Why measure Health-Related Quality of Life?

Examples of QUALY use are given below and should be read in conjunction with section 3 “Why measure Health-Related Quality of Life?”. This is not a comprehensive list but highlights some of the more common applications of QUALYs as an instrument. Take special note of the last bullet point, indicating an area where QUALYs are applied by an HTA body (example NICE for more detailed information [1])

QALYs can be used to

• quantify the effectiveness of a new treatment (e.g., new medication) compared to the current treatment for a particular condition.
• to compare the health benefit of a new treatment for one condition with the health benefit of a new treatment for a different condition. For instance, the QALY permits comparison of a new cancer therapy with the health effect of a new Parkinson's medication.
• to inform health insurance coverage determinations, treatment decisions, to evaluate programmes, and to set priorities for future programmes
•  to combine data on medical costs with QALYs in cost-utility analysis to estimate the cost-per-QALY associated with a health care intervention. This parameter can be used to develop a cost-effectiveness analysis of any treatment and can be used to allocate healthcare resources, often using a threshold approach. (in the United Kingdom, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which advises on the use of health technologies within the National Health Service, has used "£ per QALY" to evaluate their utility).
  
  Indeed, the QALY is commonly used in health economic evaluations as a means of quantifying the health effect of a medical intervention or a prevention programme and ultimately to help payers allocate healthcare resources.