title: Cost-effectiveness estimates for antenatal HIV testing in the Netherlands.
abstract: This paper provides an estimation of the lifetime health-care cost of HIV-infected children and an update of the cost-effectiveness of universal HIV-screening of pregnant women in Amsterdam (The Netherlands). During 2003-2005, we collected data concerning the prevalence of newly diagnosed HIV-infected pregnant women in Amsterdam. Also, data on resource utilization and HAART regimen for HIV-infected children was gathered from a national registry. Using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, we estimated the life-expectancy of a vertically HIV-infected child at 19 years, with the corresponding lifetime health-care costs of 179,974 Euros. HIV-screening of pregnant women could prevent 2.4 HIV transmissions annually in Amsterdam, based on an estimated prevalence of nine yet undiagnosed HIV-positive pregnant women per 10,000 pregnancies. We show that universal HIV screening during pregnancy generates significant net cost savings and health benefits in most situations. Universal antenatal HIV screening is justified in Amsterdam from a health-economic point of view.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rozenbaum
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Verweel
authors.forename: D K F
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Folkerts
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dronkers
authors.forename: J A R
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: van den Hoek
authors.forename: N G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Hartwig
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Postma
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis / Q000191:economics*; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000191:economics; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics*; D009426:Netherlands; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years