Which type uses QALYs to express outcomes?

• A. Cost-minimization analysis
• B. Cost-consequence analysis
• C. Cost-benefit analysis
• D. Cost-utility analysis

Answer: (D)

Using QALYs to express outcomes is what cost-utility analysis does. QALYs combine how long people live with the quality of that life into a single measure, so you can compare different health interventions even if they affect different aspects of health. In cost-utility analysis, you look at costs relative to QALYs gained, yielding metrics like cost per QALY gained that help assess value for money when both longevity and quality matter. Other analyses don’t use QALYs: cost-minimization assumes outcomes are the same and only compares costs; cost-consequence lists multiple outcomes without aggregating them into one summary; cost-benefit translates benefits into monetary terms rather than into quality-adjusted life years.