The quality of reporting in published cost-utility analyses, 1976-1997

Purpose: Cost-utility analysis is a type of cost-effectiveness analysis in which health effects are measured in terms of quality-adjusted life-years ( QALYs) gained. Such analyses have become popular for examining the health a nd economic consequences of health and medical interventions, and they have been recommended by leaders in the field. These recommendations emphasize the importance of good reporting practices. This study determined 1) the qu ality of reporting in published cost-utility analyses through 1997 and 2) w hether reporting practices have improved over time. We examined quality of reporting by journal type and number of cost-utility analyses a journal has published. Data Sources: Computerized databases were searched through 1997 for the Med ical Subject Headings or text keywords quality-adjusted, QALY, and cost-uti lity analysis. Published bibliographies of the field were also searched. Study Selection: Original cost-utility analyses written in English were inc luded. Cost-effectiveness analyses that measured health effects in units ot her than QALYs and review, editorial, or methodologic articles were exclude d. Data Extraction: Each of the 228 articles found was audited independently b y two trained readers who used a standard data collection form to determine the quality of reporting in several categories: disclosure of funding, fra ming, reporting of costs, reporting of preference weights, reporting of res ults, and discussion. Results: The number of cost-utility analyses in the medical literature incr eased greatly between 1976 and 1997. Analyses covered a wide range of disea ses and interventions. Most studies listed modeling assumptions (82%), desc ribed the comparator intervention (83%), reported sensitivity analysis (89% ), and noted study limitations (84%). Only 52% clearly stated the study per spective; 34% did not disclose the funding source. Methods of reporting cos ts and preference weights varied widely. The quality of published analyses improved slightly over time and was higher in general clinical journals and in journals that published more of these analyses. Conclusions: The study results reveal an active and evolving field but also underscore the need for more consistency and clarity in reporting. Better peer review and independent, third-party audits may help in this regard. Fu ture investigations should examine the quality of clinical and economic ass umptions used in cost-utility analyses, in addition to whether analysts fol lowed recommended protocols for performance and reporting.