R and Shiny for Cost-Effectiveness Analyses: Why and When? A Hypothetical Case Study.

Area of Science:

• Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR)
• Pharmacoeconomics
• Health Technology Assessment (HTA)

Background:

• Microsoft Excel is widely used for health economics models due to familiarity and accessibility.
• Increasingly complex decision-making needs in the pharmaceutical industry and HEOR necessitate advanced analytical tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide an explicit comparison between Microsoft Excel and the R programming language for contemporary cost-effectiveness analysis.
• To evaluate the advantages and limitations of each platform for health economics modeling.

Main Methods:

• Duplicate cost-effectiveness models were constructed using both Excel and R (with a Shiny user interface).
• A hypothetical case study, typical of HTA, was used for model construction and comparison.
• Models were compared based on analytical capability, data safety, building considerations, usability, and adaptability.

Main Results:

• R demonstrated superior analytical capability and adaptability compared to Excel for complex analyses.
• Usability varied, with R potentially offering better long-term adaptability for technical users.
• Data safety and building considerations presented distinct advantages and limitations for both platforms.

Conclusions:

• The choice between R and Excel for cost-effectiveness analysis depends on specific project requirements.
• Key considerations include the intended audience, analytical complexity, update frequency, and model run time.
• R may be more suitable than Excel for contemporary HEOR analyses requiring advanced capabilities and adaptability.