Unrelated medical costs in life-years gained: should they be included in economic evaluations of healthcare interventions?

摘要: Which costs and benefits to consider in economic evaluations of healthcare interventions remains an area much controversy. Unrelated medical life-years gained is important cost category that normally ignored evaluations, irrespective the perspective chosen for analysis. National guidelines pharmacoeconomic research largely endorse this practice, either by explicitly requiring researchers exclude these from analysis or leaving inclusion exclusion up discretion analyst. However, unrelated appears be gaining support literature. This article provides overview discussions date. The seems warranted, terms both optimality internal external consistency. We use example a smoking-cessation intervention highlight consequences different practices accounting effects evaluations. Only all care can considered internally externally consistent. Including excluding future may have distributional consequences, especially substantially increase length life. Regarding practical objections against costs, it note becoming increasingly possible accurately estimate gained. therefore conclude should become new standard.