title: Potential cost-effectiveness of a rotavirus immunization program in rural China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the incidence and economic burden of rotavirus diarrhea and the potential cost-effectiveness of a rotavirus immunization program in rural Zhengding County in Hebei Province, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based surveillance was conducted during the peak season for diarrhea among children who were <5 years of age in Zhengding County from 14 October 2004 through 19 January 2005. The cost of illness was measured from the perspectives of both patient and society. A decision-analytic model was applied to the cost-effectiveness analysis using real data derived from surveillance and from a cost-of-illness study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the surveillance period, 500 episodes of diarrhea were registered. Of these 500 episodes, 125 (25%) occurred in patients who were positive for rotavirus. Of these 125 episodes, 63 (50%) occurred in patients who were hospitalized. The overall incidence rate of rotavirus infection was 61.4 cases per 1000 children per year during the 14-week epidemic season. For a Chinese cohort of 5000 newborns, a universal rotavirus immunization program would prevent 1764 cases of rotavirus diarrhea, averting 882 hospitalizations of patients <or=5 years of age. At 2004 prices, the net savings due to the immunization program would be US$14,112 from a societal perspective and US$34,751 from a patient perspective.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rotavirus was a leading cause of severe diarrhea among children <5 years of age and an economic burden for farmers in rural Zhengding County. Rotavirus vaccination should be considered as a potential cost-effective measure against rotavirus infection in China.
authors.affiliation: Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xuan-Yi
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Arthorn
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riewpaiboon
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: von Seidlein
authors.forename: Xing-Bao
authors.initials: XB
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Kilgore
authors.forename: Jing-Chen
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Sun-Xiang
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Yong
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Ji-Chao
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhi-Yi
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics*; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012400:Rotavirus Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines / Q000191:economics* / Q000276:immunology*; D012424:Rural Population
chemical_list: D022243:Rotavirus Vaccines