Calculating and presenting disability adjusted life years (DALYs) in cost-effectiveness analysis

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) are crucial for economic evaluations and health prioritization.
• Current DALY analyses lack comparability due to unclear assumptions and inconsistent reporting.
• Miscalculations in DALYs can arise from methodological disagreements or unclear calculation methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a clear method for calculating DALYs in cost-effectiveness analysis.
• To illustrate the impact of varying age weighting and discount rates on DALY estimates.
• To propose minimum reporting standards for DALYs in cost-effectiveness studies.

Main Methods:

• A worked example is presented to guide DALY calculation.
• Sensitivity analyses explore the effects of different age weighting and discount rates.
• A review of literature supporting and opposing DALY usage is included.

Main Results:

• The paper provides a transparent framework for DALY calculation.
• Variations in age weighting and discount rates significantly influence cost-effectiveness outcomes.
• Minimum reporting criteria are suggested to enhance DALY analysis transparency and reproducibility.

Conclusions:

• Standardized DALY calculation and reporting are essential for robust cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Clear methodologies and transparent assumptions improve the comparability and transferability of DALY estimates.
• Adherence to proposed reporting criteria will aid researchers and policymakers in utilizing DALYs effectively.