KostenEffektivitätsanalysen

KostenEffektivitätsanalysen, often translated as Cost-Effectiveness Analysis (CEA), is an economic evaluation technique used to compare the costs and health outcomes of different interventions, programs, or technologies. The primary goal is to determine which option provides the greatest health benefit for a given amount of expenditure. Unlike cost-benefit analysis, which attempts to monetize all outcomes, CEA focuses on quantifying health effects in natural units such as years of life gained, cases of disease averted, or quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

The process typically involves identifying alternative interventions, measuring their associated costs (direct medical costs, indirect costs, etc.), and quantifying their respective health outcomes. These outcomes are then compared to their costs to derive a cost-effectiveness ratio. This ratio expresses the cost per unit of health outcome achieved. For example, a CEA might report the cost per life-year gained for a particular drug.

Decision-makers in healthcare, public health, and policy use CEA to inform resource allocation. By comparing the cost-effectiveness ratios of different interventions, they can prioritize those that offer the most health gain for the money spent. This is particularly valuable when budgets are limited and difficult choices must be made about which services or treatments to fund. CEA helps to ensure that healthcare resources are used efficiently to maximize population health.