Quebec Health-Related Quality-of-Life Population Norms Using the EQ-5D-5L: Decomposition by Sociodemographic Data and Health Problems

ObjectivesPopulation norms for the EQ-5D-5L were published in Canada but only for Alberta province. The purpose of this study was to derive Quebec population norms from the EQ-5D-5L.MethodsThe data came from a larger study conducted between September 2016 and March 2018 using elicitation techniques for a quality-adjusted life-year project. The online survey was distributed randomly in the province of Quebec. To best describe the entire population, data were stratified by various sociodemographic characteristics such as age, gender, urban and rural populations, whether disadvantaged or not, immigrant or nonimmigrant, and health problems.ResultsA total of 2704 (53.8%) respondents completed the EQ-5D-5L. Mean (95% confidence interval) and median (interquartile range) utility scores were 0.824 (0.818-0.829) and 0.867 (0.802-0.911), respectively. The EQ-VAS scores were estimated at 75.9 (75.2-76.6) and 80 (69-90). Subjects with lower scores were those who had a low or high body mass index; were smokers; were single, divorced, or widowed; had no children; were unemployed or sick; had lower education or lower annual income; and had a family or personal history of serious illness. Immigrants had higher scores. There was no difference in gender and urban or rural population. The score logically decreased with worsening health status, from a mean score of 0.896 (0.884-0.908) to 0.443 (0.384-0.501; P < .0001. Similar results were observed for subjects’ satisfaction with their health or life. Subjects with lower scores were less willing to take risks. Subjects who declared they were affected by health problems presented significant lower utility scores, ranging from 0.554 (nervous problem) to 0.750 (cancer), compared with those without health problems (0.871; confidence interval: 0.867-0.876).ConclusionThis is the first study to present utility score norms for EQ-5D-5L for the Quebec population. These results will be useful for comparison with quality-adjusted life-year studies to better interpret their results. Moreover, utility norms were provided for 21 health problems, which was rarely done.     

EQ-5D-3L Norms for the European Older Population: Country-Specific Norms for 15 European Countires Based on the Survey of Health,Ageing, and Retirement in Europe

ObjectivesThis study presents a country-specific 3-level version of EQ-5D population norms for the European older population.MethodsNorm data were obtained from the fourth wave of the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, and determined, for each EQ-5D dimension, the EQ–visual analog scale (EQ-VAS) and EQ-5D index values by 7 age groups and sex for 15 European countries. The EQ-5D index values were calculated using the European VAS value set for all countries.ResultsData resulting from 50 013 older respondents (mean age 65.9 years, range 50-111 years, 55.6% women) revealed an increasing number of self-reported health problems on EQ-5D dimensions and decreasing EQ-VAS scores with increasing age and for women compared with men. There are notable differences between countries in terms of the age gradient, the proportion of respondents in full health, and sex. Across all age groups, problems with pain & discomfort are the most frequent (36%-73% any problems), whereas problems with self-care are the least frequent (3%-31% any problems). The mean EQ-VAS score is 71.2 and the mean European VAS score is 0.79.ConclusionsGiven the growing number of older adults and elderly people in Europe, these population norms provide a valuable source of reference data that can be used to compare older adults or patient subgroups to the average of the general elderly population in a similar age or sex group in 15 European countries. The index value results may be further used to assess the burden of disease across older European populations and to identify the unmet needs of targeted older patient populations.     

Time Trade-Off Value Set for EQ-5D-3L Based on a Nationally Representative Chinese Population Survey

Objectives

To obtain a nationally representative Chinese three-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire value set based on the time trade-off (TTO) method.

Japanese Population Norms of EQ-5D-5L and Health Utilities Index Mark 3: Disutility Catalog by Disease and Symptom in Community Settings

ObjectivesThis study aimed to establish the Japanese population norms of the EQ-5D-5L and Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3) and estimate the disutility associated with diseases and symptoms.MethodsWe performed a door-to-door survey of the general population by random sampling. The planned sample size was 10 000 residents (age ≥16 years) of 334 districts in Japan. In addition to the EQ-5D-5L and HUI3 questionnaires, questions regarding demographic factors and self-reported main diseases and symptoms were asked. The EQ-5D-5L and HUI3 responses were converted to index values on the basis of Japanese value sets. Summary values by age and sex were calculated to obtain Japanese normative values. A multiple linear model was used to examine relationships between these values and diseases and symptoms.ResultsWe collected 10 183 responses from 334 districts. The mean EQ-5D-5L index values were 0.821 (male) and 0.774 (female) in the age group of 80 to 89 years, which were lower compared with 0.978 (male) and 0.967 (female) in the age group of 16 to 19 years. Similar trends were observed for the HUI3 values. Age, sex, household income, and education level had a significant influence on the values of both instruments. When measured with the EQ-5D-5L, Parkinson disease, dementia, and stroke were associated with the largest disutility (>0.2), and the disutility for depression was approximately 0.18. In contrast, the HUI3 disutility values for Parkinson disease and dementia were approximately 0.4.ConclusionsThis study established the Japanese population norms of the EQ-5D-5L and HUI3, which can be used in healthcare decision making and contribute to a more reliable analysis of economic evaluations.     

Development of an EQ-5D Value Set for India Using an Extended Design (DEVINE) Study: The Indian 5-Level Version EQ-5D Value Set

ObjectivesThis study aimed to develop the Indian 5-level version EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L) value set, which is a key input in health technology assessment for resource allocation in healthcare.MethodsA cross-sectional survey using the EuroQol Group’s Valuation Technology was undertaken in a representative sample of 3548 adult respondents, selected from 5 different states of India using a multistage stratified random sampling technique. The participants were interviewed using a computer-assisted personal interviewing technique. This study adopted a novel extended EuroQol Group’s Valuation Technology design that included 18 blocks of 10 composite time trade-off (c-TTO) tasks, comprising 150 unique health states, and 36 blocks of 7 discrete choice experiment (DCE) tasks, comprising 252 DCE pairs. Different models were explored for their predictive performance. Hybrid modeling approach using both c-TTO and DCE data was used to estimate the value set.ResultsA total of 2409 interviews were included in the analysis. The hybrid heteroscedastic model with censoring at ?1 combining c-TTO and DCE data yielded the most consistent results and was used for the generation of the value set. The predicted values for all 3125 health states ranged from ?0.923 to 1. The preference values were most affected by the pain/discomfort dimension.ConclusionsThis is the largest EQ-5D-5L valuation study conducted so far in the world. The Indian EQ-5D-5L value set will promote the effective conduct of health technology assessment studies in India, thereby generating credible evidence for efficient resource use in healthcare.     

Cost-Utility Analysis Using EQ-5D-5L Data: Does How the Utilities Are Derived Matter?

Objectives

To explore how the use of EQ-5D-5L value set and crosswalk from EQ-5D-5L to EQ-5D-3L (and use of 3L value set) would affect cost-effectiveness analysis results for England and six other countries (Canada, the Netherlands, China, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore).

Estimating an EQ-5D-5L Value Set for China

Objectives

To estimate a five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) value set for China using the health preferences of residents living in the urban areas of the country.

欧洲五维五水平量表在中国慢性乙型肝炎病毒感染者中的适用性调查

目的了解欧洲五维五水平量表（EQ-5D-5L）在中国慢性乙型肝炎（乙肝）病毒（Hepatitis B Virus,HBV）感染者中的适用性。方法采取整群抽样的方法,从山东省3家医院中连续调查HBV携带者、慢性乙肝（Chronic Hepatitis B,CHB）非活动期、CHB活动期、代偿性肝硬化（Compensated Cirrhosis,CC）、失代偿性肝硬化（Decompensated Cirrhosis,DC）和肝细胞癌（Hepatocellular Carcinoma,HCC）病人各至少100名。病人自填调查表。一周后对住院病人进行复查,询问医生了解病人病情的转归。采用日本模型获得不同病人的健康相关生命质量（Health-Related QualityofLife,HRQoL）,进行效度、信度、敏感度和响应度的评价,使用多重线性回归进行影响因素分析。结果初次调查645人,复查183人。HBV携带者、CHB非活动期、CHB活动期、CC、DC和HCC病人的HRQoL均数分别为0．813、0．808、0．771、0．763、0．699和0．661;除HBV携带者与CHB非活动期、CHB活动期与CC外,不同HBV感染状态HRQoL的差异均有统计学意义;除CHB非活动期外,其他HBV感染状态的HRQoL与视觉模拟标尺均有较高的相关性。对病情稳定的各类病人,前后两次调查HRQoL的差异无统计学意义,且组内相关系数较高;量表存在一定程度的天花板效应;对病情好转的各类病人,第二次调查的HRQoL均显著升高。结论EQ-5D-5L适用于我国慢性HBV感染人群,具有较好的效度、信度和响应度,但敏感度较低,对轻症病人有一定程度的天花板效应。     

Investigating 5-Level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L) Values Based on Preferences of Patients With Heart Disease

ObjectivesSeveral studies have shown that patients with heart disease value hypothetical health states differently from the general population. We aimed to investigate the health preferences of patients with heart disease and develop a value set for the 5-level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L) based on these patient preferences.MethodsPatients with confirmed heart disease were recruited from 2 hospitals in Singapore. A total of 86 EQ-5D-5L health states (10 per patient) were valued using a composite time trade-off method according to the international valuation protocol for EQ-5D-5L; 20-parameter linear models and 8-parameter cross-attribute level effects models with and without an N45 term (indicating whether any health state dimension at level 4 or 5 existed) were estimated. Each model included patient-specific random intercepts. Model performance was evaluated for out-of-sample and in-sample predictive accuracy in terms of root mean square error. The discriminative ability of the utility values was assessed using heart disease-related functional classes.ResultsA total of 576 patients were included in the analysis. The preferred model, with the lowest out-of-sample root mean square error, was a 20-parameter linear model including N45. Predicted utility values ranged from ?0.727 for the worst state to 1 for full health; the value for the second-best state was 0.981. Utility values demonstrated good discriminative ability in differentiating among patients of varied functional classes.ConclusionsAn EQ-5D-5L value set representing the preferences of patients with heart disease was developed. The value set could be used for patient-centric economic evaluation and health-related quality of life assessment for patients with heart disease.     

基于EQ-5D-3L和ICECAP-A量表的我国普通人群生命质量研究

目的:分析EQ-5D-3L和ICECAP-A量表评价我国普通人群生命质量的差异以及对干预方案价值评价的影响,为研究者选择合适的生命质量测量工具提供参考。方法:采用配额抽样选取802名受访者进行生命质量评价,并分别采用因子分析、多分格相关性和Bland-Altman plot一致性分析等方法探讨两量表测量结果的差异。结果:Wilcoxon秩和检验表明EQ-5D-3L量表的健康效用均值高于ICECAP-A量表的测量结果;ICECAP-A量表五个维度均主要加载于反映社会心理健康的因子1,而EQ-5D-3L量表的大部分维度主要加载于反映生理健康的因子2。部分维度之间也存在显著的相关性,但均较弱。两量表效用值的ICC为0.32,一致性分析显示5.74%的受访者超出了95%的一致性界限。结论:前者的测量内涵是健康相关生命质量,而后者则反映的是幸福感、可行能力等更广义的生命质量,其对于旨在提升公众广义幸福感和社会福祉的干预措施效果评估方面具有较好的适用性。研究者可根据测量目的及量表属性选择合适的量表,鉴于两个量表在测量内涵中的互补性,也可以在研究中同时采用两种量表以便更全面地反映干预措施的效果或受访者的生命质量。     

Effect of Health State Sampling Methods on Model Predictions of EQ-5D-5L Values: Small Designs Can Suffice

Objective

The current five-level EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L) valuation protocol requires the valuation of 86 states. It has been demonstrated that the selection of empirically valued health states affects the extrapolated values in three-level EQ-5D (EQ-3D-3L). In this investigation, we aim to compare the performance of the current EQ-5D-5L valuation design with other designs.

Selecting Health States for EQ-5D-3L Valuation Studies: Statistical Considerations Matter

Background

For many countries, the three-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-3L) value sets have been established to estimate health state utilities. To generate these value sets, researchers first collect values for a subset of preselected health states from a panel representing the general public, and then use a prediction algorithm to generate values for all 243 states. High prevalence of a health state in daily practice has historically been a key criterion in selecting a subset of health states as the observed set. More recently, other criteria have been suggested, especially approaches based on statistical criteria such as randomization and orthogonality.

Instrument-Defined Estimates of the Minimally Important Difference for EQ-5D-5L Index Scores

Background

The five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) is a preference-based measure of health-related quality of life (HRQOL), which yields an index score anchored at 0 (dead) and 1 (full health). We lack evidence on estimates for the minimally important difference (MID) of the EQ-5D-5L that will help in interpreting differences or changes in HRQOL measured by this scale score.

Overview,Update, and Lessons Learned From the International EQ-5D-5L Valuation Work: Version 2 of the EQ-5D-5L Valuation Protocol

A standardized 5-level EuroQol 5-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) valuation protocol was first used in national studies in the period 2012 to 2013. A set of problems encountered in this initial wave of valuation studies led to the subsequent refinement of the valuation protocol. To clarify lessons learned and how the protocol was updated when moving from version 1.0 to the current version 2.1 and 2.0, this article will (1) present the challenges faced in EQ-5D-5L valuation since 2012 and how these were resolved and (2) describe in depth a set of new challenges that have become central in currently ongoing research on how EQ-5D-5L health states should be valued and modeled.     

Estimating Health-State Utility Values in Kidney Transplant Recipients and Waiting-List Patients Using the EQ-5D-5L

Objectives

To report health-state utility values measured using the five-level EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) in a large sample of patients with end-stage renal disease and to explore how these values vary in relation to patient characteristics and treatment factors.

A Direct Comparison of the Measurement Properties of EQ-5D-5L,PROMIS-29+2 and PROMIS Global Health Instruments and EQ-5D-5L and PROPr Utilities in a General Population Sample

ObjectivesWe aimed to compare measurement properties of the 5-level version of EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L) and 2 Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) short forms, PROMIS-29+2 and PROMIS Global Health (PROMIS-GH-10), and of EQ-5D-5L and PROMIS-preference scoring system (PROPr) utilities.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted in a general population sample in Hungary (N = 1631). We compared the following measurement properties at the level of items, domains, and utilities, the latter using corresponding US value sets: ceiling and floor, informativity (Shannon’s indices), agreement, convergent, and known-group validity. For the analyses, PROMIS items/domains were matched to EQ-5D-5L domains that cover similar concepts of health.ResultsThe majority of PROMIS items showed enhanced distributional characteristics, including lower ceilings and higher informativity than the EQ-5D-5L. Good convergent validity was established between EQ-5D-5L and PROMIS domains capturing similar aspects of health. Mean EQ-5D-5L utilities were substantially higher than those of PROPr (0.864 vs 0.535). EQ-5D-5L utilities correlated moderately or strongly with PROPr (r = 0.61), PROMIS-GH-10 physical (r = 0.68), and mental health summary scores (r = 0.53). EQ-5D-5L utilities decreased with age, whereas PROPr utilities slightly increased with age. EQ-5D-5L utilities discriminated significantly better in 12/28 (ratio of F-statistics) and 18/26 (area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve ratio) known groups defined by age, self-perceived health status, and self-reported physician-diagnosed health conditions, including hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and stroke.ConclusionsThis study provides comparative evidence on the measurement properties of EQ-5D-5L, PROMIS-29+2, and PROMIS-GH-10 and informs decisions about the choice of instruments in population health surveys for assessment of patients’ health and for cost-utility analyses.     

A Program of Methodological Research to Arrive at the New International EQ-5D-5L Valuation Protocol

ObjectivesTo describe the research that has been undertaken by the EuroQol Group to improve current methods for health state valuation, to summarize the results of an extensive international pilot program, and to outline the key elements of the five-level EuroQol five-dimensional (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire valuation protocol, which is the culmination of that work.MethodsTo improve on methods of health state valuation for the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire, we investigated the performance of different variants of time trade-off and discrete choice tasks in a multinational setting. We also investigated the effect of three modes of administration on health state valuation: group interviews, online self-completion, and face-to-face interviews.ResultsThe research program provided the basis for the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire valuation protocol. Two different types of tasks are included to derive preferences: a newly developed composite time trade-off task and a forced-choice paired comparisons discrete choice task. Furthermore, standardized blocked designs for the selection of the states to be valued by participants were created and implemented together with all other elements of the valuation protocol in a digital aid, the EuroQol Valuation Technology, which was developed in conjunction with the protocol.ConclusionsThe EuroQol Group has developed a standard protocol, with accompanying digital aid and interviewer training materials, that can be used to create value sets for the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. The use of a well-described, consistent protocol across all countries enhances the comparability of value sets between countries, and allows the exploration of the influence of cultural and other factors on health state values.     

Accounting for Unobservable Preference Heterogeneity and Evaluating Alternative Anchoring Approaches to Estimate Country-Specific EQ-5D-Y Value Sets: A Case Study Using Spanish Preference Data

ObjectivesThe EuroQol Group published the EQ-5D-Y valuation protocol that recommends 2 valuation techniques to elicit preferences: composite time trade-off (C-TTO) and discrete choice experiments (DCEs). The protocol left the decision of what modeling approach to use open for researchers. Our aims were to explore modeling strategies allowing generation of EQ-5D-Y value sets and to produce an EQ-5D-Y Spanish value set.MethodsWe used EQ-5D-Y DCE and C-TTO data collected in Spain following the protocol and adopted a staged approach for our modeling exercise. First, we selected the best performing DCE latent class model and evaluated models from 2 to 10 classes. We selected the preferred model based on best goodness of fit in terms of the Bayesian information criterion. We considered 2 anchoring approaches to estimate utility values: (1) pits state anchoring and (2) hybrid models (using all available C-TTO responses). All analysis were weighted to be representative of the Spanish population.ResultsWe collected 1005 DCE and 200 C-TTO interviews. We selected a DCE model including 4 classes. Hybrid models using all available C-TTO observations produced a narrower range of values than the pits state anchoring approach.ConclusionsIn this article, we have presented an EQ-5D-Y value set that can be used for cost-utility analysis in Spain. The international EQ-5D-Y valuation protocol should be updated to include a different set of health states for the C-TTO experiment if researchers wish to use alternative anchoring approaches to the “pits state.”