Definition, interpretation and calculation of cost-effectiveness acceptability curves

This paper discusses the definition, interpretation and computation of cost-effectiveness (CE) acceptability curves. A formal definition of the CE acceptability curve based on the net benefit approach is provided. The curve can be computed using parametric or non-parametric techniques and for both computational approaches we establish a formal relation between the CE acceptability curve and statistical inference based on confidence intervals and <TOGGLE>P</TOGGLE> values in CE analysis. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.