title: The cost-effectiveness of DOTS in urban Brazil.
abstract: METHODS
  Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is a middle-income setting with an estimated 1% adult human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To examine the cost-effectiveness of DOTS in Rio de Janeiro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cost-effectiveness analysis based on cost data and an epidemiological model based on programmatic outcomes from the Health Department in Rio de Janeiro, cost data from the retail market sector and epidemiological data from published studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 10-year cost of a tuberculosis program treating a population of 262 000 based on self-administered therapy (SAT) was estimated to be $580 271 compared to $1047 886 for DOTS. The largest portion of the DOTS budget was for staff costs and costs incurred by patients, both at 28%. For SAT, the largest percentage of the budget was allocated to medication costs, at 34%. Upgrading from SAT to DOTS averted 1558 cases of tuberculosis (TB, uncertainty range [UR] 1418-1704) and 143 TB deaths (UR 131-155). The incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) for DOTS was $300 per case averted (UR $289-$312) and $3270 per death averted (UR $3123-$3435). In terms of disability adjusted life years (DALYs), DOTS saved 5426 DALYs (UR 4908-5961). The ICER for DOTS was $86 per DALY saved (UR $74-$100).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  DOTS is a highly cost-effective intervention in Brazil.
authors.affiliation: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA. mohanci@yahoo.com
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Mohan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bishai
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Chaisson
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents