What is the outcome measure used in cost-utility analysis?

• A. Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY)
• B. Disability-Adjusted Life Year (DALY)
• C. Life Year (LY)
• D. Net monetary benefit

Answer: (A)

Quality-Adjusted Life Year (QALY) is the outcome measure used in cost-utility analysis. It blends both how long people live and how well they live by assigning each health state a utility value between 0 (dead) and 1 (perfect health). The QALYs gained from an intervention are calculated by multiplying the time spent in each health state by its utility and summing across the time horizon. This standardizes survival and quality of life, allowing comparisons across different diseases and interventions. Utilities come from preference-based instruments like EQ-5D, SF-6D, or HUI. Other options aren’t the primary health outcome in cost-utility analysis: a Disability-Adjusted Life Year is a burden-of-disease measure; a Life Year counts only time; and Net monetary benefit is a way to express results monetarily rather than as a health outcome.