Comparing the EQ-5D-5L utility index based on value sets of different countries: impact on the interpretation of clinical study results

• Main Authors: Christoph Gerlinger, Luke Bamber, Friedhelm Leverkus, Carsten Schwenke, Claudia Haberland, Gilda Schmidt, Jan Endrikat
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2019-01-01
• Series: BMC Research Notes
• Subjects: EQ-5D-5L utility index; Clinical studies; Country differences; Quality of life valuation
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-019-4067-9

Abstract Objective To compare the country-specific value sets of the EQ-5D-5L utility index and to evaluate the impact on the interpretation of clinical study results. Six country value sets from Canada, England, Japan, Korea, Netherlands and Uruguay were obtained from literature. In addition, ten crosswalk value sets were downloaded from the EuroQol.org website. Results For each of the 3125 possible health states the difference between the country with the highest index and the country with the lowest index was calculated. The median difference was 0.417 across the health states. When analyzing multinational clinical studies, country-specific value sets should be used to evaluate treatment effects. Additional country-specific analyses are needed.