Abstract
BackgroundThe EQ-5D-3L is a widely used generic health-related quality of life measure commonly applied to describe health outcomes and to measure disease burden. The aim of this study was to generate Brazilian population norms, stratified by age and gender, based on Brazilian preference weights for EQ-5D-3L.MethodsA multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in three Brazilian urban areas. The final sample consisted of 5774 respondents, aged from 18 to 64 years. Amongst other information, respondents were asked to self-report their health status using the EQ-5D-3L descriptive system and visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). Data on socio-demographic characteristics was obtained through specific questionnaires. The Brazilian TTO scoring algorithm was used to derive the utility values. Multivariate logistic regression models were fitted to analyze the influence of age, sex, education status and sample site on the presence of any problem for each dimension of EQ5D.ResultsMean values were computed for both weighted index scores and self-rated health status (EQ-VAS), and stratified by gender and age groups. Health status declines with age, ranging between 0.87 for the youngest group 18–29 year-olds and 0.76 for 60–64-year-old. Men reported higher scores (0.85) than the woman (0.79). Lower education levels were associated with lower EQ-5D index score in most age groups.ConclusionThis study provides EQ-5D reference values for the Brazilian population. These values can be used by local decision-makers and researchers in economic evaluations and population health studies.
Highlights
The EQ-5D-3L is a widely used generic health-related quality of life measure commonly applied to describe health outcomes and to measure disease burden
On cost-utility analysis, the additional benefits produced by a new intervention are expressed in terms of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), which results in an incremental cost-effectiveness estimate presented as cost per QALY gained
The utility values used in QALY calculations are usually elicited on valuation studies conducted with patients or general population, wherein the health states derived from preference-based measures are valued [2, 5]
Summary
The EQ-5D-3L is a widely used generic health-related quality of life measure commonly applied to describe health outcomes and to measure disease burden. Over the course of the last couple of decades, quality of life (QoL) has emerged amongst the measurable outcomes of health programs and interventions as an appropriate outcome to account for actual improvements on patient’s overall health status [1]. Among generic measures of QoL, one can find the generic preference-based measures These instruments describe health states that can be weighted according to preference values derived by scoring functions [7]. The utility values used in QALY calculations are usually elicited on valuation studies conducted with patients or general population (value sets), wherein the health states derived from preference-based measures are valued [2, 5]. Other strategies to obtain these weights include different approaches and populations (e.g., healthcare professionals’ opinions; non-preference based weights; mapping) may be used, but are considered suboptimal [6]
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