Abstract

Cost-effectiveness assessment of cardiac interventions: determining a socially acceptable cost threshold

Author(s): CM Eze-Nliam, Z Zhang, SA Weiss & WS Weintraub

In the current environment of astronomically rising healthcare costs, it has become imperative to seek the value of any new medical intervention especially where there is already standard treatment available. Cost–effectiveness analysis (CEA) offers tools that assist decision-makers in reviewing the relative value of health interventions. It involves evaluating competing therapies with the aim of informing medical and policy decisions. However, the limitations of CEA have led to some criticism.