Portfolios of biomedical HIV interventions in South Africa: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

backgroundRecent clinical trials of male circumcision, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and a vaginal microbicide gel have shown partial effectiveness at reducing HIV transmission, stimulating interest in implementing portfolios of biomedical prevention programs.

objectiveTo evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of combination biomedical HIV prevention and treatment scale-up in South Africa, given uncertainty in program effectiveness.

designDynamic HIV transmission and disease progression model with Monte Carlo simulation and cost-effectiveness analysis.

participantsMen and women aged 15 to 49 years in South Africa.

interventionsHIV screening and counseling, antiretroviral therapy (ART), male circumcision, PrEP, microbicide, and select combinations. MAIN MEASURES: HIV incidence, prevalence, discounted costs, discounted quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios. KEY

resultsProviding half of all uninfected persons with PrEP averts 28 % of future HIV infections for $9,000/QALY gained, but the affordability of such a program is questionable. Given limited resources, annual HIV screening and ART utilization by 75 % of eligible infected persons could avert one-third of new HIV infections, for approximately $1,000/QALY gained. Male circumcision is more cost-effective, but disproportionately benefits men. A comprehensive portfolio of expanded screening, ART, male circumcision, microbicides, and PrEP could avert 62 % of new HIV infections, reducing HIV prevalence from a projected 14 % to 10 % after 10 years. This strategy doubles treatment initiation and adds 31 million QALYs to the population. Despite uncertainty in program effectiveness, a comprehensive portfolio costs less than $10,000/QALY gained in 33 % of simulation iterations and less than $30,000/QALY gained in 90 % of iterations, assuming an annual microbicide cost of $100.

conclusionsA portfolio of modestly-effective biomedical HIV prevention programs, including male circumcision, vaginal microbicides, and oral PrEP, could substantially reduce HIV incidence and prevalence in South Africa and be likely cost-effective. Given limited resources, PrEP is the least cost-effective intervention of those considered.