title: A cost-consequence analysis of hepatitis B screening in an immigrant population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Screening for HBV among groups at risk, such as migrant populations, has proved to be a cost-effective strategy. With a view to advising local policy-makers, the cost-consequences of HBV screening was assessed using a modeling approach.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cost-consequence analysis of an HBV screening strategy was conducted in a cohort of adult migrants in the province of Padua, northern Italy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The population targeted for screening consisted of 65 405 migrants, among whom the weighted rate for the prevalence of HBV was 0.04972, with 3251 people infected. Over a period of 5 years, the screening strategy prevented 565 cases/year of chronic hepatitis, 141 of compensated cirrhosis, 9 of decompensated cirrhosis, 14 hepatocellular carcinomas and 12 deaths. The above data revealed that the incremental cost of the screening strategy compared to no screening strategy was € 7 974 959 over the five year period. The cost per life saved amounted to € 676 709.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study provides useful information to policy-makers at local and regional levels.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Buja
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Gastroenterologia, ASL 16 Ospedale Generale, Regione Veneto, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Martines
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Gastroenterologia, ASL 16 Ospedale Generale, Regione Veneto, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lobello
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vinelli
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bardelle
authors.affiliation: Pharmacist, freelance economic consultant.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lopatriello
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Lazzari
authors.affiliation: Clinical Research and Innovation Direction, Léon Bérard Cancer Centre, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Lionel
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perrier
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare, Università degli Studi di Padova, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baldo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics; D015995:Prevalence; D014611:Vaccination