Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40029874›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Economic evaluation of diagnostic tests for Thai patients with tuberculosis: A dynamic transmission model approach.

Natthakan Chitpim, Naiyana Praditsitthikorn, Lisa J White, Aronrag Meeyai, Jiraphun Jittikoon, Kornkanok Bunwong, Sitaporn Youngkong, Montarat Thavorncharoensap, Surakameth Mahasirimongkol, Wanvisa Udomsinprasert and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Natthakan ChitpimSocial, Economic and Administrative Pharmacy (SEAP) Graduate Program, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0008-7288-6046
Naiyana PraditsitthikornDepartment of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1739-3552
Lisa J WhiteDepartment of Biology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Aronrag MeeyaiCentre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom.
Jiraphun JittikoonDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4987-3497
Kornkanok BunwongDepartment of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Sitaporn YoungkongSocial Administrative Pharmacy Division, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Montarat ThavorncharoensapSocial Administrative Pharmacy Division, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Surakameth MahasirimongkolInformation and Communication Technology Center, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Wanvisa UdomsinprasertDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
Usa ChaikledkaewSocial Administrative Pharmacy Division, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9457-9823

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Conventional tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis is time-consuming, while newer molecular assays such as Xpert MTB/RIF and loop-mediated amplification test for TB (TB-LAMP) provide faster results but at a higher cost compared to sputum smear microscopy (SSM) with culture and drug susceptibility testing (DST) in Thailand. This study assessed the cost-utility of TB diagnostic algorithms as either initial or add-on tests from a societal perspective for TB diagnosis in the general Thai population. A dynamic transmission model was employed to evaluate five TB diagnostic algorithms over a 15-year period. Costs were calculated in 2023 Thai Baht, with results presented as incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) compared to SSM with culture and DST. One-way and probability sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess parameter uncertainty. Compared to SSM with culture and DST, the ICER values (Baht per QALY gained) of TB-LAMP Add-On (3,563), Xpert MTB/RIF Add-On (3,670), and TB-LAMP Initial (6,429) indicated that these algorithms were cost-effective, while Xpert MTB/RIF Initial emerged as a cost-saving option. One-way sensitivity analysis results revealed that the utility of the first-line treatment exhibited the highest variability in ICERs, followed by the unit cost of Xpert MTB/RIF. The results supported the adoption of Xpert MTB/RIF as an initial test for the general Thai population. These findings provide evidence for policymakers to integrate molecular testing into Thailand's Universal Coverage Scheme benefit package, aligning with national TB strategies to reduce TB incidence and mortality.

Indexed as

Diagnostic Tests, RoutineTuberculosisAlgorithmsCost-Benefit AnalysisHumansModels, EconomicMycobacterium tuberculosisSoutheast Asian PeopleSputumThailand

Identifiers

PMID40029874
PMCPMC11875360

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.