What matters most? Evidence-based findings of health dimensions affecting the societal preferences for EQ-5D health states.
This study analyzes how different health dimensions defined by the EQ-5D-3L instrument affect average individual preferences for health states. This analysis is an important benchmark for the incorporation of health technologies as it takes into consideration Brazilian population preferences in health resource allocation decisions. The EQ-5D instrument defines health in terms of five dimensions (mobility, daily activities, self-care activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression) each divided into three levels of severity. Data came from a valuation study with 3,362 literate individuals aged between 18 and 64 living in urban areas of Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The main results reveal that health utility decreases as the level of severity increases. With regard to health issues, mobility stands out as the most important EQ-5D dimension. Independently of severity levels of the other EQ-5D-3L dimensions, the highest decrements in utilities are associated with severe mobility problems.
Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil. mviegas@cedeplar.ufmg.br
Monica Viegas
MV
Andrade
Centro de Desenvolvimento e Planejamento Regional, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
Kenya Valeria Micaela de Souza
KV
Noronha
Instituto de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas, Universidade Federal de Alfenas, Alfenas, Brasil.
Ana Carolina
AC
Maia
Academic Unit of Health Economics, Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, Leeds, England.
Paul
P
Kind
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult