Cost-Effective Interventions

Interventions are actions taken by or for individuals to reduce the risk, duration, or severity of adverse health conditions. Interventions may be population-based or personal.

DCP2 and GBD present what we know about which health interventions work for a comprehensive range of diseases, injuries, and disabilities in many different contexts. A large share of the disease burden in low- and middle-income countries is attributable to diseases and conditions for which cost-effective interventions are already known and feasible. Selecting the right intervention for a given disease and context matters a great deal. The tools on this page are designed to aid the task.

DCP2 and GBD demonstrate how decision makers could use cost-effectiveness information in combination with information on disease prevalence and avertable illness to determine which interventions should be extended and which ones should be questioned. If developing countries scale up interventions and extend health care services that are cost-effective, the impact on the disease burden could be substantial.

Select Criteria

Disease / Condition Setting Type Objective Target population

Download Results (CSV)  |  Download Full Data Set (XLS)

Condition Intervention Intervention type Intervention description Intervention setting Objective Target population Cost effectiveness (US$/DALY) Cost effectiveness estimate (US$) Cost effectiveness range (US$/DALY) Number of DALYs averted (hundreds) Number of deaths averted (hundreds) Quality of cost-effectiveness analysis evidence
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease A-1 antitrypsin augmentation therapy Personal Intravenous treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease related to severe deficiency; ranges with age and efficacy Clinic, Local or district hospital palliation Adults, Women of childbearing age, Adolescents and adults, Mothers and infants - 14,400-215,000 per QALY (High-income countries) - - - 1
Asthma Education Population Education in addition to exercise program Clinic personal behavior change Adults, Women of childbearing age, Pregnant women, Adolescents and adults - 71,500/QALY (High-income countries) - - - 1
Indoor air pollution-related illness Improved stove Population Replacement of traditional open stoves with enclosed stoves that are more efficient and/or have flues for ventilation Policy level instrument of policy All ages, Adults, Infants or children, Women of childbearing age, Pregnant women, Adolescents and adults, Mothers and infants - 306-605 per healthy year (EAP); 975-1134 per healthy year (LAC); 379-471 per healthy year (MNA): 13-15 per healthy year (SAR); 21-26 per healthy year (SSA) - - - 5
Indoor air pollution-related illness Improved stove with kerosene or LPG Population Replacement of traditional open stoves with enclosed stoves that use kerosene or LPG Policy level instrument of policy All ages, Adults, Infants or children, Women of childbearing age, Pregnant women, Adolescents and adults, Mothers and infants - 26-85 per healthy year (EAP); 522-1416 per healthy year (ECA); 305-784 per healthy year (LAC); 227-624 per healthy year (MNA): 27-182 per healthy year (SAR); 46-304 per healthy year (SSA) - - - 5
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Inhaled medication Personal Inhaled ipratroprium bromide or corticosteroid such as fluticasone propionate Clinic, Local or district hospital palliation Adults, Women of childbearing age, Adolescents and adults - 7800-13,400 per QALY (High-income countries) - - - 1
Indoor air pollution-related illness Kerosene Population Substitution of wood, dung, and crop residues with kerosene for cooking and heating Policy level instrument of policy All ages, Adults, Infants or children, Women of childbearing age, Pregnant women, Adolescents and adults, Mothers and infants - 12-232 per healthy year (EAP); 172-188 per healthy year (ECA); 109-650 per healthy year (LAC); 98 per healthy year (MNA): 37-65 per healthy year (SAR); 62-87 per healthy year (SSA) - - - 5
Indoor air pollution-related illness Liquefied petroleum gas Population Substitution of wood, dung, and crop residues with liquefied petroleum gas for cooking and heating Policy level instrument of policy All ages, Adults, Infants or children, Women of childbearing age, Pregnant women, Adolescents and adults, Mothers and infants - 103-1746 per healthy year (EAP); 1258-1361 per healthy year (ECA); 806-1447 per healthy year (LAC); 779-785 per healthy year (MNA); 321-558 per healthy year (SA); 534-736 per healthy year (SSA) - - - 5
Respiratory disease (end stage) Lung transplant Personal Surgical replacement with donor lung Local or district hospital cure Adults, Women of childbearing age - 238,200-464,000 per QALY (High-income countries) - - - 1
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and cardiovascular disease Mechanical ventilation or oxygen therapy Personal Mechanical ventilation with inspiratory support, invasive respiration in intensive care unit, or long-term home oxygen therapy Clinic, Local or district hospital palliation Adults, Women of childbearing age, Adolescents and adults - 15,000-19,000 per YLS (High-income countries); 32,350-47,850 per QALY (High-income countries) - - - 1
Mild to moderate asthma Quick-releavers in addition to inhaled corticosteriods Personal Rapid-acting bronchodilators that act to relieve bronchoconstriction and accompanying acute symptoms of wheeze, chest tightness, and cough, e.g., salbutamol; incremental to inhaled corticosteroid treatment Clinic, Local or district hospital palliation Adults, Women of childbearing age, Adolescents and adults - 10,600-13,900 per QALY (High-income countries) - - - 1

Download Results (CSV)  |  Download Full Data Set (XLS)