INCORPORATING FUTURE COSTS IN MEDICAL COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS - IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF THE TREATMENT OF HYPERTENSION

It has been shown that the difference between consumption and producti on during life years gained should be included as a cost in cost-effec tiveness analysis. In this study the authors estimate the impact of in cluding these future costs on the cost-effectiveness of the treatment of hypertension in Sweden. The cost per quality-adjusted life year (QA LY) gained changes little among young men and women due to the additio n of future costs, but increases by about $14,000 for middle-aged men and women and about $27,000 for older men and women. When future costs are not included, the cost per QALY gained is generally lowest among older men and women, but when future costs are included, the cost per QALY gained is generally lowest among middle-aged men and women. The a uthors conclude that the total resource consequences of changes in mor tality should be routinely considered in cost-effectiveness analyses.