Quality-Adjusted Life Year: Difference between revisions

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== Calculation of QALY  ==
== Calculation of QALY  ==


To calculate the QALY, the following formula can be used; this assumes a utility value (quality of life) between 1 = perfect health and 0 = dead.
To calculate the QALY, the following formula can be used; this assumes a utility value (quality of life) between 1 = perfect health and 0 = dead.  
 
This results in the following:
 
1. If an individual has perfect health for a perioe of 1 year, they will be said to have 1 QALY.
 
ie. 1 YEar of Life x 1 Utility Value = 1 QALY
 
2. If an individual lives in perfect health but only for half a year, that individual will have 0.5 WALY.
 
ie. 0.5 Years of Life x 1 Utility Value = 0.5 QALY
 
3. If an inidividual lives for 1 year in a situation with 0.5 utility (half of perfect health) that individual will have 0.5 QALY
 
ie. 1 Year of Life x 0.5 Utility Value = 0.5 QALY


== Function/Uses of QALYs  ==
== Function/Uses of QALYs  ==

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Introduction & Definition[edit | edit source]

The Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) is a measure of the value and benefit of health outcomes.

Health is definied as a function of two components:

1. length of life

2. quality of life

The QALY is an attempt to combine these two attributes into a single figure/number[1].

Calculation of QALY[edit | edit source]

To calculate the QALY, the following formula can be used; this assumes a utility value (quality of life) between 1 = perfect health and 0 = dead.

This results in the following:

1. If an individual has perfect health for a perioe of 1 year, they will be said to have 1 QALY.

ie. 1 YEar of Life x 1 Utility Value = 1 QALY

2. If an individual lives in perfect health but only for half a year, that individual will have 0.5 WALY.

ie. 0.5 Years of Life x 1 Utility Value = 0.5 QALY

3. If an inidividual lives for 1 year in a situation with 0.5 utility (half of perfect health) that individual will have 0.5 QALY

ie. 1 Year of Life x 0.5 Utility Value = 0.5 QALY

Function/Uses of QALYs[edit | edit source]

Limitations of QALYs[edit | edit source]

Recent Related Research (from Pubmed)[edit | edit source]

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References[edit | edit source]

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  1. Pliskin JS, Shepard DS, Weinstein MC. Utility functions for life years and health status. Operations Research 1980;28:206-24