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Do Quality-Adjusted-Life-Year-Based Cost-Effectiveness Analyses Discriminate Against Disabled Patients? A Theoretical
Yue Ma1, Peter J Numman2, David J Vanness3
1Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada; School of International Pharmaceutical Business, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China; Center for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcome Research, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China.
Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) in cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs) do not appear to disadvantage disabled populations. Studies show disabled subgroups often achieve greater QALY gains, challenging discrimination concerns.
Area of Science:
- Health Economics
- Biostatistics
- Disability Studies
Background:
- Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) are standard in cost-effectiveness analyses (CEAs).
- Concerns exist that QALYs may inherently discriminate against individuals with disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential disadvantages to disabled populations from QALY use.
- To combine theoretical analysis with empirical evidence.
Main Methods:
- Developed five theoretical scenarios comparing incremental QALYs for disabled vs. non-disabled patients.
- Analyzed published CEAs from the Tufts CEA Registry for chronic diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, kidney disease).
Main Results:
- Differences in incremental QALYs were driven by utility and life-year changes, not systematic bias.
- In 9 of 11 CEAs, disabled subgroups showed greater QALY gains, more favorable incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), or dominant results.
Conclusions:
- QALY-based CEAs, within the examined theoretical and empirical contexts, do not inherently disadvantage patients with disabilities.
- Findings challenge existing critiques regarding QALYs and disability discrimination.
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