Resumo

PRADAS VELASCO, Roberto; ANTONANZAS VILLAR, Fernando  e  MAR, Javier. Mathematical models for economic evaluation: dynamic models based on differential equations. Gac Sanit [online]. 2009, vol.23, n.5, pp. 473-478. ISSN 0213-9111.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0213-91112009000500020.

The joint utilization of both decision trees and epidemiological models based on differential equations is an appropriate method for the economic evaluation of preventative interventions applied to infectious diseases. These models can combine the dynamic pattern of the disease together with health resource consumption. To illustrate this type of model, we adjusted a dynamic system of differential equations to the epidemic behavior of influenza in Spain, with a view to projecting the epidemiologic impact of influenza vaccination. The results of the epidemic model are implemented in a diagram with the structure of a decision tree so that health resource consumption and the economic implications can be calculated.

Palavras-chave : Dynamic models; Infectious diseases; Differential equations; Economic evaluation.