Cost–utility analysis
Cost–utility analysis is similar to costeffectiveness
analysis in that there is a defined
outcome, and the cost to achieve that
outcome is measured in money. However, in
cost–utility analysis the outcome is measured
in terms of survival and QoL (for example,
using QALYs) (Box 5). Since the endpoint may
not be directly dependent on the disease state,
cost–utility analysis can, in theory, compare
courses of action in different areas of
medicine. In practice, this is not so easy, since
QALYs remain subject to much philosophical
and technical criticism (see What is cost–utility
analysis?8 for a more detailed discussion).