RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Valuing Health for Clinical and Economic Decisions: Directions Relevant for Rheumatologists
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 1770
OP 1775
DO 10.3899/jrheum.110404
VO 38
IS 8
A1 MARK J. HARRISON
A1 NICK J. BANSBACK
A1 CARLO A. MARRA
A1 MICHAEL DRUMMOND
A1 PETER S. TUGWELL
A1 ANNELIES BOONEN
YR 2011
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/38/8/1770.abstract
AB The quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) is a construct that integrates the value or preference for a health state over the period of time in that health state. The main use of QALY is in cost-utility analysis, to help make resource allocation decisions when faced with choices. Although the concept of the QALY is appealing, there is ongoing debate regarding their usefulness and approaches to deriving QALY. In 2008, OMERACT engaged in an effort to agree on QALY approaches that can be used in rheumatology. Based on a Web questionnaire and a subsequent meeting, rheumatologists questioned whether it was relevant for OMERACT (1) to investigate use of a QALY that represents the patients’ perspective, (2) to explore the validity of the visual analog scale (VAS) to value health, and (3) to understand the validity of mapping health-specific instruments on existing preference instruments. This article discusses the pros and cons of these points in light of current insight from the point of view of health economics and decision-making theory. It also considers the further research agenda toward a QALY approach in rheumatology.