Several components are essential for a robust CUA:
- Cost Measurement: Accurate estimation of both direct costs (e.g., treatment costs) and indirect costs (e.g., loss of productivity). - Health Outcome Measurement: Reliable measurement of QALYs or DALYs, which requires data on morbidity and mortality rates. - Time Horizon: The period over which costs and benefits are assessed. - Discounting: Adjusting future costs and benefits to their present value, typically using a discount rate of 3-5%. - Sensitivity Analysis: Evaluating how changes in key assumptions affect the results.
