AUTHOR=Diao Sha , Liu Zheng , Liu Dan , Cheng Xiao , Zeng Linan , Jiao Xue-Feng , Chen Zhe , Ni Xiaofeng , He Siyi , Wu Bin , Kang Deying , Wan Chaomin , Zhao Rongsheng , Wang Huiqing , Zhang Lingli
TITLE=Long-term economic evaluation of the recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein (EC) test for the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology
VOLUME=14
YEAR=2023
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2023.1161526
DOI=10.3389/fphar.2023.1161526
ISSN=1663-9812
ABSTRACT=Background: Tuberculosis continues to be a significant global burden. Purified protein derivative of tuberculin (TB-PPD) is one type of tuberculin skin test (TST) and is used commonly for the auxiliary diagnosis of tuberculosis. The recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis fusion protein (EC) test is a new test developed in China.
Objective: Evaluate the long-term economic implications of using the EC test compared with the TB-PPD test to provide a reference for clinical decision-making.
Methods: The target population was people at a high risk persons of being infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The outcome indicator was quality-adjusted life years (QALY). A cost–utility analysis was used to evaluate the long-term economic implications of using the EC test compared with the TB-PPD test. We employed a decision tree–Markov model from the perspective of the whole society within 77 years.
Results: Compared with the TB-PPD test, the EC test had a lower cost but higher QALY. The incremental cost–utility ratio was −119,800.7381 CNY/QALY. That is, for each additional QALY, the EC test could save 119,800.7381 CNY: the EC test was more economical than the TB-PPD test.
Conclusion: Compared with the TB-PPD test, the EC test would be more economical in the long term for the diagnosis of M. tuberculosis infection according our study.