L'évaluation médico-économique est un outil d'aide à la décision prenant en compte à la fois le coût des soins et le résultat obtenu, c'est-à-dire l'amélioration de l'état de santé du bénéficiaire ou de façon plus générale l'amélioration de sa qualité de vie. Cette revue critique de la littérature résume les données médico-économiques actuelles dans la sclérose en plaques, évitant les aspects techniques ou formalismes trop théoriques. Les neurologues pénaliseraient leurs patients et leur spécialité en négligeant cette nouvelle discipline en plein développement.

In multiple sclerosis, evaluation of quality of life is important because the patients are usually confronted with a decrease in physical, cognitive and social functioning. Apart from the personal suffering, the financial consequences for these patients and their family and the economic burden for society are enormous. Measurement of health related quality of life is important for the understanding of disease burden and the impact of specific MS treatments. Rising costs associated with new treatments and spending limits have prompted a search for gratter efficiency. Althought health economics research can suggest ways to maximize health benefits within fixed budgets it is currently underused in MS. The purpose of this review of the litterature is to explain some of the basic principles underlying both quality of life and economic evaluations, and analyse their contribution to understanding and managing patients with MS. Neurologists should not underestimate how dramatic their contributions can be to this maturing field that will influence the future of MS patients care.