Lymphatic filariasis and onchocerciasis prevention, treatment, and control costs across diverse settings: a systematic review.
The control and eventual elimination of neglected tropical disease (NTD) requires the expansion of interventions such as mass drug administration (MDA), vector control, diagnostic testing, and effective treatment. The purpose of this paper is to present the evidence base for decision-makers on the cost and cost-effectiveness of lymphatic filariasis (LF) and onchocerciasis prevention, treatment, and control. A systematic review of the published literature was conducted. All studies that contained primary or secondary data on costs or cost-effectiveness of prevention and control were considered. A total of 52 papers were included for LF and 24 papers were included for onchocerciasis. Large research gaps exist on the synergies and cost of integrating NTD prevention and control programs, as well as research on the role of health information systems, human resource systems, service delivery, and essential medicines and technology for elimination. The literature available on costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions is also generally older, extremely focal geographically and of limited usefulness for developing estimates of the global economic burden of these diseases and prioritizing among various intervention options. Up to date information on the costs and cost-effectiveness of interventions for LF and onchocerciasis prevention are needed given the vastly expanded funding base for the control and elimination of these diseases.
Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States; Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States. Electronic address: jkeating@tulane.edu.
Joseph
J
Keating
Center for Applied Malaria Research and Evaluation, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States; Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States. Electronic address: jyukich@tulane.edu.
Joshua O
JO
Yukich
Department of Global Health Systems and Development, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal Street, Suite 2200, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States. Electronic address: smollenk@tulane.edu.
Sarah
S
Mollenkopf
Department of Public Health and Epidemiology, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socinstrasse 57, 4001 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland; Centre for Research on Health and Social Care Management (CERGAS), Università Bocconi, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: fabrizio.tediosi@unibas.ch.
Fabrizio
F
Tediosi
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004605:Elephantiasis, Filarial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007300:Insect Control / Q000191:economics*; D009855:Onchocerciasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control*
Control; Cost; Lymphatic filariasis; Onchocerciasis; Treatment