Glossary Term

QALY

A Quality-Adjusted Life Year combines quantity and quality of life into a single metric — one QALY equals one year lived in perfect health — and is the primary outcome measure in cost-utility analysis. QALYs are calculated by multiplying time in a health state by a utility weight derived from instruments such as the EQ-5D.

Illustration representing QALY
Related terms
EQ-5D Utility ICER
Further reading
Watch related video Weinstein (1988) Browse the HEOR resource database

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