Economic evaluation of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate prophylaxis to prevent mother-to-child transmission of Hepatitis B virus infection: evidence from a lower-middle income country

BMC Health Serv Res. 2024 Dec 28;24(1):1658. doi: 10.1186/s12913-024-12152-z.

Abstract

No cost-effectiveness information of preventive strategies for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) has existed for policy decision making. This study aimed to compare the cost-effectiveness of alternative strategies to prevent MTCT of HBV in Vietnam. Cost-utility analysis using a hybrid decision-tree and Markov model were performed from healthcare system and societal perspectives. Preventive strategies included HBV universal vaccination (S1), hepatitis B immunoglobulin (HBIG) for infants of mothers with HBeAg( +) (S2), HBIG for infants of mothers with HBsAg( +) (S3), tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) for mothers with high viral load (S4) and mothers with HBeAg( +) (S5), and the current practice (S6) with HBV vaccine in all infants and TDF for high viral load mothers. The current practice was dominant to all preventive strategies with interventions in only infants for both perspectives. In contrast, the strategies S4 and S5 were dominant to the current practice with incremental net monetary benefit varying from $33.94 to $70.64 under a healthcare system perspective and from $44.22 to $93.71 under a societal perspective. Addition of HBIG in infants born to mothers infected HBV and tenofovir prophylaxis for mothers with positive HBeAg was the most cost-effective strategy to prevent vertical transmission of HBV in Vietnam.

Keywords: Economic evaluation; Hepatitis B; Mother-to-child transmission; Preventive strategies; Vietnam.

MeSH terms

  • Antiviral Agents / economics
  • Antiviral Agents / therapeutic use
  • Cost-Benefit Analysis*
  • Decision Trees
  • Developing Countries
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / administration & dosage
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / economics
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines / therapeutic use
  • Hepatitis B* / prevention & control
  • Hepatitis B* / transmission
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulins / economics
  • Immunoglobulins / therapeutic use
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical* / economics
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical* / prevention & control
  • Markov Chains
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control
  • Tenofovir* / economics
  • Tenofovir* / therapeutic use
  • Vietnam
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Tenofovir
  • Antiviral Agents
  • Hepatitis B Vaccines
  • Immunoglobulins