Pathogens (Mar 2023)
The Global Expansion of LTBI Screening and Treatment Programs: Exploring Gaps in the Supporting Economic Evidence
Abstract
The global burden of latent TB infection (LTBI) and the progression of LTBI to active TB disease are important drivers of ongoing TB incidence. Addressing LTBI through screening and TB preventive treatment (TPT) is critical in order to end the TB epidemic by 2035. Given the limited resources available to health ministries around the world in the fight against TB, we must consider economic evidence for LTBI screening and treatment strategies to ensure that limited resources are used to achieve the biggest health impact. In this narrative review, we explore key economic evidence around LTBI screening and TPT strategies in different populations to summarize our current understanding and highlight gaps in existing knowledge. When considering economic evidence supporting LTBI screening or evaluating different testing approaches, a disproportionate number of economic studies have been conducted in high-income countries (HICs), despite the vast majority of TB burden being borne in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Recent years have seen a temporal shift, with increasing data from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), particularly with regard to targeting high-risk groups for TB prevention. While LTBI screening and prevention programs can come with extensive costs, targeting LTBI screening among high-risk populations, such as people living with HIV (PLHIV), children, household contacts (HHC) and immigrants from high-TB-burden countries, has been shown to consistently improve the cost effectiveness of screening programs. Further, the cost effectiveness of different LTBI screening algorithms and diagnostic approaches varies widely across settings, leading to different national TB screening policies. Novel shortened regimens for TPT have also consistently been shown to be cost effective across a range of settings. These economic evaluations highlight key implementation considerations such as the critical nature of ensuring high rates of adherence and completion, despite the costs associated with adherence programs not being routinely assessed and included. Digital and other adherence support approaches are now being assessed for their utility and cost effectiveness in conjunction with novel shortened TPT regimens, but more economic evidence is needed to understand the potential cost savings, particularly in settings where directly observed preventive therapy (DOPT) is routinely conducted. Despite the growth of the economic evidence base for LTBI screening and TPT recently, there are still significant gaps in the economic evidence around the scale-up and implementation of expanded LTBI screening and treatment programs, particularly among traditionally hard-to-reach populations.
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