The quality of reporting in published cost-utility analyses, 1976-1997.
OBJECTIVE
Cost-utility analysis is a type of cost-effectiveness analysis in which health effects are measured in terms of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained. Such analyses have become popular for examining the health and economic consequences of health and medical interventions, and they have been recommended by leaders in the field. These recommendations emphasize the importance of good reporting practices. This study determined 1) the quality of reporting in published cost-utility analyses through 1997 and 2) whether reporting practices have improved over time. We examined quality of reporting by journal type and number of cost-utility analyses a journal has published.


METHODS
Computerized databases were searched through 1997 for the Medical Subject Headings or text keywords quality-adjusted, QALY, and cost-utility analysis. Published bibliographies of the field were also searched.


METHODS
Original cost-utility analyses written in English were included. Cost-effectiveness analyses that measured health effects in units other than QALYs and review, editorial, or methodologic articles were excluded.


METHODS
Each of the 228 articles found was audited independently by two trained readers who used a standard data collection form to determine the quality of reporting in several categories: disclosure of funding, framing, reporting of costs, reporting of preference weights, reporting of results, and discussion.


RESULTS
The number of cost-utility analyses in the medical literature increased greatly between 1976 and 1997. Analyses covered a wide range of diseases and interventions. Most studies listed modeling assumptions (82%), described the comparator intervention (83%), reported sensitivity analysis (89%), and noted study limitations (84%). Only 52% clearly stated the study perspective; 34% did not disclose the funding source. Methods of reporting costs and preference weights varied widely. The quality of published analyses improved slightly over time and was higher in general clinical journals and in journals that published more of these analyses.


CONCLUSIONS
The study results reveal an active and evolving field but also underscore the need for more consistency and clarity in reporting. Better peer review and independent, third-party audits may help in this regard. Future investigations should examine the quality of clinical and economic assumptions used in cost-utility analyses, in addition to whether analysts followed recommended protocols for performance and reporting.
Neumann
P J
PJ
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. pneumann@hsph.harvard.edu
Stone
P W
PW
Chapman
R H
RH
Sandberg
E A
EA
Bell
C M
CM
D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D012107:Research Design / Q000592:standards*; D012109:Research Support as Topic