| Equation | (# participants) x (% individuals getting screened solely because of the program) x (# QALY increase) x ($ QALY) |
| Explanation | This metric estimates the impact of H.I.V. screening on lifetime health, estimated in terms of quality-adjusted life years (QALY). Number of individuals screened: Reported by program. Percentage of participants who are screened solely because of the program: In the absence of program-specific data, we use the percent of low-income female and male individuals who are tested for sexually transmitted illnesses in the U.S.A. as a proxy for HIV screening. An estimated 80% of women are tested and 7% of men (Cuffe, et al.,2016).
QALY increase: [0.03]. This estimate is the QALY value for H.I.V. testing in a high-risk population (Muennig, Glied & Simon, 2005). This estimate includes the benefits of improved quality of life and longer survival for the person tested due to timely treatment, as well as the reduction of transmission of H.I.V. to others. $ value per QALY: [$50,000] Benefits are then discounted to present value based on the average age of participation to life expectancy. |
| References | Muennig, P., Glied, S. & Simon, J. (2005). Estimation of the health benefits produced by Robin Hood Foundation grant recipients. New York, NY: Robin Hood. |
HEA016 H.I.V. screening leading to increased quality-adjusted life years (QALY)
