Cost-effectiveness of HIV screening of patients attending clinics for sexually transmitted diseases in Amsterdam.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the cost-effectiveness of universal HIV screening of patients attending a clinic for sexually transmitted diseases (STD) in Amsterdam.


METHODS
Cost effectiveness analysis.


METHODS
A Bernoulli model for the secondary transmission of HIV was linked with epidemiological data on infection with HIV and other STD in patients attending a STD clinic in Amsterdam from 1991 to 1997. This gave estimates of the number of secondary HIV infections caused by attenders of the STD clinic. Combined with data on the health and monetary benefits of averting HIV infection and costs of HIV screening, we assessed the cost-effectiveness of HIV-screening of attenders of the STD clinic.


RESULTS
Increased risk for HIV infection was found in STD clinic attendees infected with other STD. (odds ratio, 2.07). The risk differed for specific STD: the highest odds ratios were found for syphilis and gonorrhoea. Screening of all attendees was estimated at net costs of 82,552 Euro per secondary infection averted. The cost-effectiveness ranges between 680 Euro and 9335 Euro per life-year gained, depending on the value of key parameters used in the model.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared to other interventions in infectious diseases control in the Netherlands, screening of STD clinic attendees for HIV has an acceptable cost-effectiveness.
Bos
J M
JM
Groningen University for Drug Exploration/Groningen Research Institute for Pharmacy GUIDE/GRIP, Groningen, The Netherlands.
Fennema
J S
JS
Postma
M J
MJ
D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics*; D009426:Netherlands; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology