An Experience-Based Value Set for the EQ-5D-5L in Germany

Objective

Valuation of health states provides a summary measure useful to health care decision makers. Results may depend on whether the currently experienced health state or a hypothetical health state is being evaluated. This study derives a value set for the EuroQoL Five-Dimensional Five-Level Questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L) by focusing on the individual’s current experience.

Data and Methods

Data include four pooled population surveys of the general German population in 2012–2015 (N = 8114). For valuation, a visual analogue scale (VAS) was used. Six specifications of a generalized linear model with binomial error distribution and constraint parameter estimation were analyzed. In each 1000 simulation runs, models were cross-validated after splitting the sample into an estimation part and a validation part. Predictive accuracy was measured by mean absolute error and sum of squared errors.

Results

The models rendered a consistent set of parameters. With regard to predictive accuracy, the model considering all problem levels within the five dimensions and the highest problem level reached performed best overall.

Discussion

Estimation proved to be feasible. Predictive accuracy exceeded that of a similar, experience-based value set for the EQ-5D-3L. Compared with a Dutch value set for the EQ-5D-5L derived for hypothetical health states, experienced values tended to be slightly lower for mild health states and substantially higher for severe health states. Clinical relevance and usefulness of the value set remain to be determined in future studies.

Conclusions

For decision makers who prioritize patient-relevant benefit, the experience-based value set provides a novel option to summarize health states, reflecting how health states experienced are valued in a population.