Best practice & research. Clinical rheumatology
-
Economic analyses have the potential to put all of the positive and negative outcomes of an intervention into perspective to aid decision making. The quality of the data upon which the analysis is based has an impact on the resulting quality of the analysis itself. Analysis of cost-effectiveness requires the input of many types of data, and where data are not available, assumptions must be made. ⋯ A cost-utility analysis was published regarding the use of infliximab in methotrexate resistant RA. It showed a cost-utility ratio of 3400:34,000 Euro per quality adjusted life year (QALY) gained, depending on the country evaluated (Sweden and the UK, respectively). An important finding in all three studies was that indirect costs dominate costs in RA; therefore, they should be included in all future analyses of this disease.