Benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective
Abstract Background The aim of this study is to quantify the health benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective in Germany. Methods The analysis is based on a modelling approach using secondary data. The clinical endpoints considered in this analysis...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-01-01
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| Series: | BMC Health Services Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07277-4 |
| _version_ | 1818753808085286912 |
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| author | Afschin Gandjour |
| author_facet | Afschin Gandjour |
| author_sort | Afschin Gandjour |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The aim of this study is to quantify the health benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective in Germany. Methods The analysis is based on a modelling approach using secondary data. The clinical endpoints considered in this analysis are avoided SARS-CoV-2 infections and secondary severe clinical events (death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and long COVID syndrome). The study determines the number of self-tests that need to be conducted under a 7-day incidence of 75 per 100,000 population to prevent one infection or severe clinical event. Furthermore, the study calculates the cost of testing per avoided clinical event and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained from a consumer perspective. Results Disregarding the rate of unreported COVID-19 cases, 4556 self-tests need to be conducted (over 12 years) in order to avoid one undesirable event (death, intensive care unit stay, or long COVID syndrome). Ninety percent of infections are not avoided among direct contacts but along the chain of infection. The costs per quality-adjusted life year gained from a consumer’s perspective are €5870. This ratio is particularly sensitive to the 7-day incidence, effective reproduction number, and the age of contacts. Conclusions The benefits of self-testing in the general population at a 7-day incidence rate of 75 per 100,000 appear to be minor. Nevertheless, cost-effectiveness may still be acceptable in the presence of higher-risk contacts given the low costs of self-test kits in Germany. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T05:13:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d5e80d796d5a4792a9febb544159b9b7 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6963 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T05:13:14Z |
| publishDate | 2022-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Health Services Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-d5e80d796d5a4792a9febb544159b9b72022-12-21T21:19:50ZengBMCBMC Health Services Research1472-69632022-01-012211810.1186/s12913-021-07277-4Benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspectiveAfschin Gandjour0Frankfurt School of Finance & ManagementAbstract Background The aim of this study is to quantify the health benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective in Germany. Methods The analysis is based on a modelling approach using secondary data. The clinical endpoints considered in this analysis are avoided SARS-CoV-2 infections and secondary severe clinical events (death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, and long COVID syndrome). The study determines the number of self-tests that need to be conducted under a 7-day incidence of 75 per 100,000 population to prevent one infection or severe clinical event. Furthermore, the study calculates the cost of testing per avoided clinical event and quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained from a consumer perspective. Results Disregarding the rate of unreported COVID-19 cases, 4556 self-tests need to be conducted (over 12 years) in order to avoid one undesirable event (death, intensive care unit stay, or long COVID syndrome). Ninety percent of infections are not avoided among direct contacts but along the chain of infection. The costs per quality-adjusted life year gained from a consumer’s perspective are €5870. This ratio is particularly sensitive to the 7-day incidence, effective reproduction number, and the age of contacts. Conclusions The benefits of self-testing in the general population at a 7-day incidence rate of 75 per 100,000 appear to be minor. Nevertheless, cost-effectiveness may still be acceptable in the presence of higher-risk contacts given the low costs of self-test kits in Germany.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07277-4COVID-19Self-testCost-effectiveness |
| spellingShingle | Afschin Gandjour Benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective BMC Health Services Research COVID-19 Self-test Cost-effectiveness |
| title | Benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective |
| title_full | Benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective |
| title_fullStr | Benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective |
| title_short | Benefits, risks, and cost-effectiveness of COVID-19 self-tests from a consumer’s perspective |
| title_sort | benefits risks and cost effectiveness of covid 19 self tests from a consumer s perspective |
| topic | COVID-19 Self-test Cost-effectiveness |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-021-07277-4 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT afschingandjour benefitsrisksandcosteffectivenessofcovid19selftestsfromaconsumersperspective |