The cost-effectiveness of gestational diabetes screening including prevention of type 2 diabetes: application of a new model in India and Israel

Objective: Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is associated with elevated risks of perinatal complications and type 2 diabetes mellitus, and screening and intervention can reduce these risks. We quantified the cost, health impact and cost-effectiveness of GDM screening and intervention in India and Israel, settings with contrasting epidemiologic and cost environments. Methods: We developed a decision-analysis tool (the GeDiForCE (TM)) to assess cost-effectiveness. Using both local data and published estimates, we applied the model for a general medical facility in Chennai, India and for the largest HMO in Israel. We computed costs (discounted international dollars), averted disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and net cost per DALY averted, compared with no GDM screening. Results: The programme costs per 1000 pregnant women are $259 139 in India and $259 929 in Israel. Net costs, adjusted for averted disease, are $194 358 and $76 102, respectively. The cost per DALY averted is $1626 in India and $1830 in Israel. Sensitivity analysis findings range from $628 to $3681 per DALY averted in India and net savings of $72 420-8432 per DALY averted in Israel. Conclusion: GDM interventions are highly cost-effective in both Indian and Israeli settings, by World Health Organization standards. Noting large differences between these countries in GDM prevalence and costs, GDM intervention may be cost-effective in diverse settings.