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oai:figshare.com:article/34028277 2026-09-29T23:56:28Z category_33827 category_31598 category_33752 category_34361 category_32699 portal_1005 item_type_6 month_year_09_2026

Routine Distributional Analysis of Health Inequality Impact by Socioeconomic Group: Technical Feasibility Study in Queensland, Australia Stephanie Moriarty (13542036) Gunjeet Kaur (3713047) Richard Cookson (801484) Jackie Roseleur (18336049) Silva Zavarsek (25139559) Suzanne Robinson (4241854) Anita Lal (13080345) Health services and systems Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences Health sciences Policy and administration Applied economics cost-effectiveness distributional analysis health inequalities socioeconomic OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the technical feasibility of routine distributional analyses of healthcare interventions in Australia, by adapting a Health Inequality Impact Calculator for Queensland. Building on methods established in a previous study in England, the calculator compares the magnitude of health inequality impact across interventions for different diseases. METHODS: The calculator was adapted for adults in Queensland using the Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage quintiles, Australian Bureau of Statistics population estimates, 2023 hospital admissions (International Classification of Diseases-10th edition 3-digit level) from Queensland Health, and published quality-adjusted life expectancy. It was used to conduct aggregate distributional cost-effectiveness analysis of 5 interventions for diseases with relatively high prevalence in disadvantaged groups, based on existing cost-effectiveness results identified by a targeted review. The health inequality impact was summarized using the slope index of inequality in quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). RESULTS: The selected interventions were 2 screening interventions for diabetes and hypertension, and 3 treatment interventions for chronic kidney disease. The calculator demonstrated that all 5 interventions would reduce health inequality. Population screening for diabetes had the greatest impact on reducing health inequality of 8562 QALYs. Among the 3 treatment interventions, intensive blood pressure control had the greatest impact, with a health inequality benefit of 514 QALYs. CONCLUSIONS: Routine aggregate distributional cost-effectiveness analysis of interventions in Queensland is feasible, once standard cost-effectiveness estimates are available. The calculator for Queensland enables fast, transparent, and replicable analysis of health inequality impacts using minimal data, with visual outputs to explore trade-offs between health outcomes, inequality, and cost-effectiveness. 2027-05-01T00:00:00Z Text Journal contribution 10.26187/deakin.34028277 https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Routine_Distributional_Analysis_of_Health_Inequality_Impact_by_Socioeconomic_Group_Technical_Feasibility_Study_in_Queensland_Australia/34028277 CC BY 4.0