Lin, Y.-J.Y.-J.LinLin, H.-C.H.-C.LinYang, Y.-F.Y.-F.YangChen, C.-Y.C.-Y.ChenLu, T.-H.T.-H.LuCHUNG-MIN LIAO2020-12-252020-12-252020https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85086663225&partnerID=40&md5=50b95f6d53883e14971071bd36d1f61ehttps://scholars.lib.ntu.edu.tw/handle/123456789/533280Objectives: To assess the potential epidemiological impact and cost-effectiveness of shorter antibiotic regimens in high tuberculosis (TB) burden regions of Taiwan. Methods: This study combined the TB population dynamic model and cost-effectiveness analysis with local data to simulate the disease burdens, effectiveness and costs of hypothetical 4-month, 2-month and 7-day regimens compared with the standard regimen. Results: The main outcomes were the potential of shorter regimens for averted incidence, mortality and disability-adjusted life years, incremental cost-effectiveness ratio and net monetary benefit. Shorter regimens would lower incidence rates and mortality cases in a high TB burden region by an average of 19–33% and 27–41%, respectively, with the potential for cost-effectiveness or cost-saving. The 2-month and 7-day regimens would be more cost-effective than the 4-month regimen. The threshold daily drug prices for achieving cost-effectiveness and cost-saving for 4-month, 2-month and 7-day regimens were $US1, $US2 and $US70, respectively. Such cost-effectiveness would remain, even if the willingness-to-pay threshold was less than one gross domestic product per capita. Conclusions: The findings support the inclusion of shorter regimens in global guidelines and regional-scale TB control strategies, which would improve disease control, particularly in settings with high rates of incidence and poor treatment outcomes. ? 2020 The Authors[SDGs]SDG3tuberculostatic agent; tuberculostatic agent; antibiotic therapy; Article; comparative study; cost effectiveness analysis; disability-adjusted life year; disease burden; epidemiological monitoring; gross national product; human; incidence; infection control; mortality; Taiwan; treatment duration; tuberculosis; cost benefit analysis; cost of illness; drug administration; quality adjusted life year; time factor; treatment outcome; tuberculosis; Antitubercular Agents; Cost of Illness; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Drug Administration Schedule; Humans; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Taiwan; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Tuberculosisjournal article10.1016/j.ijid.2020.05.082324742032-s2.0-85086663225WOS:000552696000025