The use of "quality-adjusted life years" (QALYs) to evaluate treatment in intensive care.
Anaesth Intensive Care
; 23(3): 322-31, 1995 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-7573919
ABSTRACT
This study examines the feasibility of using Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) to assess patient outcome and the economic justification of treatment in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). 248 patients were followed for three years after admission. Survival and quality of life for each patient was evaluated. Outcome for each patient was quantified in discounted Quality-Adjusted Life Years (dQALYs). The economic justification of treatment was evaluated by comparing the total and marginal cost per dQALY for this patient group with the published cost per QALY for other medical interventions. 150 patients were alive after three years. Quality of life for most longterm survivors was good. Patient outcome (QALYs) was greatest for asthma and trauma patients, and least for cardiogenic pulmonary oedema. The tentative estimated cost-effectiveness of treatment varied from AUD $297 per QALY for asthma to AUD $2323 per QALY for patients with pulmonary oedema. This compares favourably with many preventative and non-acute medical treatments. Although the methodology is developmental, the measurement of patient outcome using QALYs appears to be feasible in a general hospital ICU.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Calidad de Vida
/
Cuidados Críticos
/
Valor de la Vida
Tipo de estudio:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Evaluation_studies
/
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Anaesth Intensive Care
Año:
1995
Tipo del documento:
Article