NICE proposes changes to assessment methodology

The U.K.'s NICE is seeking input on proposed changes to its health technology assessment methodology that the agency said would more explicitly take into account the burden of a person's illness and the wider impact of a disease on people's ability to be part of society. NICE is proposing to measure burden of illness as the proportional shortfall in quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) for those with a disease compared with the expected QALYs for those of the same age and gender without the disease. NICE said evaluating burden of illness as a proportional difference "recognizes the position of those patients who stand to lose the greatest proportion of their remaining health expectancy." The agency noted that the measure "is not particularly sensitive to the age at which people are diagnosed."

What NICE calls "societal impact" would be measured as the absolute difference between the expected QALY in a patient with a disease and the expected QALY in people of the same age and gender without the disease. The agency noted that for an absolute shortfall, "the larger the shortfall, the larger the effect" on society. Comments on the proposed methodology changes are due June 20, with NICE planning to introduce the changes this fall. ...