BACKGROUND Although life expectancy estimation is vital to decision making for localized prostate cancer, there are few, if any, valid and usable tools. Our goal was to create and validate a prediction model for other cause mortality in localized prostate cancer patients that could aid clinician's initial treatment decisions at the point of care. METHODS We combined an adjusted Social Securit...

BACKGROUND Radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) has emerged as an important treatment strategy for atrial fibrillation (AF). The potential cost-effectiveness of RFA for AF, relative to antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) therapy, has not been fully explored from a US perspective. METHODS AND RESULTS We constructed a Markov disease simulation model for a hypothetical cohort of patients with drug-refra...

BACKGROUND The usefulness of aspirin to defend against cardiovascular disease in both primary and secondary settings is well recognized by the medical profession. Multiple studies also have found that daily aspirin significantly reduces cancer incidence and mortality. Despite these proven health benefits, aspirin use remains low among populations targeted by cardiovascular prevention guidelines...

PURPOSE Clopidogrel is more effective than aspirin in preventing recurrent vascular events, but concerns about its cost-effectiveness have limited its use. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of clopidogrel and aspirin as secondary prevention in patients with a prior myocardial infarction, a prior stroke, or peripheral arterial disease. METHODS We constructed Markov models assuming a societal...

Background:  The objective of the study was to appraise the total dollar value of human life losses (TDVHL) associated with COVID-19 in Canada. Methods: The net output approach (also known as human capital approach) was applied in the dollar valuation of the 6,062 human life losses associated with COVID-19 in Canada as of 23 May 2020. The economic model was rerun five times: (a) using the nati...

BACKGROUND The validity, reliability and cross-country comparability of summary measures of population health (SMPH) have been persistently debated. In this debate, the measurement and valuation of nonfatal health outcomes have been defined as key issues. Our goal was to quantify and decompose international differences in health expectancy based on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). We foc...