Health problems are more common, but less severe when measured using newer EQ-5D versions.
OBJECTIVE
The EuroQol Group recently released youth (Y) and 5-level (5L) versions of its 3-level EQ-5D instrument (3L) that measures health-related quality of life. In this study, we (1) compare 3L, Y, and 5L responses among US adults and (2) assess construct validity.


METHODS
Using a nationally representative sample of US adults (N = 2,619), we collected 3L, Y, and 5L responses in random order and estimated their associations and their relationship with a 0 to 100 numerical visual analog scale.


RESULTS
The prevalence of US adults in the best possible EQ-5D state (i.e., 11111) was lower for the Y (38%) and 5L (35%) than for the 3L (44%), capturing more health problems. However, the prevalence of extreme responses in pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression decreased substantially between the 3L and 5L (from 44% to 17% and from 29% to 13%, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with the 3L, the Y and 5L versions describe population health as having more, yet milder, health problems. Although the 5L may have advantages in patient populations in which extreme problems are more prevalent, population studies or studies that follow patients from childhood may consider using the Y.
Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida, 12902 Magnolia Drive, MRC-CANCONT, Tampa, FL 33612-9416, USA. Electronic address: benjamin.craig@moffitt.org.
Benjamin M
BM
Craig
A Simon
AS
Pickard
Erica I
EI
Lubetkin
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
EQ-5D; EQ-5D-3L; EQ-5D-5L; EQ-5D-Y; EuroQol; PRO; Patient-reported outcomes