BACKGROUND: A surge in mobile phone availability has fueled low cost @entity851 ( @entity851 ) adherence interventions. Multiple systematic reviews have concluded that some @entity851 -based interventions are effective at improving antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence, and they are hypothesized to improve retention in care. The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of @entity851 -based adherence interventions and explore the added value of retention benefits. METHODS: We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of weekly @entity851 interventions compared to standard care among @entity16090 + individuals initiating ART for the first time in Kenya. We used an individual level micro-simulation model populated with data from two @entity851 -intervention trials, an East-African @entity16090 + cohort and published literature. We estimated average quality adjusted life years (QALY) and lifetime @entity16090 -related costs from a healthcare perspective. We explored a wide range of scenarios and assumptions in one-way and multivariate sensitivity analyses. RESULTS: We found that @entity851 -based adherence interventions were cost-effective by WHO standards, with an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of  1,037/QALY. In the secondary analysis, potential retention benefits improved the cost-effectiveness of @entity851 intervention (ICER= 864/QALY). In multivariate sensitivity analyses, the interventions remained cost-effective in most analyses, but the ICER was highly sensitive to intervention costs, effectiveness and average cohort @entity404 count at ART initiation. @entity851 interventions remained cost-effective in a test and treat scenario where individuals were assumed to initiate ART upon @entity16090 detection. CONCLUSIONS: Effective @entity851 interventions would likely increase the efficiency of ART programs by improving @entity16090 treatment outcomes at relatively low costs, and they could facilitate achievement of the UNAIDS goal of 90% viral suppression among those on ART by 2020.

Economic evaluation of mobile phone text message interventions to improve adherence to XXXX therapy in Kenya.

@entity16090 :: ('11709', 'Species') :: ['HIV'] @entity851 :: ('MESH:D006130', 'Disease') :: ['SMS', 'short messaging service'] @entity404 :: ('920', 'Gene') :: ['CD4']
@entity16090 :: (11709,Species) :: ['HIV']
