Resources Repository
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ArticlePublication 2024GBD Study 2021 Estimates: Implications for Health Policy & Research
The article discusses findings from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study …
The article discusses findings from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021, published in The Lancet, which presents estimates of disease burden worldwide from 1990 to 2021. Despite an overall increase in global disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized rates have decreased, particularly for communicable diseases like HIV/AIDS and diarrheal diseases. Post-COVID-19 impacts, including long COVID, are highlighted. GBD aids in tracking progress towards global health goals but its iterative nature…
Health Outcomes | Health/Medicine | Global -
ArticlePublication 2023Simulation-Based Comparative Effectiveness Analysis of Policies to Improve Global Maternal Health Outcomes
The Sustainable Development Goals include a target to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) …
The Sustainable Development Goals include a target to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) to less than 70 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030, with no individual country exceeding 140. However, on current trends the goals are unlikely to be met. The authors used an empirically calibrated Global Maternal Health microsimulation model, which simulates individual women in 200 countries and territories to evaluate the impact of different interventions and strategies from 2022…
Health Outcomes | Health/Medicine | Global | Mathematical Models | Microsimulation | Calibration/Validation | Maternal/Reproductive Health | Health Systems | Clinical Care -
ArticlePublication 2023Simulation-Based Estimates and Projections of Global, Regional and Country-Level Maternal Mortality by Cause, 1990-2050
While progress has been made globally to reduce maternal deaths, measurement remains a challenge given …
While progress has been made globally to reduce maternal deaths, measurement remains a challenge given the many causes and frequent underreporting of maternal deaths. The authors developed a structural microsimulation model of Global Maternal Health (GMatH) for 200 countries and territories using demographic, epidemiologic, clinical and health system data synthesized from the medical literature, Civil Registration Vital Statistics systems and Demographic and Health Survey data. The model was calibrated to empirical data from 1990 to…
Health Outcomes | Health/Medicine | Global | Evidence Synthesis | Microsimulation | Calibration/Validation | Maternal/Reproductive Health | Health Systems | Clinical Care -
ReviewPublication 2023Handbook of Vaccine Health Economics
The open-access book, "Handbook of Applied Health Economics in Vaccines," looks at the complexities of …
The open-access book, "Handbook of Applied Health Economics in Vaccines," looks at the complexities of vaccine discovery, financing, and distribution. It highlights the inadequacy of standard economic models for vaccines. The book explores alternative principles challenging market-based approaches and equips readers with tools for assessing costs and benefits through practical exercises. It serves as a comprehensive resource for decision-making in vaccine development and distribution and emphasizes the importance of considering broader perspectives beyond economic efficiency.…
Health Outcomes | Health/Medicine | Global | Costing Methods | Evidence Synthesis | Decision Analysis | Benefit-Cost Analysis | Cost-Effectiveness Analysis | Policy/Regulation | Graduate | Doctoral | Professional -
ArticlePublication 2023Single-Arm Trial Design Estimates Efficacy
Studies to confirm the efficacy of a single HPV vaccine dose, of vaccine durability, and …
Studies to confirm the efficacy of a single HPV vaccine dose, of vaccine durability, and of vaccination modifications are needed, but randomized controlled trials are costly and face logistical and ethical challenges. In this study, the authors demonstrate proof-of-principle that a single-arm design yields valid estimates with similar precision to a randomized controlled trial.
Health Outcomes | Health/Medicine | Global | Infectious Diseases | Maternal/Reproductive Health | Policy/Regulation -
EditorialPublication 2020Waiting for Certainty on COVID-19 Antibody Tests — At What Cost?
This perspective anticipates the availability of serologic antibody testing and considers its potential usefulness in mitigation …
This perspective anticipates the availability of serologic antibody testing and considers its potential usefulness in mitigation policy to reduce COVID-19 transmission. For example: Could we screen for serologic antibodies as a proxy for possible immunity and identify people who could return to the workplace with less severe mitigation measures? The authors acknowledge the uncertainties raised by many policy actors, including the WHO, such as, "Do antibodies confer immunity and, if so, for how long? How accurate is…
Probability/Bayes | Health/Medicine | Global | Test Performance | Technology Assessment | Infectious Diseases | Health Systems | Policy/Regulation | Government/Law | North America -
ArticlePublication 2020Interpreting COVID-19 Test Results: A Bayesian Approach
This article considers the following question with respect to interpreting the results of polymerase chain reaction …
This article considers the following question with respect to interpreting the results of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays from nasal and pharyngeal swabs for COVID-19 to inform clinical decision making: "While a positive result in an acutely ill patient is straightforward, how should physicians interpret negative tests in patients with suspected COVID-19 infection?" Using an assumption of near-perfect specificity of PCR assays for COVID-19, the authors acknowledge the uncertainty of test sensitivity. They consider two clinical scenarios…
Probability/Bayes | Health/Medicine | Global | Test Performance | Infectious Diseases | Science/Technology -
ArticlePublication 2019Cost-Effectiveness of Latent TB Screening before Immigration to Low-Incidence Countries
Despite prospective migrants to countries where the incidence of TB is low receiving TB screening …
Despite prospective migrants to countries where the incidence of TB is low receiving TB screening for active infections, screening for latent TB infection before immigration is rare. The authors used discrete event simulation to evaluate the cost-effectiveness preimmigration latent TB infection screening for migrants to low-incidence countries. They calculated cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained for migrants from countries with different TB incidences. Their analysis when combined with research on sustainability, acceptability, and program implementation can…
Dynamic Simulation | Health/Medicine | Global | Mathematical Models | Cost-Effectiveness Analysis | Infectious Diseases | Government/Law -
ReviewPublication 2018Primary & Secondary Prevention Interventions for Cardiovascular Disease in LMIC's
Motivated by the need for evidence on cardiovascular disease (CVD) interventions offering good value for …
Motivated by the need for evidence on cardiovascular disease (CVD) interventions offering good value for the money, the authors conducted a systematic review, including 50 studies. Included studies were those that reported full economic evaluations of individual and population-based interventions (pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic), for primary and secondary prevention of CVD among adults in LMIC. The majority of the studies were of modelled evaluations, with significant heterogeneity in methods. Most of the economic evaluations evaluated were…
Health Outcomes | Health/Medicine | Global | Costing Methods | Evidence Synthesis | Chronic Disease/Risk