Abstract
Objective: To determine the optimal testing strategy to identify children with perinatally acquired hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Study design: We used a decision-tree framework with a Markov disease progression model to conduct an economic analysis of 4 strategies, based on combinations of type and timing of test: anti-HCV with reflex to HCV RNA at 18 months among children known to be perinatally exposed (ie, baseline comparison strategy); HCV RNA testing at 2-6 months among infants known to be perinatally exposed (test strategy 1); universal anti-HCV with reflex to HCV RNA at 18 months among all children (test strategy 2); and universal HCV RNA testing at 2-6 months among all infants (test strategy 3). We estimated total cost, quality-adjusted life years, and disease sequalae for each strategy. Results: Each of the 3 alternative testing strategies resulted in an increased number of children tested and improved health outcomes. HCV RNA testing at 2-6 months (test strategy 1) was cost-saving and resulted in a population-level difference in cost of $469 671. The 2 universal testing strategies resulted in an increase in quality-adjusted life years and an increase in total costs. Conclusions: Testing of perinatally exposed infants at age 2-6 months with a single HCV RNA test will reduce costs and improve health outcomes, preventing morbidity and mortality associated with complications from perinatal HCV infections.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 113409 |
Journal | Journal of Pediatrics |
Volume | 258 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2023 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- diagnosis
- economic evaluation
- hepatitis C virus
- maternal antibodies
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health