Is the valuation of a QALY gained independent of age? Some empirical evidence

• To carry out cost-effectiveness analyses with life-years or quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) gained as effectiveness measures has become increasingly popular in economic evaluations of health care. Cropper et al. (1994) have used survey data to estimate the trade-off between saving lives at different ages. They found that saving eleven 60-year-olds was judged equivalent to saving one 30-year-old. Individuals thus placed more weight on saving young persons than implied by the use of life-years gained as an effectiveness measure. A study based on the same approach as used by Cropper et al. aims to estimate the trade-off between saving lives at different ages. In contrast to Cropper et al. (1994), the study also calculates life-years and QALYs at different ages to estimate the trade-off between life-years and QALYs gained at different ages.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

art (subject category)

ref (subject category)