Population-Based Preference Weights for the EQ-5D Health States Using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in Iran

Abstract

BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQoL) is used as a measure to valuate healthcare interventions and guide policy making. The EuroQol EQ-5D is a widely used generic preference-based instrument to measure Health-related quality of life.ObjectivesThe objective of this study was to develop a value set of the EQ-5D health states for an Iranian population.Patients and MethodsThis study is a cross-sectional study of Iranian populations. Our sample from Iranian populations consists out of 869 participants, who were selected for this study using a stratified probability sampling method. The sample was taken from individuals living in the city of Tehran and was stratified by age and gender from July to November 2013. Respondents valued 13 health states using the visual analogue scale (VAS) of the EQ-5D. Several fixed effects regression models were tested to predict the full set of health states. We selected the final model based on the logical consistency of the estimates, the sign and magnitude of the regression coefficients, goodness of fit, and parsimony. We also compared predicted values with a value set from similar studies in the UK and other countries.ResultsOur results show that the HRQoL does not vary among socioeconomic groups. Models at the individual level resulted in an additive model with all coefficients being statistically significant, R2 = 0.55, a value of 0.75 for the best health state (11112), and a value of -0.074 for the worst health state (33333). The value set obtained for the study sample remarkably differs from those elicited in developed countries.ConclusionsThis study is the first estimate for the EQ-5D value set based on the VAS in Iran. Given the importance of locally adapted value set the use of this value set can be recommended for future studies in Iran and In the EMRO regions.

Self-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and factors affecting HRQoL among individuals with health insurance in Iran

“…This study is supported by a previous study [16] showing that pain/discomfort was the most common health problem (34.4%) and that 33.4% of the population suffered from anxiety/depression in Tehran. Similar studies have shown that most problems in the general population related to the pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression dimensions of HRQoL.…”

“…This study used the Iranian value set for EQ-5D health states in order to calculate participants’ QoL. This value set was derived using the visual analog scale method [16]. Socioeconomic variables are basic predictors of health and QoL [4,17].…”

Comparison of Blood Transfusion Plus Chelation Therapy and Bone Marrow Transplantation in Patients with ??-Thalassemia: Application of SF-36, EQ-5D, and Visual Analogue Scale Measures

“…The second part (EQ VAS) is a graded tool for health status where the respondents select a score from 0 to 100 to represent their level of health, with higher scores indicating better QoL. 15,22,23 Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) is another instrument used for assessing general health of β-thalassemia patients. This is also a general tool for measuring QoL in different contexts.…”

Health-related quality of life and disease burden of psoriasis in Iran

“…The other 10 studies used EQ-5D along with other kinds of methods or questionnaires, such as socio-demographic questionnaires, SF-36, TTO, VAS, DLQI, PASI, Type 2 Diabetes and Health Promotion Scale (T2DHPS). (Seyedifar et al, 2016, Karyani et al, 2016, Yousefi et al, 2016, Goudarzi et al, 2016, Assadi&Afshari, 2016, Javanbakht et al, 2015, Saffari et al, 2015, Hosseini Nejhad et al, 2013, Javanbakht et al, 2012 A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted by Karyani et al to measure HRQOL in Bthalassemia patients using ED-5D along with information about participants' demographic, socioeconomic, and health status was gathered. (Karyani et al, 2016) Another study also used ED-5D with information about participants' demographic in order to conduct their survey on patients with type 2 diabetes.…”

“…(Saffari et al, 2015) Six studies used Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) along with ED-5D including the paper we published. (Seyedifar et al, 2016, Goudarzi et al, 2016, Hosseini Nejhad et al, 2013, Javanbakht et al, 2012, Assadi&Afshari, 2016 (Yousefi et al, 2016) Another cross-sectional study, gathered data by using a socio-demographic questionnaire, EQ-5D, and SF-36 instruments on patients with β-thalassemia. (Javanbakht et al, 2015) Mean EQ-5D-3L index score in psoriasis patients was 0.62, which is lower than experienced by patients with type 2 diabetes (0.70), breast cancer (0.69) and beta thalassemia (0.86) patients In Iran (Table 32).…”