TY - JOUR T1 - Active screening for tuberculosis in high-incidence Inuit communities in Canada: a cost-effectiveness analysis JF - Canadian Medical Association Journal JO - CMAJ SP - E1652 LP - E1659 DO - 10.1503/cmaj.210447 VL - 193 IS - 43 AU - Aashna Uppal AU - Ntwali Placide Nsengiyumva AU - Céline Signor AU - Frantz Jean-Louis AU - Marie Rochette AU - Hilda Snowball AU - Sandra Etok AU - David Annanack AU - Julie Ikey AU - Faiz Ahmad Khan AU - Kevin Schwartzman Y1 - 2021/11/01 UR - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/193/43/E1652.abstract N2 - Background: Active screening for tuberculosis (TB) involves systematic detection of previously undiagnosed TB disease or latent TB infection (LTBI). It may be an important step toward elimination of TB among Inuit in Canada. We aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of community-wide active screening for TB infection and disease in 2 Inuit communities in Nunavik.Methods: We incorporated screening data from the 2 communities into a decision analysis model. We predicted TB-related health outcomes over a 20-year time frame, beginning in 2019. We assessed the cost-effectiveness of active screening in the presence of varying outbreak frequency and intensity. We also considered scenarios involving variation in timing, impact and uptake of screening programs.Results: Given a single large outbreak in 2019, we estimated that 1 round of active screening reduced TB disease by 13% (95% uncertainty range −3% to 27%) and was cost saving compared with no screening, over 20 years. In the presence of simulated large outbreaks every 3 years thereafter, a single round of active screening was cost saving, as was biennial active screening. Compared with a single round, we also determined that biennial active screening reduced TB disease by 59% (95% uncertainty range 52% to 63%) and was estimated to cost Can$6430 (95% uncertainty range −$29 131 to $13 658 in 2019 Can$) per additional active TB case prevented. With smaller outbreaks or improved rates of treatment initiation and completion for people with LTBI, we determined that biennial active screening remained reasonably cost-effective compared with no active screening.Interpretation: Active screening is a potentially cost-saving approach to reducing disease burden in Inuit communities that have frequent TB outbreaks. ER -