Strategies for assessing health economic and quality of life outcomes in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Multiple sclerosis is a disabling disease that, until recently, had few effective treatment options. With the advent of new medical technologies to treat mulitple sclerosis has come the need to assess the long-term clinical, economic and quality of life trade-offs associated with these treatments to inform medical decision-making, as well as equitable resource allocation. Assessing these trade-offs in mulitple sclerosis is particularly challenging. Therefore, considering an appropriate evaluation strategy prior to initiating a health outcomes study in mulitple sclerosis is essential. This review presents an overview of mulitple sclerosis, the challenges facing researchers and offers strategies and a framework for assessing economic and quality of life outcomes in patients with mulitple sclerosis.

• cost-effectiveness
• cost-utility assessment
• drug therapy
• economic evaluation
• economic model
• health-related quality of life
• multiple sclerosis
• utilities