ABSTRACT
An analysis using a discrete event simulation (DES) involves several steps. First, all the input values are read in and stored in their appropriate locations (e.g., global variables). Next, the entities are created and they are introduced into the simulation where they experience the events specified in the model logic, accruing consequences such as costs, survival time, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). This happens either for the specified time horizon or for a fixed number of individuals (i.e., until the last entity dies or otherwise leaves the model). The outcomes of interest are recorded and all the results required to inform the health technology assessment (HTA) are transferred to a suitable medium (e.g., a spreadsheet), if necessary. There may be some additional processing of that information required to produce the final results in the form desired by the decision makers (e.g., an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio, ICER) (Rutter et al. 2011).
