Expanding antiviral prophylaxis during pregnancy to prevent perinatal hepatitis B virus infection: a cost-effectiveness study

Background Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) cannot be completely prevented by the administration of active-passive immunoprophylaxis in pregnant women with hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA levels <106 copies/mL. This study will assess the economic outcomes of expanding antiviral prophylaxis in pregnant women with HBV DNA levels <106 copies/mL. Methods A decision model was adopted to measure the economic outcomes of expanded antiviral prophylaxis at different cutoff values of HBV DNA in HBsAg(+) pregnant women in the context of the United States and China. The model inputs, including clinical, cost, and utility data, were extracted from published studies. Sensitivity analyses were carried out to examine the uncertainty of the model outputs. Quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and direct medical costs were expressed over a lifetime horizon. Results Compared with standard antiviral prophylaxis at HBV DNA ≥106 copies/mL, expanded antiviral prophylaxis improved the health outcomes, and the incremental cost of expanded antiviral prophylaxis varied from $2063 in pregnant women with HBV DNA ≥105 copies/mL to $14 925 in all HBsAg(+) pregnant women per QALY gained in the United States, and from $1624 to $12 348 in China. The model outcome was considerably influenced by the discount rate, key clinical parameters related to the incidence of MTCT, and efficacy of the prophylaxis strategy. Conclusions This study indicates that antiviral prophylaxis using tenofovir among pregnant women with HBV DNA <106 copies/mL may be a cost-effective option, and the cutoff value of the HBV DNA load for antiviral prophylaxis needs to be tailored.