Published Jan 23, 2014

Birmingham, United Kingdom - Sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia are a global public health concern. Chlamydia can cause infertility and other reproductive tract problems in women. Health policy decision makers need to know which interventions they should prioritise to get the best value from the resources available for the prevention and control of sexually transmitted infections. Researchers at the University of Birmingham, with support from a clinical expert at the University of Bern, Switzerland, reviewed studies examining the health impacts of chlamydia infections and their complications. The researchers found that there was a lack of evidence to inform economic evaluations in this area. They suggested that future cost-effectiveness studies need to highlight the lack of primary data available and examine more fully the methodological challenges involved in valuing health states for chlamydia. Tracy Roberts, who designed the study, said: "Researchers and policy makers need to pay more attention to the impact of sexually transmitted infections on health and quality of life. Our study shows major gaps in our knowledge about this important area of human health. Our findings contribute to debates about the methods we should use to value health outcomes. Addressing these issues is crucial to ensuring that policy makers are fully informed when making funding decisions." The full study "Valuing the Health States Associated with Chlamydia trachomatis Infections and Their Sequelae: A Systematic Review of Economic Evaluations and Primary Studies," is published in Value in Health.

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