Are quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) becoming more expensive? Evidence from economic evaluations of diabetic therapeutics.

Background: Empirical evidence regarding temporal trends in cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained remains limited. This study investigates the evolution of cost-effectiveness for diabetes mellitus treatments over time.

Research Design And Methods: We analyzed cost-effectiveness analyses of anti-diabetic pharmaceuticals extracted from the Tufts Medical Center Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Registry (CEAR).