Cost-of-illness analyses for policy making: A cautionary tale of use and misuse

In summary, we recognize that many current COI analyses suffer from both data and methodological shortcomings. However, we believe that a carefully conducted COI study that clearly documents all assumptions and limitations can minimize many of the concerns we have noted and provide valuable information. We caution against the misuse of COI estimates and wish to remind readers that efforts to equate costs to savings are misguided and that COI estimates should be only one of the many factors that decision-makers require to properly allocate resources. As additional data sets become available and researchers continue toward adoption of a common framework for conducting COI analyses, COI estimates will continue to improve and cross-study comparisons will be less problematic.

Duke Scholars

Author Eric Andrew Finkelstein Population Health Sciences