Comparing Cost-Utility Analyses in Cardiovascular Medicine

摘要: Cost-utility analysis (CUA) is a special case of cost-effectiveness (CEA). In CUA, time spent in certain health state weighed by the relative preference (utility) people have to be that state, where 0 equals death, and 1 perfect health. If weights are assessed using standard methods, such as trade-off technique, gamble, or generic utility assessment tool, then comparisons between cost-utility ratios (CUR) congruent with welfare economic theory. Results CUAs expressed currency units per quality-adjusted life year (QALY). The appeal CUA results easily interpreted, allowing simple among alternative interventions, offering useful aid making allocation decisions maximize value limited resources. Given continuing development valuable costly new medical technologies, seems poised become an increasingly tool choosing competing diagnostic therapeutic alternatives.