title: Discrepancies between the Dermatology Life Quality Index and utility scores.
abstract: In many jurisdictions, deterioration in quality of life assessed with Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) is used for medical and reimbursement decisions in various dermatological conditions such as psoriasis. However, utility values for health states defined by the DLQI have not yet been evaluated. Therefore, we aim to estimate utilities for different health states described by the ten items of the DLQI.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional survey was performed in a convenience sample of the general population. Seven DLQI health states with total scores of 6, 11 and 16 (3-3 and 1 states, respectively) were developed. All of them were different from each other in the number of affected items and severity levels of impairment. The 10-year time trade-off method was used to value health states.
  
  
  
  Mean utilities elicited by the respondents (n = 308) for the three 6-, three 11- and one 16-point DLQI health states were 0.62-0.75, 0.59-0.66, and 0.56, respectively. In half of the six pairwise comparisons, where health states with the same total DLQI score were compared, significant difference between utilities was found. In eight out of the 15 comparisons between health states with different DLQI scores, utilities were not significantly different.
  
  
  
  Utility values for health states with identical DLQI total score may significantly vary. This result might be generalisable to various patient populations, in which the DLQI is used; nevertheless, further research is needed. The discrepancies between DLQI scores and utilities might have an impact on medical and reimbursement decisions as they make the utility gain from treatment uncertain.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Fővám tér 8., Budapest, 1093, Hungary.|Semmelweis University Doctoral School of Clinical Medicine, Üllői út 26., Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
authors.forename: Fanni
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rencz
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Fővám tér 8., Budapest, 1093, Hungary.
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baji
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Fővám tér 8., Budapest, 1093, Hungary.
authors.forename: László
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gulácsi
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, Mária u. 41., Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
authors.forename: Sarolta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kárpáti
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Fővám tér 8., Budapest, 1093, Hungary.
authors.forename: Márta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Péntek
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Dermatooncology, Semmelweis University, Mária u. 41., Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
authors.forename: Adrienn Katalin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Poór
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Economics, Corvinus University of Budapest, Fővám tér 8., Budapest, 1093, Hungary. valentin.brodszky@uni-corvinus.hu.
authors.forename: Valentin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brodszky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003880:Dermatology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006814:Hungary; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D011788:Quality of Life; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000451:nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dermatology Life Quality Index; Health-related quality of life; Practice guidelines; Reimbursement; Time trade-off; Utility