ICERlukuja

ICERlukuja is a term used in Finnish-language health economics to refer to the set of Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratios (ICERs) reported for healthcare interventions. The word combines ICER with lukuja, the Finnish word for numbers, indicating a collection or dataset of ICER values. In practice, ICERlukuja encompass figures typically expressed as cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained.

The concept functions as a resource for researchers and policymakers who compare the cost-effectiveness of treatments, technologies, or programs across diseases or settings. ICERlukuja may be drawn from published cost-effectiveness analyses, health technology assessments (HTAs), and national or regional guidelines. They are often used to identify trends, benchmark new interventions, and inform priority-setting decisions within a given health system.

Data handling for ICERlukuja usually involves standardization steps to enable comparability. This includes clarifying the currency and year of the cost data, the perspective of the analysis (e.g., payer, societal), discount rates, and the time horizon. When combining ICERs from multiple sources, researchers may adjust for inflation and convert costs to a common price year and currency. Reporting conventions often differentiate base-case results from sensitivity or scenario analyses.

Limitations of ICERlukuja arise from methodological heterogeneity across studies, including differences in populations, comparators, perspectives, and outcome measures. Because ICER thresholds vary by country and context, direct comparisons can be complex. Nonetheless, ICERlukuja serve as a useful reference in the broader framework of cost-effectiveness analysis and health technology assessment.

See also: ICER, QALY, cost-effectiveness analysis, health technology assessment.