Economic evaluations are fundamental in determining the value of innovative lung cancer treatments. A recent study uncovers significant issues in the sourcing and citation of data parameters within cost-utility analyses conducted in the United States and China.
Extensive Analysis of Parameter Sources
The research systematically reviewed 235 model-based cost-utility studies published between January 2018 and March 2025. A total of 10,005 parameters related to clinical efficacy, safety, cost, and health utility were examined to identify their original data sources.
Findings indicate that approximately half of the parameters were derived directly from existing published literature. However, 17.7% of the sources could not be identified, and 1.3% were based on assumptions rather than empirical data.
Key Discrepancies Between Studies
Among the literature-cited parameters, 90.7% were first-level citations, ensuring direct reference to original studies. In contrast, only 64.2% of cost parameters met this direct citation standard. Moreover, 30.8% of the parameters exhibited discrepancies in disease or regional data alignment compared to their original sources.
- Nearly 18% of parameters lack identifiable sources, raising reliability concerns.
- Cost parameters show lower compliance with first-level citation standards.
- About one-third of parameters conflict with the disease or region of the target studies.
- Differences exist between US and Chinese models in the citation levels of cost parameters.
- Chinese models frequently use non-local utility data, unlike their US counterparts.
The study highlights the necessity for improved transparency in citing original data sources and the importance of utilizing region-specific data to enhance the accuracy and relevance of economic evaluations in lung cancer treatments.
Enhancing citation practices and developing localized data resources can significantly strengthen the foundation of cost-utility analyses, leading to more informed healthcare decisions and better resource allocation in oncology care.
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