Economic significance of detection and laboratory confirmation of inherited chromosomally integrated Human Herpesvirus 6A/B in newborns

Abstract

Overdiagnosis of congenital infections caused by Human Herpesvirus 6A/B (HHV-6A/B) in newborns with an inherited chromosomally integrated (ici) HHV-6A/B creates an unreasonable economic burden for the healthcare system and society. We assessed economic significance of detection and laboratory confirmation of iciHHV-6A/B in newborns with congenital infections during their inpatient treatment in Moscow in 2020. The introduction of a new method based on the quantitative detection of HHV-6A/B DNA in patient’s whole blood sample, nail plates and/or hair follicles by a real-time polymerase chain reaction will result in an economic effect with a minimum ratio of 1:68, will reduce healthcare costs in Moscow and optimize the epidemiological surveillance of vertically congenital infections in the region. The total estimated economic costs averted (including costs of pharmacotherapy, as well as clinical, laboratory, and instrumental examinations and other medical procedures in maternity and obstetric hospitals) will be approximately 6 million rubles per year for Moscow. Key words: economic significance, economic costs averted, Human Herpesvirus 6A/B, inherited chromosomally integrated Human Herpesvirus 6 A/B, newborns, congenital infections