New arthritis epidemiology findings from Ohio State University described
2007 OCT 8 -- Research findings, 'Evaluating chronic disease for heterogeneous populations: the case of arthritis,' are discussed in a new report. "Cost-effectiveness evaluation for health care programs often involves the use of quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) estimates to measure morbidity losses from health conditions. Current techniques for measuring morbidity losses are often subjective, inflexible, impractical, and subject to bias," scientists writing in the journal Medical Care report. "We sought to examine the impact of population heterogeneity on QALY values for arthritis sufferers by estimating an alternative health-adjusted life-year (HALY) measure based on self-assessed health status.: We present a feasible approach for the assessment of improved QALY estimates for chronic conditions affecting heterogeneous populations. An ordered probit model, using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS), is used to calculate expected HALY losses from arthritis for distinct population subgroups. These measures are used to scale existing QALY measures that have been calculated for distinct homogeneous populations. : We find that QALY losses from chronic arthritis vary by age, time since onset, and type of arthritis. When we apply these results to prevention programs aimed at reducing the incidence of Salmonella enteritidis infections (and the resulting reactive arthritis sequelae), we find that age-invariant QALYs underestimate the true discounted lifetime QALY losses from arthritis by 15%. Our results indicate that a failure to account for population heterogeneity can lead to biased health loss estimates," wrote R.L. Scharff and colleagues, Ohio State University. The researchers concluded: "The modified HALY measure presented here can be used to help inform policymakers faced with heterogeneous populations.'." Scharff and colleagues published their study in Medical Care (Evaluating chronic disease for heterogeneous populations: the case of arthritis. Medical Care, 2007;45(9):860-8). Additional information can be obtained by contacting R.L. Scharff, The Ohio State University, Dept. of Consumer Sciences, Columbus, Ohio 43210 USA.. The publisher of the journal Medical Care can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA. Keywords: United States, Columbus, Arthritis Epidemiology, Arthritis, Chronic Disease, Epidemiology. This article was prepared by Pain & Central Nervous System Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Pain & Central Nervous System Week via NewsRx.com.
|
