Survival Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of a Multidisciplinary Tumor Board for Breast Cancer in Mozambique, Sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Despite the international endorsement of multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) for breast cancer care, implementation is suboptimal worldwide, and evidence regarding their effectiveness in developing countries is lacking. We assessed the impact on survival and the cost-effectiveness of implementing an MTB in Mozambique, sub-Saharan Africa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective cohort study included 205 patients with breast cancer diagnosed between January 2015 and August 2017 (98 before and 107 after MTB implementation), followed to November 2019. Pre- and post-MTB implementation subcohorts were compared for clinical characteristics, treatments, and overall survival. We used hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CI), computed by Cox proportional hazards regression. The impact of MTB implementation on the cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) was estimated from the provider perspective. RESULTS: We found no significant differences between pre- and post-MTB subcohorts regarding clinical characteristics or treatments received. Among patients with early breast cancer (stage 0-III; n = 163), the 3-year overall survival was 48.0% (95% CI, 35.9-59.1) in the pre-MTB and 73.0% (95% CI, 61.3-81.6) in the post-MTB subcohort; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.47 (95% CI, 0.27-0.81). The absolute 3-year mean cost increase was $119.83 per patient, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $802.96 per QALY, corresponding to 1.6 times the gross domestic product of Mozambique. CONCLUSION: The implementation of a MTB in Mozambique led to a 53% mortality decrease among patients with early breast cancer, and it was cost-effective. These findings highlight the feasibility of implementing this strategy and the need for scaling-up MTBs in developing countries, as a way to improve patient outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Currently, more than half of the deaths from breast cancer in the world occur in developing countries. Strategies that optimize care and that are adjusted for available resources are needed to improve the outcomes of patients with breast cancer in these regions. The discussion of cases at multidisciplinary tumor boards (MTBs) may improve survival outcomes, but implementation is suboptimal worldwide, and evidence regarding their effectiveness in developing countries is lacking. This study evaluated the impact of implementing an MTB on the care and survival of patients with breast cancer in Mozambique, sub-Saharan Africa and its cost-effectiveness in this low-income setting.

Difficulties in the Diagnosis of Gaucher Disease in a Low-Income Country: A Case Report from Mozambique

Abstract Introduction: Gaucher disease (GD) is one of the common lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) with an estimated frequency of one in 40,000 newborns globally. GD is an autosomal recessive condition, which results from mutations in the GBA1 gene, causing partial or complete deficiency of β-glucocerebrosidase enzyme activity, which leads to the widespread accumulation of the substrate glucosylceramide. Aims: This report presents different challenges of clinical management and communication between medical specialties to reach diagnose of any rare disease in Mozambique, a low-income country, which health system has limited infrastructure, trained personnel, and budget for diagnosis and to provide treatment for rare genetic disorders such as GD. Case Presentation: The patient was a 15-year old black female patient of Mozambican nationality born from non-consanguineous parents. Three of the four patient's siblings were healthy; one sister had died of a disease with a similar clinical features. Our patient presented with abdominal distention and hepatosplenomegaly. Blood tests revealed pancytopenia and a high level of ferritin. Liver biopsy and histologic examination revealed infiltration of the splenic parenchyma and portal area of the liver as well as enlarged histiocytic cells with granular cytoplasm. Magnetic resonance imaging showed liver enlargement, changes in the femoral heads without osteonecrosis, a pathological fracture of the third thoracic vertebrae (T3), with absence of brain and spinal cord neurological abnormalities. The biochemical investigation disclosed low levels of β-glucocerebrosidase (0.223 nmol/h/ml; normal: above 0.98) and increased levels of lyso-Gb1 (0.43 µg/ml; normal: up to 0.003). Genotyping of the GBA1 gene indicated the presence of the pathogenic variant p.Arg87Trp (R48W) in homozygosis. Discussion and Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this report describes the first case of GD type 1 confirmed via biochemical and molecular genetic testing in Mozambique. As awareness of the GD and rare genetic diseases among Mozambican health professionals is very limited, and resources for diagnosis are scarce in the national health system, it is possible that other cases remain undiagnosed in this low-income country.