The natural history model of hepatitis C virus infection and the economic evaluation of alpha interferon treatment.

摘要: Interferon (IFN) therapy is used for the treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) disease, but so expensive that it creates controversy as to whether or not effective use limited health care resources. In order make this judgement possible, must be necessary build a comprehensive disease model HCV infection from social perspective. A Markov chain natural history in male patients was developed. Parameters on clinical phase were adopted published reports, those non-clinical estimated data blood donation and mortality rates disease. Then, adding modeling outcome IFN cost-benefit analysis, economically evaluated.Using model, shown (1) chronic (CHC) would beneficial at least Japanese situation, (2) complete response rate most sensitive factor affecting outcome, (3) younger person cured by therapy, greater benefit seen.These results demonstrate case CHC (male). J Epidemiol, 2002 ; 12: 22-32