TY - JOUR
T1 - Economic analysis of influenza vaccination and antiviral treatment for healthy working adults
AU - Lee, Patrick Y.
AU - Matchar, David B.
AU - Clements, Dennis A.
AU - Huber, Joel
AU - Hamilton, John D.
AU - Peterson, Eric D.
PY - 2002/8/20
Y1 - 2002/8/20
N2 - Background: Physicians have several treatment options for influenza, including vaccination and various antiviral therapies. However, the optimal influenza prevention and treatment strategy is unknown. Objective: To compare the relative health values of contemporary treatment strategies for influenza in a healthy sample of working adults. Design: Cost-benefit analysis using a decision model. Data Sources: Previously published data. Target Population: Healthy employed adults 18 to 50 years of age. Time Horizon: A complete influenza season. Perspective: Societal. Interventions: Eight treatment options (yes or no) based on the possible combinations of vaccination and antiviral therapy (rimantadine, oseltamivir, or zanamivir or no treatment) should infection develop. Outcome Measures: Cost in U.S. dollars, including the value of symptom relief and medication side effects, which was assigned a monetary value through a conjoint analysis that used a "willingness-to-pay" approach. Results: In the base-case analysis, all strategies for influenza vaccination had a higher net benefit than the nonvaccination strategies. Vaccination and use of rimantadine, the most cost-beneficial strategy, was $30.97 more cost-beneficial than nonvaccination and no use of antiviral medication. The health benefits of most antiviral treatments equaled or exceeded their costs for most scenarios. The choice of the most cost-beneficial antiviral strategy was sensitive to the prevalence of influenza B and to the comparative workdays gained by each antiviral therapy. Conclusions: Vaccination is cost-beneficial in most influenza seasons in healthy working adults. Although the benefits of antiviral therapy for persons with influenza infection appear to justify its cost, head-to-head trials of the various antiviral therapies are needed to determine the optimal treatment strategy.
AB - Background: Physicians have several treatment options for influenza, including vaccination and various antiviral therapies. However, the optimal influenza prevention and treatment strategy is unknown. Objective: To compare the relative health values of contemporary treatment strategies for influenza in a healthy sample of working adults. Design: Cost-benefit analysis using a decision model. Data Sources: Previously published data. Target Population: Healthy employed adults 18 to 50 years of age. Time Horizon: A complete influenza season. Perspective: Societal. Interventions: Eight treatment options (yes or no) based on the possible combinations of vaccination and antiviral therapy (rimantadine, oseltamivir, or zanamivir or no treatment) should infection develop. Outcome Measures: Cost in U.S. dollars, including the value of symptom relief and medication side effects, which was assigned a monetary value through a conjoint analysis that used a "willingness-to-pay" approach. Results: In the base-case analysis, all strategies for influenza vaccination had a higher net benefit than the nonvaccination strategies. Vaccination and use of rimantadine, the most cost-beneficial strategy, was $30.97 more cost-beneficial than nonvaccination and no use of antiviral medication. The health benefits of most antiviral treatments equaled or exceeded their costs for most scenarios. The choice of the most cost-beneficial antiviral strategy was sensitive to the prevalence of influenza B and to the comparative workdays gained by each antiviral therapy. Conclusions: Vaccination is cost-beneficial in most influenza seasons in healthy working adults. Although the benefits of antiviral therapy for persons with influenza infection appear to justify its cost, head-to-head trials of the various antiviral therapies are needed to determine the optimal treatment strategy.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037143533&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037143533&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.7326/0003-4819-137-4-200208200-00005
DO - 10.7326/0003-4819-137-4-200208200-00005
M3 - Article
C2 - 12186512
AN - SCOPUS:0037143533
SN - 0003-4819
VL - 137
SP - 225
EP - 231
JO - Annals of internal medicine
JF - Annals of internal medicine
IS - 4
ER -