A synthesis of cost-utility analysis literature in infectious disease.
The purpose of this review is to understand infectious disease-related cost-utility analyses by describing published analyses, examining growth and quality trends over time, examining factors related to quality, and summarising standardised results. 122 cost-utility analyses and 352 cost-utility ratios were identified. Pharmaceutical interventions were most common (47.5%); three author groups accounted for 42.8% of pharmaceutical ratios. High-volume journals (three or more published cost-utility analyses) published higher quality analyses than low-volume journals (p<0.001). Use of probabilistic sensitivity analysis and discounting at 3% were more frequently found in the years after the US Public Health Service Panel on Cost-Effectiveness in Health and Medicine recommendations (p<0.01). Median ratios varied from US13,500 dollars/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) for immunisations to US810,000 dollars/QALY for blood safety. Publication of infectious disease cost-utility analyses is increasing. The results of cost-utility analyses have important implications for the development of clinical guidelines and resource allocation decisions. More trained investigators and better peer-review processes are needed.
Stone
Patricia W
PW
Columbia University School of Nursing, New York, NY 10032, USA. ps2024@columbia.edu
Schackman
Bruce R
BR
Neukermans
Christopher P
CP
Olchanski
Natalia
N
Greenberg
Dan
D
Rosen
Allison B
AB
Neumann
Peter J
PJ
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011643:Publishing; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents