LSTM Home > LSTM Research > LSTM Online Archive

The societal burden of airflow obstruction and the potential impact of interventions amongst adults in Malawi.

Njoroge, Martin (2022) The societal burden of airflow obstruction and the potential impact of interventions amongst adults in Malawi., Thesis (Doctoral), Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

[img]
Preview
Text
M Njoroge PhD - Thesis final.pdf - Accepted Version

Download (12MB) | Preview

Abstract

Background
In Malawi previous studies report a high prevalence of abnormal lung function indicative of chronic respiratory disease (CRD) of which asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are the most common. The natural history, health, and economic impact of abnormal lung function in Malawi is largely unknown.
Aims: 1) To estimate the health burden of airflow obstruction in Malawi; 2) To estimate current and future economic burden from a societal perspective of airflow obstruction in Malawi; 3) To estimate the cost-effectiveness of selected interventions for adults with airflow obstruction in Malawi.
Methods
We followed-up a cohort of 1481 adults recruited in 2014 and quantified their respiratory symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and lung function spirometry. We conducted an economic study using patient health resource use and costs data obtained from
three cohort studies in southern Malawi and health provider input and costs obtained from one of these studies and a bespoke costing study at a chest clinic. We evaluated the cost effectiveness of the use of anticipatory ‘emergency packs’ of antibiotics and corticosteroids at home for COPD and inhaled beclomethasone and salbutamol for asthma using a Markov model.
Results
Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) declined by 53·4 ml/year (95% CI: 49.0, 57.8) and forced vital capacity (FVC) by 45.2 ml/year (95% CI: 39.2, 50.5). Chronic airflow obstruction increased from 9.5% (7.6%, 11.6%) in 2014 to 17.5% (15.3%, 19.9%) in 2019. Rate
of FEV1 decline was not associated with diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, or spirometry consistent with asthma, COPD, or restriction. HRQoL was adversely associated with respiratory symptoms (dyspnoea, wheeze, cough), previous tuberculosis and declining FEV1. These differences exceeded the minimal important difference. Annual cost for an asthma patient is US$ 108.25 (95% CI: 86.68, 131.75) and for COPD US$ 143.39(95% CI: 123.61, 165.11), most of these costs being for hospital treatment of exacerbation. Guideline defined needs for 74.1% of those with asthma and 77.3% of those with COPD were unmet. The COPD intervention dominated usual care in the people with mild COPD while the ICERs were US$ 72, US$ 102, and US$ 242 in people with mild asthma, moderate/severe asthma, and moderate/severe COPD respectively. The asthma intervention resulted in a life-years gain of 1.62 years in those with mild asthma and 1.29 years in those with moderate/severe asthma while the COPD intervention resulted in a life-years gain of 3.49 years in those mild COPD and 3.90 years in those moderate/severe COPD.
Implications
The high prevalence of COPD in Malawi adversely affects the quality of life and is, in part, a consequence of accelerated lung function decline. The evidence justifies the implementation of sustainable initiatives for widespread diagnosis and adoption of cost-effective CRD interventions such as antibiotics and corticosteroids at home for COPD and inhaled be clomethasone and salbutamol for asthma.

Item Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Subjects: WA Public Health > WA 30 Socioeconomic factors in public health (General)
WA Public Health > Air pollution > WA 754 Pollution and pollutants (incl. tobacco pollution; passive smoking)
WF Respiratory System > WF 140 Diseases of the respiratory system (General)
WF Respiratory System > WF 20 Research (General)
Repository link:
Item titleItem URI
Cohort profile: The Chikwawa lung health cohort; a population-based observational non-communicable respiratory disease study of adults in Malawihttps://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/16356
Changing lung function and associated health-related quality-of-life: A five-year cohort study of Malawian adultshttps://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/19212
Faculty: Department: Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department
Depositing User: Lynn Roberts-Maloney
Date Deposited: 20 Sep 2022 10:43
Last Modified: 31 Dec 2022 02:02
URI: https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/21173

Statistics

View details

Actions (login required)

Edit Item Edit Item