QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Year)
A measure of disease burden combining quantity and quality of life.
QALYs combine length and quality of life into a single metric. Used in health economics to compare interventions and inform funding decisions.
What this means for you: QALYs aren't typically discussed at the bedside, but they underlie many insurance and policy decisions about which treatments are covered.
What a term means for you depends on your own reports. Ask your treating doctor, or send your reports for a free review.