Bach Xuan Tran1, Long Thanh Nguyen2. 1. Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Viet Nam; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: bach@hmu.edu.vn. 2. Authority of HIV/AIDS Control, Ministry of Health, Hanoi, Viet Nam.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study assessed the impact of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) on health utility, health care service utilization, and out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure in drug users with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. METHODS: Using the 2012 Vietnam HIV Service Users Survey data, a post-evaluation was designed to compare 121 MMT patients with 347 non-MMT patients who were matched using propensity scores of MMT covariates. Health utility was measured using the EuroQOL - five dimensions - five levels (EQ-5D-5L) and a visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). RESULTS: The mean EQ-5D-5L single index and EQ-VAS score of MMT patients were 0.68 (95% CI=0.64-0.73) and 71.5% (95% CI=68.2-74.9). Compared with the control group, the adjusted differences in health utility were 0.08 and 4.43% (p=0.07), equivalent to 12.1% and 6.5% increases during MMT. There was a 45.9% decrease in the frequency of health care service utilization that was attributable to MMT. Although, antiretroviral treatment and MMT services were free-of-charge, MMT and non-MMT patients still paid their OOP for health care for averagely US$ 16.3/month and US$ 28.9/month. The adjusted difference between the two groups was US$ 19.3/month ($ 231.6/year) that equivalents to a reduction of 66.7% in OOP health expenditure related to MMT. CONCLUSION: MMT was associated with a clinically important difference in health utility, large reductions in health care service utilization and OOP health expenditure in HIV-positive drug users. Scaling up MMT in large drug-using population could help improve the outcomes of HIV/AIDS interventions and reduce economic vulnerability of affected households.
BACKGROUND: This study assessed the impact of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) on health utility, health care service utilization, and out-of-pocket (OOP) health expenditure in drug users with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam. METHODS: Using the 2012 Vietnam HIV Service Users Survey data, a post-evaluation was designed to compare 121 MMTpatients with 347 non-MMTpatients who were matched using propensity scores of MMT covariates. Health utility was measured using the EuroQOL - five dimensions - five levels (EQ-5D-5L) and a visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). RESULTS: The mean EQ-5D-5L single index and EQ-VAS score of MMTpatients were 0.68 (95% CI=0.64-0.73) and 71.5% (95% CI=68.2-74.9). Compared with the control group, the adjusted differences in health utility were 0.08 and 4.43% (p=0.07), equivalent to 12.1% and 6.5% increases during MMT. There was a 45.9% decrease in the frequency of health care service utilization that was attributable to MMT. Although, antiretroviral treatment and MMT services were free-of-charge, MMT and non-MMTpatients still paid their OOP for health care for averagely US$ 16.3/month and US$ 28.9/month. The adjusted difference between the two groups was US$ 19.3/month ($ 231.6/year) that equivalents to a reduction of 66.7% in OOP health expenditure related to MMT. CONCLUSION:MMT was associated with a clinically important difference in health utility, large reductions in health care service utilization and OOP health expenditure in HIV-positive drug users. Scaling up MMT in large drug-using population could help improve the outcomes of HIV/AIDS interventions and reduce economic vulnerability of affected households.
Authors: Semvua B Kilonzo; Daniel W Gunda; David C Majinge; Hyasinta Jaka; Paulina M Manyiri; Fredrick Kalokola; Grahame Mtui; Elichilia R Shao; Fatma A Bakshi; Alex Stephano Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2021-07-21 Impact factor: 3.090