Model-based Cost-effectiveness of State-level Latent Tuberculosis Interventions in California, Florida, New York, and Texas

Background: Targeted testing and treatment (TTT) for latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) is a recommended strategy to accelerate TB reductions and further TB elimination in the United States. Evidence on cost-effectiveness of TTT for key populations can help advance this goal.

Methods: We used a model of TB transmission to estimate the numbers of individuals who could be tested by interferon-γ release assay and treated for LTBI with 3 months of self-administered rifapentine and isoniazid (3HP) under various TTT scenarios. Specifically, we considered rapidly scaling up TTT among people who are non-US-born, diabetic, living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), homeless or incarcerated in California, Florida, New York, and Texas-states where more than half of US TB cases occur. We projected costs (from the healthcare system perspective, in 2018 dollars), 30-year reductions in TB incidence, and incremental cost-effectiveness (cost per quality-adjusted life-year [QALY] gained) for TTT in each modeled population.

Results: The projected cost-effectiveness of TTT differed substantially by state and population, while the health impact (number of TB cases averted) was consistently greatest among non-US-born individuals. TTT was most cost-effective among persons with HIV (from $2828/QALY gained in Florida to $11 265/QALY gained in New York) and least cost-effective among people with diabetes (from $223 041/QALY gained in California to $817 753/QALY in New York).

Conclusions: The modeled cost-effectiveness of TTT for LTBI varies across states but was consistently greatest among people with HIV; moderate among people who are non-US-born, incarcerated, or homeless; and least cost-effective among people with diabetes.