Economic Evaluations Informed Exclusively by Real World Data: A Systematic Review.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics
• Real World Data Analysis
• Systematic Review Methodology

Background:

• Real World Data (RWD) is increasingly utilized for economic evaluations in healthcare.
• However, the quality and limitations of RWD in these studies require thorough assessment.
• Existing literature lacks comprehensive quality appraisals of full economic evaluations (EE) based on RWD.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and assess the methodological quality of full economic evaluations (EE) that utilize Real World Data (RWD).
• To identify common characteristics and reporting standards in RWD-based economic evaluations.
• To evaluate adherence to the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review was conducted across major databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, CDR).
• Studies employing RWD for both cost and effectiveness data were included.
• Methodological quality was assessed using the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist.

Main Results:

• Out of 14,011 identified studies, 93 met the inclusion criteria.
• Neoplasms and pharmacological interventions were the most studied areas.
• Information systems were the primary source for RWD on costs and effects.
• Only 47% of the included studies met at least 80% of the CHEERS criteria.

Conclusions:

• Less than half of the reviewed economic evaluations using Real World Data met the 80% threshold for CHEERS criteria.
• Studies with larger sample sizes, randomization, and bias controls tended to fulfill more CHEERS criteria.
• There is a significant need to enhance the quality and reporting standards of economic evaluations utilizing Real World Data.