Universal Test, Treat, and Keep: Improving ART Retention is Key in Cost-effective HIV Control in Uganda
McCreesh, N; Andrianakis, I; Nsubuga, RN; et al.Strong, M; Vernon, I; McKinley, TJ; Oakley, J; Goldstein, M; Hayes, R; White, RG
Date: 3 May 2017
Journal
BMC Infectious Diseases
Publisher
BioMed Central
Publisher DOI
Abstract
Background: With ambitious new UNAIDS targets to end AIDS by 2030, and new WHO
treatment guidelines, there is increased interest in the best way to scale-up ART
coverage. We investigate the cost-effectiveness of various ART scale-up options in
Uganda.
Methods: Individual-based HIV/ART model of Uganda, calibrated using history
matching. ...
Background: With ambitious new UNAIDS targets to end AIDS by 2030, and new WHO
treatment guidelines, there is increased interest in the best way to scale-up ART
coverage. We investigate the cost-effectiveness of various ART scale-up options in
Uganda.
Methods: Individual-based HIV/ART model of Uganda, calibrated using history
matching. 22 ART scale-up strategies were simulated from 2016-2030, comprising
different combinations of six single interventions (1. increased HIV testing rates, 2. no
CD4 threshold for ART initiation, 3. improved ART retention, 4. increased ART restart
rates, 5. improved linkage to care, 6. improved pre-ART care). The incremental net
monetary benefit (NMB) of each intervention was calculated, for a wide range of
different willingness/ability to pay (WTP) per DALY averted (health-service perspective,
3% discount rate).
Results: For all WTP thresholds above $210, interventions including removing the CD4
threshold were likely to be most cost-effective. At a WTP of $715 (1 × per-capita-GDP)
interventions to improve linkage to and retention/re-enrolment in HIV care were highly
likely to be more cost-effective than interventions to increase rates of HIV testing. At
higher WTP (>~$1690), the most cost-effective option was 'Universal Test, Treat, and
Keep' (UTTK), which combines interventions 1-5 detailed above.
Conclusions: Our results support new WHO guidelines to remove the CD4 threshold
for ART initiation in Uganda. With additional resources, this could be supplemented
with interventions aimed at improving linkage to and/or retention in HIV care. To
achieve the greatest reductions in HIV incidence, a UTTK policy should be
implemented.
Mathematics and Statistics
Faculty of Environment, Science and Economy
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