Health-related quality of life and cost-effectiveness studies in the European randomised study of screening for prostate cancer and the US Prostate, Lung, Colon and Ovary trial

Decisions on policies for screening for prostate cancer require that inform ation upon health-related quality of lire (HRQL) and cost-effectiveness (CE ) be available, as the lead time for some of the cases detected by screenin g will be very long and detriments in quality of life could have a major im pact on the subjects remaining life-span. A framework within which both HRQ L and cost-effectiveness of prostate cancer screening can be assessed is pr esented. Studies or both are ongoing in the European Randomised Study of sc reening for prostate cancer and the US Prostate, Lung, Colon and Ovary tria l. Preliminary information confirms that it is important to study screened subjects and controls, and not to assume that inferences derived from Study of prostate cancer outside screening trials can be extrapolated to the tri als. However, it will require prolonged study to enable tile overall effect s on quality of life, and on cost-effectiveness to be determined. Such stud ies are ongoing for the two trials. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ ts reserved.