Question

Question 3 a) For each of the following drugs, calculate the total quality adjusted life years (QALY8). Which drug is more effective in terms of the total QALYS produced? (2 marks) Drug x -mean survival of 8 years and average utility per year of 0.8 Drug y-mean survival of 10 years and average utility per year of 0.6 Drug z -mean survival of 7.5 years and average utility per year of 0.56 2 b) People usually value future costs and benefits less than those in the present. The amount that we lower the value of costs and benefits in the future is known as the 'discount rate' Assuming that the discount rate applied to costs and benefits is identical, for which of these interventions is the cost-effectiveness ratio likely to be most sensitive to discounting? (3 marks a new drug to treat end-stage metastatic cancer a monthly injectable treatment to reduce migraines a pertussis vaccination for children

Answer 1

Question 3 a) For each of the following drugs, calculate the total quality adjusted life years (QALYS). Which drug is more effective in terms of the total QALYs produced? (2 marks) • Drug x - mean survival of 8 years and average utility per year of 0.8 • Drug y - mean survival of 10 years and average utility per year of 0.6 • Drug z-mean survival of 7.5 years and average utility per year of 0.56 Years of Life x Utility Value = QALYs (quality adjusted life years) Drug 1: Drug y: Drug z: 8 x 0.8 = 6.4 QALYS 10 x 0.6 = 6.0 QALYS 7.5 x 0.56 = 4.2 QALYS

b) People usually value future costs and benefits less than those in the present. The amount that we lower the value of costs and benefits in the future is known as the discount rate'. Assuming that the discount rate applied to costs and benefits is identical, for which of these interventions is the cost-effectiveness ratio likely to be most sensitive to discounting? (3 marks) O a new drug to treat end-stage metastatic cancer • a monthly injectable treatment to reduce migraines • a pertussis vaccination for children a new drug to treat end-stage metastatic cancer is costly, so its cost- effectiveness ratio likely to be most sensitive to discounting.