Cystic fibrosis: A new framework for cost-of-illness studies
Key Objectives
To develop a new framework for future cost-of-illness studies that provides a better understanding of the costs distribution via identifying costs’ determinants and predictors as well as revealing underlying heterogeneity
This project will conduct an economic analysis of the healthcare cost associated with treating patients with cystic fibrosis in Australia. It will explore the use of econometric modeling methods using individual level data to estimate healthcare costs for different ages, disease severities and other variables. It will also focus on using markers of disease progression to explain the impact of healthcare costs. Such markers provide surrogate outcomes that can be used to extrapolate effectiveness data from short term trial results to longer term health system impact. As a result, this research will develop more rigorous standards around undertaking costing and cost-of-illness studies that will provide a platform for future economic evaluations. More specifically, the objectives of this project are to: 1) identify determinants of total healthcare costs; 2) explore potential predictors in explaining healthcare costs; 3) reveal heterogeneity in the cost distribution and estimate the lifetime costs; and 4) examine the costs and consequences of newborn screening for cystic fibrosis, a program implemented throughout Australia.
Funding source
UTS Early Career Research Grant
CHERE staff
Yuanyuan Gu, Kees van Gool
