An evaluation of 6-month versus continuous isoniazid preventive therapy for M. tuberculosis in adults living with HIV/AIDS in Malawi.

BACKGROUND: To assist the Malawi Ministry of Health to evaluate two competing strategies for scale-up of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) among HIV-positive adults receiving ART. SETTING: Malawi. METHODS: We used a multi-district, compartmental model of the Malawi TB/HIV epidemic to compare the anticipated health impacts of 6-month versus continuous IPT programs over a 12-year horizon, while respecting a US$10.8 million constraint on drug costs in the first three years. RESULTS: The 6-month IPT program could be implemented nationwide while the continuous IPT alternative could be introduced in 14 (out of 27) districts. By the end of year 12, the continuous IPT strategy was predicted to avert more TB cases than the 6-month alternative, although not statistically significantly (2368 additional cases averted; 95%PI, -1459, 5023). The 6-month strategy required fewer person-years of IPT to avert a case of TB or death than the continuous strategy. For both programs, the mean reductions in TB incidence among PLHIV by year 12 were expected to be <10%, and the cumulative numbers of IPT-related hepatotoxicity to exceed the number of all-cause deaths averted in the first three years. CONCLUSION: With the given budgetary constraint, nationwide implementation of 6-month IPT would be more efficient and yield comparable health benefits than implementing continuous IPT program in fewer districts. The anticipated health effects associated with both IPT strategies suggested a combination of different TB intervention strategies would likely be required to yield greater impact on TB control in settings like Malawi, where ART coverage is relatively high.