University of Glasgow
Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health & Comparative Medicine
Dr Sergi Alonso is a health economist with interests in evaluating health interventions aiming at reducing the burden of infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries. He obtained his PhD at the University of Barcelona in 2018 for my work undertaken at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal). From 2015-2018 he relocated to the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM) in Mozambique to further develop my skills and understanding of research in the sub-Saharan African context. Sergi has extensive experience in conducting burden of disease and cost-of-illness studies, as well as economic evaluations of complex public health intervention, such as the implementation of vector control strategies for malaria, or the adoption of new diagnostic tools and treatment regimens for visceral leishmaniasis. Sergi joined the University of Glasgow in January 2021 as part of a multidisciplinary team working on mathematical modelling for infectious diseases. He is currently estimating the burden of schistosomiasis and evaluating the cost-effectiveness of improved water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) to reduce schistosomiasis burden in Uganda, which takes into consideration the individual uptake of the different WASH interventions and their impact on disease transmission.

Presenter of 1 Presentation

01. Living with parasites

THE IMPACT OF SCHISTOSOMA MANSONI ON HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG INDIVIDUALS LIVING IN ENDEMIC AREAS IN UGANDA (ID 1446)

Session Type
01. Living with parasites
Date
08/23/2022
Session Time
17:00 - 18:30
Room
Hall B3.M5+6
Lecture Time
17:00 - 17:15
Onsite or Pre-Recorded
Onsite

Abstract

Introduction

Schistosomiasis was responsible for 1.64 million (1.04–2.64) disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) globally in 2019. Despite the high burden, the complex relationship between infection intensities, co-morbidities and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains poorly understood. Reduced HRQoL affects education and productivity outcomes, and hampers economic development of endemic countries. This study characterises the HRQoL of individuals living with Schistosoma mansoni and co-infections in different risk areas.

Methods

A health survey was conducted in Uganda to identify S. mansoni infection intensities, schistosomiasis-related symptoms, health conditions (e.g., anaemia) and HRQoL scores (EQ-5D). Participant infection status was quantified using Kato-Katz and point-of-care circulating cathodic antigen tests from two endemic settings (high-low), as well as uninfected participants. This allows the association of infection data with extensive health, socioeconomic data and HRQoL scores. Spearman's correlation coefficients are used to evaluate the relationship between HRQoL responses and the EQ-5D value set recently published for Uganda. Multivariate regression models are used to explore the effect of infection in utility decrements, by controlling for socioeconomic and health factors.

Results

S. mansoni parasitological, health and socioeconomic data analysed will show the impact of infection on HRQoL, which is crucial to understand the effect of infection on daily activities.

Conclusions

We will present key parameters to inform economic evaluations of schistosomiasis control intervention, and an improved understanding of the societal impact of S. mansoni infections, including Kato-Katz negative/low intensity infections.

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