novel individual-level microsimulation model that would explicitly include smoking relapse and project cigarette smoking behaviours and associated mortality risks. METHODS We developed the Simulation of Tobacco and Nicotine Outcomes and Policy (STOP) model, in which individuals transition monthly between tobacco use states (current/former/never) depending on rates of initiation, cessation and relapse. Simulated individuals face tobacco use-stratified mortality risks. For US women and men, we conducted cross-validation with a Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET) model. We then incorporated smoking relapse and calibrated cessation rates to reflect the difference between a transient quit attempt and sustained abstinence. We performed external validation with the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the linked National Death Index. Comparisons were based on root-mean-square error (RMSE). RESULTS In cross-validation, STOP-generated projections of current/former/never smoking prevalence fit CISNET-projected data well (coefficient of variation (CV)-RMSE≤15%). After incorporating smoking relapse, multiplying the CISNET-reported cessation rates for women/men by 7.75/7.25, to reflect the ratio of quit attempts to sustained abstinence, resulted in the best approximation to CISNET-reported smoking prevalence (CV-RMSE 2%/3%). In external validation using these new multipliers, STOP-generated cumulative mortality curves for 20-year-old current smokers and never smokers each had CV-RMSE ≤1% compared with NHIS. In simulating those surveyed by NHIS in 1997, the STOP-projected prevalence of current/former/never smokers annually (1998-2009) was similar to that reported by NHIS (CV-RMSE 12%). CONCLUSIONS The STOP model, with relapse included, performed well when validated to US smoking prevalence and mortality. STOP provides a flexible framework for policy-relevant analysis of tobacco and nicotine product use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krishna P Reddy
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alexander J B Bulteel
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Douglas E Levy
- Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Mongan Institute Health Policy Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pamela Torola
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emily P Hyle
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Taige Hou
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Benjamin Osher
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Liyang Yu
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Fatma M Shebl
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Kenneth A Freedberg
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Milton C Weinstein
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Nancy A Rigotti
- Tobacco Research and Treatment Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Rochelle P Walensky
- Medical Practice Evaluation Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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27
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Yakhelef N, Audibert M, Ferlazzo G, Sitienei J, Wanjala S, Varaine F, Bonnet M, Huerga H. Cost-effectiveness of diagnostic algorithms including lateral-flow urine lipoarabinomannan for HIV-positive patients with symptoms of tuberculosis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227138. [PMID: 31999746 PMCID: PMC6992347 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tuberculosis (TB) is the leading cause of death among HIV-positive patients. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of including lateral-flow urine lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) in TB diagnostic algorithms for severely ill or immunosuppressed HIV-positive patients with symptoms of TB in Kenya. METHODS From a decision-analysis tree, ten diagnostic algorithms were elaborated and compared. All algorithms included clinical exam. The costs of each algorithm were calculated using a 'micro-costing' method. The efficacy was estimated through a prospective study that included severely ill or immunosuppressed (CD4<200cells/μL) HIV-positive adults with symptoms of TB. The cost-effectiveness analysis was performed using the disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted as effectiveness outcome. A 4% discount rate was applied. RESULTS The algorithm that added LF-LAM alone to the clinical exam lead to the least average cost per TB case detected (€47) and was the most cost-effective with a cost/DALY averted of €4.6. The algorithms including LF-LAM, microscopy and X-ray, and LF-LAM and Xpert in sputum, detected a high number of TB cases with a cost/DALY averted of €6.1 for each of them. In the comparisons of the algorithms two by two, using LF-LAM instead of microscopy (clinic&LAM vs clinicµscopy) and using LF-LAM along with GeneXpert in sputum instead of GeneXpert in urine along with GeneXpert in sputum, (clinic&LAM&Xpert_sputum vs clinic&Xpert_sputum&Xpert_urine) led to the highest increase in the cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs): €-7.2 and €-12.6 respectively. In these two comparisons, using LF-LAM increased the number of TB patients detected while reducing costs. Adding LF-LAM to smear microscopy alone or to smear microscopy and Xray led to the highest increase in the additional number of TB cases detected (31 and 25 respectively) with an incremental efficiency estimated at 134 and 344 DALYs respectively. The ICERs were €22.0 and €8.6 respectively. CONCLUSION Including LF-LAM in TB diagnostic algorithms is cost-effective for severely ill or immunosuppressed HIV-positive patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martine Audibert
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CNRS, CERDI, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | | | - Joseph Sitienei
- Division of National Strategic Health Programs, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Steve Wanjala
- IRD UMI 233 TransVIHMI—UM–INSERM U1175, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Maryline Bonnet
- Epicentre, Paris, France
- IRD UMI 233 TransVIHMI—UM–INSERM U1175, Montpellier, France
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28
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Bjerrum S, Schiller I, Dendukuri N, Kohli M, Nathavitharana RR, Zwerling AA, Denkinger CM, Steingart KR, Shah M. Lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay for detecting active tuberculosis in people living with HIV. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2019; 10:CD011420. [PMID: 31633805 PMCID: PMC6802713 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd011420.pub3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) assay Alere Determine™ TB LAM Ag is recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) to help detect active tuberculosis in HIV-positive people with severe HIV disease. This review update asks the question, "does new evidence justify the use of LF-LAM in a broader group of people?", and is part of the WHO process for updating guidance on the use of LF-LAM. OBJECTIVES To assess the accuracy of LF-LAM for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis among HIV-positive adults with signs and symptoms of tuberculosis (symptomatic participants) and among HIV-positive adults irrespective of signs and symptoms of tuberculosis (unselected participants not assessed for tuberculosis signs and symptoms).The proposed role for LF-LAM is as an add on to clinical judgement and with other tests to assist in diagnosing tuberculosis. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register; MEDLINE, Embase, Science Citation Index, Web of Science, Latin American Caribbean Health Sciences Literature, Scopus, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial Number Registry, and ProQuest, without language restriction to 11 May 2018. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomized trials, cross-sectional, and observational cohort studies that evaluated LF-LAM for active tuberculosis (pulmonary and extrapulmonary) in HIV-positive adults. We included studies that used the manufacturer's recommended threshold for test positivity, either the updated reference card with four bands (grade 1 of 4) or the corresponding prior reference card grade with five bands (grade 2 of 5). The reference standard was culture or nucleic acid amplification test from any body site (microbiological). We considered a higher quality reference standard to be one in which two or more specimen types were evaluated for tuberculosis diagnosis and a lower quality reference standard to be one in which only one specimen type was evaluated. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently extracted data using a standardized form and REDCap electronic data capture tools. We appraised the quality of studies using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool and performed meta-analyses to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity using a bivariate random-effects model and a Bayesian approach. We analyzed studies enrolling strictly symptomatic participants separately from those enrolling unselected participants. We investigated pre-defined sources of heterogeneity including the influence of CD4 count and clinical setting on the accuracy estimates. We assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. MAIN RESULTS We included 15 unique studies (nine new studies and six studies from the original review that met the inclusion criteria): eight studies among symptomatic adults and seven studies among unselected adults. All studies were conducted in low- or middle-income countries. Risk of bias was high in the patient selection and reference standard domains, mainly because studies excluded participants unable to produce sputum and used a lower quality reference standard.Participants with tuberculosis symptomsLF-LAM pooled sensitivity (95% credible interval (CrI) ) was 42% (31% to 55%) (moderate-certainty evidence) and pooled specificity was 91% (85% to 95%) (very low-certainty evidence), (8 studies, 3449 participants, 37% with tuberculosis).For a population of 1000 people where 300 have microbiologically-confirmed tuberculosis, the utilization of LF-LAM would result in: 189 to be LF-LAM positive: of these, 63 (33%) would not have tuberculosis (false-positives); and 811 to be LF-LAM negative: of these, 174 (21%) would have tuberculosis (false-negatives).By clinical setting, pooled sensitivity was 52% (40% to 64%) among inpatients versus 29% (17% to 47%) among outpatients; and pooled specificity was 87% (78% to 93%) among inpatients versus 96% (91% to 99%) among outpatients. Stratified by CD4 cell count, pooled sensitivity increased, and specificity decreased with lower CD4 cell count.Unselected participants not assessed for signs and symptoms of tuberculosisLF-LAM pooled sensitivity was 35% (22% to 50%), (moderate-certainty evidence) and pooled specificity was 95% (89% to 96%), (low-certainty evidence), (7 studies, 3365 participants, 13% with tuberculosis).For a population of 1000 people where 100 have microbiologically-confirmed tuberculosis, the utilization of LF-LAM would result in: 80 to be LF-LAM positive: of these, 45 (56%) would not have tuberculosis (false-positives); and 920 to be LF-LAM negative: of these, 65 (7%) would have tuberculosis (false-negatives).By clinical setting, pooled sensitivity was 62% (41% to 83%) among inpatients versus 31% (18% to 47%) among outpatients; pooled specificity was 84% (48% to 96%) among inpatients versus 95% (87% to 99%) among outpatients. Stratified by CD4 cell count, pooled sensitivity increased, and specificity decreased with lower CD4 cell count. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We found that LF-LAM has a sensitivity of 42% to diagnose tuberculosis in HIV-positive individuals with tuberculosis symptoms and 35% in HIV-positive individuals not assessed for tuberculosis symptoms, consistent with findings reported previously. Regardless of how people are enrolled, sensitivity is higher in inpatients and those with lower CD4 cell, but a concomitant lower specificity. As a simple point-of-care test that does not depend upon sputum evaluation, LF-LAM may assist with the diagnosis of tuberculosis, particularly when a sputum specimen cannot be produced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Bjerrum
- University of Southern DenmarkDepartment of Clinical Research, Research Unit of Infectious DiseasesOdenseDenmark
- Odense University HospitalMyCRESD, Mycobacterial Research Centre of Southern Denmark, Department of Infectious DiseasesSdr. Boulevard 29OdenseDenmark
- Odense University HospitalOPEN, Odense Patient data Explorative NetworkOdenseDenmarkDenmark
| | - Ian Schiller
- McGill University Health Centre ‐ Research InstituteDivision of Clinical EpidemiologyMontrealQCCanada
| | - Nandini Dendukuri
- McGill University Health Centre ‐ Research InstituteDivision of Clinical EpidemiologyMontrealQCCanada
| | - Mikashmi Kohli
- McGill UniversityDepartment of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational HealthMontrealCanada
| | - Ruvandhi R Nathavitharana
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical SchoolDivision of Infectious DiseasesBostonUSA
| | - Alice A Zwerling
- University of OttawaSchool of Epidemiology & Public Health600 Peter Morand Crescent, Room 301EOttawaOntarioCanadaK1G5Z3
| | - Claudia M Denkinger
- FINDGenevaSwitzerland
- University Hospital HeidelbergCenter of Infectious DiseasesHeidelbergGermany
| | - Karen R Steingart
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical MedicineHonorary Research FellowPembroke PlaceLiverpoolUK
| | - Maunank Shah
- John Hopkins University School of MedicineDepartment of Medicine, Division of Infectious DiseasesBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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29
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Abstract
Implementation science uses methods to promote the scaling up and use of evidence-based practices by health systems to improve quality and outcomes. Its use is vital to maximise the efficiency of limited resources for health care in tropical settings. HIV and tuberculosis (TB) are two of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, and globally. Although effective treatments are widely available, lack of diagnosis remains a large barrier to accessing treatment, particularly in resource-limited settings. We explore HIV and TB diagnostics that can be used at point-of-care in any settings, and outline some important principles and applications of implementation science to aid their application and use. Despite robust evidence of diagnostic accuracy and efficacy in improving patient-centred outcomes, such interventions cannot be fully utilised without addressing operational barriers and knowledge gaps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankur Gupta-Wright
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
- Department of Infection, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
| | - Yukari C Manabe
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
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