Pharmacoeconomic Guidelines Unclear On Dealing With Patient Differences

Published May 17, 2013
Maastricht, The Netherlands - Acknowledging patient heterogeneity in economic evaluations and subsequent reimbursement decisions may lead to more effective and/or efficient health care. Despite this potential gain, patient heterogeneity is still frequently neglected in economic evaluations. National pharmacoeconomic guidelines, which provide guidance on performing economic evaluations, should stimulate and facilitate the acknowledgement of patient heterogeneity by providing specific guidance on acknowledging patient heterogeneity. The checklist presented in the paper, “How Should We Deal with Patient Heterogeneity in Economic Evaluation: A Systematic Review of National Pharmacoeconomic Guidelines,” published in Value in Health, can assist in formulating this guidance. Bram Ramaekers, Manuela Joore (both from Maastricht University Medical Centre) and Janneke Grutters (Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre) systematically reviewed and analyzed recommendations from national pharmacoeconomic guidelines with regard to acknowledging patient heterogeneity in economic evaluations. They found that the majority of national pharmacoeconomic guidelines provide general guidance on acknowledging patient heterogeneity in economic evaluations. However, its usefulness is limited since this guidance is mostly not specific. “Acknowledging patient heterogeneity is considered as part of quality criteria for good practice in economic evaluations and general guidance on this topic is presented in most pharmacoeconomic guidelines. Thus, it seems that the importance of acknowledging patient heterogeneity is internationally recognized, while there is a lack of consensus on specific recommendations to acknowledge patient heterogeneity in economic evaluations.” states Bram Ramaekers. “Therefore, we advise the further development of pharmacoeconomic guidelines to provide specific guidance on acknowledging patient heterogeneity. This could facilitate the systematic and transparent handling of patient heterogeneity in economic evaluations worldwide.”

Value in Health (ISSN 1098-3015) publishes papers, concepts, and ideas that advance the field of pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research as well as policy papers to help health care leaders make evidence-based decisions. The journal is published bi-monthly and has over 8,000 subscribers (clinicians, decision makers, and researchers worldwide).

International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) is a nonprofit, international, educational and scientific organization that strives to increase the efficiency, effectiveness, and fairness of health care resource use to improve health.

For more information: www.ispor.org

Related Stories

The Ozempic Paradox: How Spending Billions on Weight-Loss Drug Would Actually Reduce Overall Medicare Costs

Oct 14, 2025

Value in Health, the official journal of ISPOR—The Professional Society for Health Economics and Outcomes Research, announced today the publication of a landmark study by researchers at the University of Washington, Curta, Inc, and the University of North Carolina showing that broad Medicare coverage of semaglutide in diabetes, obesity, and liver disease could generate significant cost savings while delivering substantial health benefits to beneficiaries. The report, “Comprehensive Access to Semaglutide: Clinical and Economic Implications for Medicare,” was published in the October 2025 issue of Value in Health.

ISPOR Launches New Content on Whole Health

Sep 23, 2025

ISPOR announced that it has launched new website content on whole health, a topic of increasing importance as health systems across the globe grapple with providing the best possible healthcare to patients within constrained budgets.

Landmark Analysis in Value in Health Uncovers Potential Research Efficiency Gains

Sep 15, 2025

Value in Health, the official journal of ISPOR announced the publication of a landmark scoping review that provides a comprehensive mapping of patient preference studies across key medical domains, revealing the first robust evidence base for advancing meta-analyses and benefit transfer methods in healthcare decision-making.
Your browser is out-of-date

ISPOR recommends that you update your browser for more security, speed and the best experience on ispor.org. Update my browser now

×