Economic assessments in randomized controlled trials.
When comparing costs and benefits of different medical strategies, cost-effectiveness analysis, cost-utility analysis and cost-benefit analysis may be used. Both direct and indirect costs and benefits must be considered. Integrating survival with a measure of quality of life such as a health status index permits calculation of quality of life adjusted years of survival (QALYS). In any trial where it is expected that a more expensive treatment is the most effective, a full economic assessment should be made. Examples are provided from the use of verapamil and propranolol in hypertension, naftidrofuryl in stroke and auranofin in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.
Bulpitt
C J
CJ
Department of Medicine, Royal Postgraduate Medical School, Hammersmith Hospital, London, England.
Fletcher
A E
AE
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004180:Direct Service Costs; D006295:Health Resources / Q000191:economics; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D015996:Survival Rate; D026712:Value of Life