RT Journal Article
T1 From Spreadsheets to Script: Experiences From Converting a Scottish Cardiovascular Disease Policy Model into R
A1 Xin, Yiqiao
A1 Robles‑Zurita, José Antonio
A1 Haghpanahan, Houra
A1 Heggie, Robert
A1 Kohli‑Lynch, Ciaran
A1 Briggs, Andrew
A1 McAllister, David A.
A1 Lawson, Kenny D.
A1 Lewsey, Jim
A1 Gray, Ewan
K1 Sistema cardiovascular - Enfermedades - Aspectos económicos
AB Given the advantages in transparency, reproducibility, adaptability and computational efficiency in R, there is a growing interestin converting existing spreadsheet-based models into an R script for model re-use and upskilling training among healtheconomic modellers. The objective of this exercise was to convert the Scottish Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Policy Modelfrom Excel to R and discuss the lessons learnt throughout this process. The CVD model is a competing risk state transitioncohort model. Four health economists, with varied experience of R, attempted to replicate an identical model structure inR based on the model in Excel and reproduce the intermediate and final results. Replications varied in their use of specialisthealth economics packages in addition to standard data management packages. Two versions of the CVD model werecreated in R along with a Shiny app. Version 1 was developed without health economics specialist packages and producedidentical results to the Excel version. Version 2 used the heemod package and did not achieve the same results, possiblydue to the non-standard elements of the model and limited time to adapt the functions. The R model requires less than halfthe computational time than the Excel model. Conversion of the spreadsheet models to script models is feasible for healtheconomists. A step-by-step guide for the conversion process is provided and modellers’ experience is discussed. Codingwithout specialist packages allows full flexibility, while specialist packages may add convenience if the model structure issuitable. Whichever approach is taken, transparency and replicability remain the key criteria in model programming. Modelconversions must maintain standards in these areas regardless of the choice of software.
PB Springer Nature
YR 2021
FD 2021
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10630/37228
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10630/37228
LA eng
NO Xin, Y., Gray, E., Robles-Zurita, J. A., Haghpanahan, H., Heggie, R., Kohli-Lynch, C., Briggs, A., McAllister, D. A., Lawson, K. D. and Lewsey, J. (2022) From spreadsheets to script: experiences from converting a Scottish cardiovascular disease policy model into R. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 20(2), pp. 149-158. (doi: 10.1007/s40258-021-00684-y)
DS RIUMA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Málaga
RD 20 ene 2026