News from the Center for Health Decision Science

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Welcome to this month's edition of the Center for Health Decision Science (CHDS) newsletter. Explore recent decision science publications, featured resources, and news within the field.

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Newsletter Issue: October 2025

CHDS News Stories - Recent

Inequalities in Major Infectious Diseases

CHDS faculty Stéphane Verguet and colleagues recently published research in the Bulletin of the World Health Organization on the inequalities associated with diarrhea, pneumonia, and measles deaths for children under five years old in sub-Saharan Africa.

New OECD Research on "Valuing Life"

The OECD’s pathbreaking new report, Mortality Risk Valuation in Policy Assessment: A Global Meta-Analysis of Value of Statistical Life Studies, substantially improves the evidence base for policy decisions.

Cost-Effectiveness of Blood Pressure Targets

CHDS affiliate Karen Smith co-authored a cost-effectiveness analysis of intensive blood pressure targets in settings with blood pressure measurement error, with colleagues including CHDS' Thomas Gaziano, Nicolas Menzies, and Ankur Pandya.

Non-Communicable Disease Mortality Trends

CHDS’ Zachary Ward discussed both the progress and challenges in meeting the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in reducing mortality from non-communicable diseases in an invited commentary in The Lancet.

Myriam Hunink, wearing glasses and a business blazer and smiling off-camera, is sitting at table with colorful markers in an office setting.

Hunink Collaborates with Media Hub

CHDS adjunct faculty Myriam Hunink has published new teaching material culminating from an immersion residency with the CHDS Media Hub.

More CHDS News

CHDS Publications - Selected Recent

Bjerre Trent P, Eriksson AG, Staff AC et al. A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Compared with Lymphadenectomy in Intermediate- and High- Risk Endometrial Carcinoma. Int J Gynecol Cancer. 2025 Sep;35(9):101867. PMID: 39433423.

Chhatwal J, Fleurence RL. Author Reply. Value Health. 2025 Sep 2:S1098-3015(25)02529-X. PMID: 40907607. Online ahead of print.

Dinan MA, Stratton KL, Leisenring WM et al. Treatment Exposure-Based Risk-Stratification for Care of Survivors of Childhood Cancer: A Report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2025 Sep 14:djaf268. PMID: 40971674. Online ahead of print.

Harvey JP, Raymakers AJN, Rand LZ et al. Modeling the Budgetary Impacts of Sickle Cell Disease Gene Therapies on State Medicaid Programs. J Gen Intern Med. 2025 Sep 17. Online ahead of print.

Hyle EP, Bekker LG, McCluskey SM et al. The Clinical and Economic Impact of Genotypic Resistance Testing for People Diagnosed with Persistent Virological Non-Suppression on Tenofovir-Lamivudine-Dolutegravir in South Africa: A Modelling Study. Lancet HIV. 2025 Sep;12(9):e627-e637. PMID: 40782815.

Kazi DS, Abdullah AR, Arnold SV et al. 2025 AHA/ACC Statement on Cost/Value Methodology in Clinical Practice Guidelines (Update From 2014 Statement): A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Joint Committee on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2025 Sep 25. Online ahead of print.

Liang Y, Menzies NA, Rönn MM. Trends in Syphilis Prevalence by Race and Ethnicity Among People Who Are Pregnant in the United States, 2016 to 2023. Sex Transm Dis. 2025 Sep 1;52(9):535-541. PMID: 40417976.

Menzies NA, Brown TS, Imai-Eaton JW et al. Potential Paediatric Tuberculosis Incidence and Deaths Resulting from Interruption in Programmes Supported by International Health Aid, 2025-34: A Mathematical Modelling Study. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2025 Sep 12:S2352-4642(25)00218-4. PMID: 40953585. Online ahead of print.

Meyerson WU, Ross EL, Kennedy CJ et al. Aripiprazole or Bupropion Augmentation Versus Switching to Bupropion in Treatment-Resistant Depression: A Risk-Benefit Analysis. J Clin Psychiatry. 2025 Sep 22;86(4):25m15863. PMID: 41004167.

Musicus AA, Barrett JL, McCulloch S et al. Cost-Effectiveness and Health Equity Improvements from Excluding Sugar-Sweetened Beverages from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Am J Prev Med. 2025 Sep 8:108082. PMID: 40930197. Online ahead of print.

Ruggiero CF, French DD, Smith JD et al. Development and Application of a Cost Tool for a Primary Care-Based Intensive Health Behaviour and Lifestyle Treatment. Pediatr Obes. 2025 Sep;20(9):e70028. PMID: 40534181.

Saronga HP, Dwarkanath P, Cui H et al. Low-Dose Calcium Supplementation During Pregnancy in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis. PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025 Sep 2;5(9):e0004002. PMID: 40892864.

Shen Y, Sommers BD, Hatfield LA et al. Insurance Dynamics During Childhood in the Fragmented US Health System. JAMA. 2025 Sep 24:e2515488. PMID: 40991296. Online ahead of print.

Verguet S, Villano D, Jiao B et al. Inequalities in Diarrhoea, Pneumonia and Measles Deaths: Estimates for 21 Sub-Saharan African Countries. Bull World Health Organ. 2025 Sep 1;103(9):522-529. PMID: 40900933.

Ward ZJ. Estimating Trends in Non-Communicable Disease Mortality: Implications for Global Health Data and Policy Research. Lancet 2025 Sep 20;406(10509):1195-1197. PMID: 40945530.

Admissions Information Session

Harvard PhD Program in Health Policy, GSAS

Virtual; registration required

October 28, 2:00 PM ET

Register and attend the virtual admissions session to learn about the admissions process and the Program, including the Decision Sciences concentration. The session will be recorded and available after the session on the Harvard PhD Program in Health Policy website.

Information Session Registration

Seminars - Upcoming

Speakers share their own perspectives; they do not speak for the Center for Health Decision Science or for Harvard University.

At the Interface of Epidemiology and Health Decision Science: Jointly Shaping Cancer Screening Strategies

Uwe Siebert

October 15, 1:00 PM ET

Virtual; registration required

Host: Department of Epidemiology, Harvard Chan School

Seminar Registration

Repository Highlight

Teaching collection summary tile, stating pack title

Collection: Modeling Diagnostic Decisions

This collection introduces modeling diagnostic decisions through curated teaching materials developed by CHDS faculty Myriam Hunink during a CHDS Media Hub immersion residency.

Research Highlights

Home-Based Care for Hypertension in South Africa

This RCT conducted in rural South Africa showed that home-based hypertension care can yield significant reductions in systolic blood pressure compared to standard clinic-based care.

European Society of Cardiology (ESC) news, Home-based hypertension care is effective in rural South Africa

Coverage Gaps in Medicaid Insurance for Children

This modeling study showed that an estimated 61% of U.S. children were ever enrolled in Medicaid or CHIP, and 42% were ever uninsured by age 18.

Harvard Chan news, Majority of U.S. children enroll in Medicaid, many face coverage gaps by age 18

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