title: Cost-effectiveness of the introduction of the pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine in elderly Colombian population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Streptococcus pneumoniae causes community-acquired pneumonia, otitis media and meningitis, with higher incidences at the extremes of life. PPV-23 vaccine is widely used in prevention of pneumonia and invasive pneumococcal disease in older adults in developed countries. We developed an evaluation of cost-effectiveness of implementing PPV-23 in Colombian population over 60 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  The number of cases of pneumonia and meningitis in patients over 60 years and the proportion by S. pneumoniae was estimated based on a review of literature. A decision tree model with a 5-year time horizon was built to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of the implementation of the PPV-23 in this population. Direct health care costs of out- and in-patients were calculated based on expenditure records from the Bogota public health system. Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios per life saved and per year of life gained were estimated based on the decision tree model. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Without vaccination 4460 (range 2384-8162) bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonias and 141 (range 73-183) pneumococcal meningitis would occur among people over 60 years old in Colombia. In the first year, vaccination with PPV-23 at US$8/dose would save 480 (range 100-1753) deaths due to Invasive and non-invasive pneumococcal disease. Vaccination would results in US$3400/deaths averted (range US$1028-10,862) and US$1514/life years gained (range US$408-5404).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vaccination with PPV-23 in over 60 years is a highly cost-effective public health measure in Colombia. Despite some limitations, the results are robust, and may help developing countries to perform informed decisions about the introduction of the vaccine.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Public Health Evaluation Group, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 30 # 45-03, Office 150, Bogotá D.C., Colombia. cacastanedao@unal.edu.co
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castañeda-Orjuela
authors.forename: Nelson
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alvis-Guzmán
authors.forename: Angel José
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Paternina
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De la Hoz-Restrepo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003105:Colombia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics* / Q000276:immunology; D018410:Pneumonia, Bacterial / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: C414006:23-valent pneumococcal capsular polysaccharide vaccine; D022242:Pneumococcal Vaccines