title: Considerations and preliminary proposals for defining a reference case for economic evaluations in ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: Since healthcare resources are scarce, choices have to be made on how they will be allocated. The use of economic evaluations using cost-effectiveness analyses has increased rapidly as policymakers have realized their value in maximizing the population's benefits (in terms of length of life and health status) within a given budget. Following efforts by OMERACT to create reference case definitions for the conduct of economic evaluation in rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis, we review various methodological areas and research decisions that could benefit from a consensus between researchers, clinicians, and drug developers in terms of an ankylosing spondylitis (AS) reference case. Ten methodological issues are presented that will be important for future development of evaluations. Tentative proposals to define the issues in a reference case for AS are made, along with recommendations for further research.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bansback
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maetzel
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drummond
authors.forename: Aslam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anis
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marra
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boers
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tugwell
authors.forename: Annelies
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boonen
mesh_terms: D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D017850:Economics, Pharmaceutical; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008017:Life Expectancy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards*; D012015:Reference Standards; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy*