Costs and Benefits in Health Care and Prevention: An International Approach to Priorities in Medicine

One of the main purposes of medical cost-benefit analyses is to define the rational priorities in health care. This book ambitiously undertakes to compare the cost-benefit analyses of three countries: the United States, Germany and Israel. Cardiovascular disease is focused on to provide a model case study, but other areas also provide examples. The contribu- tions consider in particular two recent developments. These are the increase in comprehensive epidemiological data, es- pecially with regards to risk factors, and improved methodo- logy for measuring the quality of life. The contributions stem from clinicians, epidemiologists and health economists who give an overall picture of these complex issues and the prospects for the future.