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Calculating disability-adjusted-life-years lost (DALYs) in discrete-time
1Department of International Health, Boston University School of Public Health, 801 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, MA 02118, USA. blarson@bu.edu.
Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation : C/E
|August 10, 2013
Summary
This paper simplifies calculating disability-adjusted life-years lost (DALYs) using a discrete time method, making complex cost-effectiveness analysis accessible for public health students and practitioners.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Economics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Disability-Adjusted Life-Years (DALYs) are crucial for cost-effectiveness analysis.
- Existing DALY calculation equations can be complex and difficult to understand for many practitioners.
- A clear, teachable method for DALY calculation is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a discrete time formulation for calculating DALYs.
- To provide an accessible method for public health students and practitioners.
- To ensure consistency with standard discounting methods in cost-effectiveness analysis.
Main Methods:
- Development of a discrete time formulation for DALY calculation.
- Derivation of a continuous-time adjustment factor for precision.
- Illustration using both a new simple example and a previously published example.
Main Results:
- A straightforward discrete time method for DALY calculation is demonstrated.
- The proposed method is easy to teach and apply for individuals with basic discounting skills.
- The discrete method is shown to be consistent with continuous-time approaches.
Conclusions:
- The discrete time formulation simplifies DALY calculations for cost-effectiveness analysis.
- This approach enhances the understanding and application of DALYs in public health.
- The method provides a practical tool for health economic evaluations.
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