Assessing Health Gains: A Cost-Utility Analysis

Abstract Background With the increase in life expectancy and the consequent shift in the epidemiology of chronic diseases, the need to enhance and measure the population’s health status is even more imperative. The aim of this study is to assess health gains and their associated costs provided by an Italian clinic. Methods A retrospective study was conducted on 129 patients admitted for short-term planned hospitalization from June 2020 to August 2023. At both admission and discharge, these patients completed the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs) were calculated from the difference in EQ-5D-5L scores between discharge and admission, assuming that health gains (discounted at a rate of 3.5%) accumulate up to two years after discharge. Cost-utility analysis was performed using QALYs and invoices issued by the clinic (cost of hospital stay: 250 Euro/day). Patients were stratified by gender, age (geriatric and non-geriatric), and length of stay (LoS). Descriptive statistics (median and interquartile range) and statistical analysis (Mann-Whitney test) were conducted using STATA software. Results The sample comprised 129 patients (55% female) with a median age of 81 [11] years and a median LoS of 16 [16] days. The median QALY gained was 0.33 [0.38], higher for males (0.35 [0.34]) than females (0.29 [0.45]). Patients younger than 65 years old experienced a greater gain in QALY (0.41 [0.42]) than geriatric patients (0.32 [0.38]) (p > 0.05). Patients with a longer LoS had a greater gain in QALY (0.35 [0.42]) than those with a shorter LoS (0.23 [0.29]) (p < 0.05). The median cost per QALY gained was 14,337 Euro, lower for males (13,803 Euro), non-geriatric patients (13,743 Euro), and those with a shorter LoS (10,670 Euro) (p > 0.05). Conclusions Despite disparities in QALY gains between groups, the median cost per QALY gained remained relatively constant. These findings underscore the importance of tailored interventions for effective resource allocation. Key messages • Differences in QALYs indicate the need for personalized healthcare strategies to optimize patient outcomes. • The constant cost per QALY underlines the importance of effective and efficient allocation of resources.