Practical Implications of Differential Discounting of Costs and Health Effects in Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

摘要

We welcome Westra et al.'s comments on our recent article that addressed the influence of the number of future cohorts on cost-effectiveness estimates under differential discounting. Their comments usefully illustrate some of the unresolved questions regarding the correct implementation of differential discounting. Differential discounting is already recommended practice in The Netherlands and Belgium and is also being used in a number of other countries. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence in England and Wales recently recommended that differential discounting be applied in a sensitivity analysis in certain circumstances 1, Therefore, understanding the practical implications of differential discounting is important.