TY - JOUR T1 - Considerations and preliminary proposals for defining a reference case for economic evaluations in ankylosing spondylitis. JF - The Journal of Rheumatology JO - J Rheumatol SP - 1178 LP - 1183 VL - 34 IS - 5 AU - Nick Bansback AU - Andreas Maetzel AU - Mike Drummond AU - Aslam Anis AU - Carlo Marra AU - Peter Conway AU - Maarten Boers AU - Peter Tugwell AU - Annelies Boonen Y1 - 2007/05/01 UR - http://www.jrheum.org/content/34/5/1178.abstract N2 - Since healthcare resources are scarce, choices have to be made on how they will be allocated. The use of economic evaluations using cost-effectiveness analyses has increased rapidly as policymakers have realized their value in maximizing the population's benefits (in terms of length of life and health status) within a given budget. Following efforts by OMERACT to create reference case definitions for the conduct of economic evaluation in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis, we review various methodological areas and research decisions that could benefit from a consensus between researchers, clinicians, and drug developers in terms of an ankylosing spondylitis (AS) reference case. Ten methodological issues are presented that will be important for future development of evaluations. Tentative proposals to define the issues in a reference case for AS are made, along with recommendations for further research. ER -