Health State Values for Patients with CAD Vary According to the Measure Used to Generate Them
A recent study published in the journal Value in Health presents the first attempt to compare two instruments using a population with coronary artery disease (CAD) enrolled in a multinational, randomized, double-blind clinical trial.
(PRWEB) November 12, 2004
A recent study published in the journal Value in Health presents the first attempt to compare two instruments using a population with coronary artery disease (CAD) enrolled in a multinational, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. The objective of the study was to compare the calculated HUI3 and the SF-6D values in CAD patient population.
Economic evaluation of health programs consists of comparing alternative interventions in terms of costs and consequences (outcomes) in order to better inform decision makers. One such evaluation, cost-utility analysis, incorporates the measured preferences of individuals for health outcomes of the alternative interventions, using quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Utilities may be obtained from a variety of sources including the health utilities index (HUI3) or from transforming the SF-36 to a utility measure, the SF-6D. This study reports on utilities measured in a double-blind, multinational phase III clinical trial in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention prior to hospital discharge and six months thereafter. In these patients, the HUI3 and the SF-6D generated different estimates of utilities. The gain in utilities from treatment was lower when using the SF-6D. Since utilities form the basis for calculating QALYs, these differences might result in differences in conclusions about the value of the new treatment.
This study is published in Value in Health. Media wishing to receive a PDF of this article please contact medicalnews@bos. blackwellpublishing. net.
About the Author
Hind T. Hatoum holds a B. S. in pharmacy, a M. S. in pharmacology and a Ph. D. in health care administration. She runs her own consulting firm that specializes in the study of health economics and quality of life as a result of drug therapy interventions. Dr. Hatoum is available for questions and interviews and can be reached at HTHatoum@aol. com.
About Value in Health
Value in Health is a multidisciplinary peer-reviewed journal reporting on evaluations of medical technologies including pharmaceuticals, biologics, devices, procedures, and other health care interventions. As the official journal of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research, the Journal provides a scientific forum for communicating health economics and outcomes research methods and findings.
About Blackwell Publishing
Blackwell Publishing is the worldÂ’s leading society publisher. The company remains independent with over 900 staff members in offices in the US, UK, Australia, China, Denmark, Germany, and Japan. Blackwell publishes over 700 journals in partnership with more than 550 academic and professional societies.
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