Cost-effectiveness analysis of artesunate and quinine + tetracycline for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Chanthaburi, Thailand

A randomized, controlled, malaria-clinic-based field trial was carried out to compare the cost-effectiveness of a 5-day 700-mg oral artesunate and a 7-day quinine + tetracycline regimen for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Thailand. Cost-effectiveness was determined from the providers' perspective and based on curative effectiveness. A total of 137 patients, aged 15-60 years, attending a malaria clinic were followed for 28 days, 60 of them received quinine + tetracycline and 77 received artesunate. Cure rates were assessed on day 5 (artesunate) and day 7 (quinine + tetracycline), using the intention-to-treat approach. Cost-effectiveness and sensitivity analyses were performed by varying the day 5/day 7 curative effectiveness and cost of artesunate. The cure rate with artesunate (100%) was significantly higher than with quinine + tetracycline (77.4%) (relative risk adjusted for sex (aRR) = 1.32, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12-1.55; referent quinine + tetracycline). Artesunate was more cost-effective than quinine + tetracycline at the following costs: artesunate, < or = US$0.36 per 50-mg tablet; quinine, US$0.06 per 300-mg tablet; tetracycline, US$0.02 per 250-mg capsule; and services per case found, < or = US$11.49. Because of the higher cure rate and higher cost-effectiveness of the artesunate regimen compared with quinine + tetracycline, we recommend its use for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in malaria clinics in Thailand.

Compliance with artesunate and quinine + tetracycline treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Thailand

A randomized, controlled, malaria-clinic-based field trial was conducted to compare compliance with a 7-day quinine + tetracycline regimen and a 5-day 700-mg artesunate regimen for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in a community in Thailand. Of 137 patients, aged 15-60 years attending a malaria clinic, 77 received artesunate and 60 received quinine + tetracycline. Compliance and cure rates were evaluated on days 5 (artesunate) and 7 (quinine + tetracycline) using patient interview/residual pill counts and peripheral blood smear, respectively. Data were analysed using the intention-to-treat approach, and the reasons for compliance and noncompliance were investigated. Compliance was significantly higher (98.4%) with artesunate than with quinine + tetracycline (71.7%) (relative risk adjusted for sex (aRR) = 1.39 (95% C.I. = 1.15-1.68); referent: quinine + tetracycline). Cure rate (100%) was higher in those receiving artesunate than quinine + tetracycline (77.4%) (aRR = 1.32 (95% C.I. = 1.12-1.55)). Reasons for compliance included the desire to be cured and to follow the advice of malaria staff/employer, and the simple dosing regimen. Noncompliance was mostly due to adverse reactions and forgetting to take the drugs. These results can serve as a baseline for designing and evaluating new interventions to improve compliance, as well as for studying cost-effectiveness to help drug policy decision-making. We recommend a strategy which integrates a short-course, once-a-day regimen (with minimal adverse reactions), a better delivery system for antimalarial drugs and health education, and an enhanced advisory role of malaria staff. Considering the higher compliance rate and curative effectiveness of artesunate, we recommend its use instead of quinine + tetracycline for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria in clinics in Thailand.