Question

3. An individual was presented with two choices: a) a certain health state of frequent migraine attacks for the rest of life, b) a treatment with a better outcome (fully regained health) and a worse outcome (immediate death). The individual was asked what probability of the better outcome would make her indifferent between undergoing the treatment and remaining in the state with frequent migraine attacks.

a) If the respondent reported that she is indifferent between the state with frequent migraine attacks and a treatment with 0.4 probability of better outcome, what is her utility score of the health state with frequent migraine attacks?

b) Given the utility score of 0.4

c) suppose that she can live with frequent migraine attacks for 30 years without any treatment, or she can undergo a treatment with which she will regain full health but live for only 20 years. The treatment costs $200,000. Calculate the ICER of the treatment. Discuss whether treatment is worth doing? (Note: Analysts usually value a QALY at $100,000 or more.)

Answer 1