Exploring the predictors of health valuations of EQ 5D 3L with a mixed-effects linear model

ABSTRACT

Background

Information about how individual characteristics influence preferences about health states valuation are scare. The purpose of this study is to identify predictors of the EuroQol with five dimensions and 3 levels – EQ 5D-3L time-tradeoff valuation.

Research design and methods

We analyzed a dataset with a probabilistic sample of 5774 individuals. Two sets of independent variables for testing were defined: a set of forced variables composed of 10 dummy variables for EuroQol levels 2 and 3 of each health dimension and a set of demographic variables.

Results

The strongest predictors of health valuation were the self-reported health state and the ‘belief in God,’ with 0.11 utility units for each VAS unit and 0.11 utility units for ‘yes’ for the ‘belief in God’ parameter.Age had an impact of 0.0190 utility units for each 10-year interval. Having children had a small effect (0.0338 utility units for ‘yes’), and the other characteristics studied had no significant impact.

Conclusions

People who believe in God (or the afterlife) and those of greater age seem to be less prone to forgoing life years to avoid health problems. In our sample, older individuals valued health state higher than younger individuals.

KEYWORDS:

• Quality of life
• economics
• medical
• EuroQol
• patient preference
• religious

Article Highlights

• A time-tradeoff exercise could be influenced by individual’s characteristics.

• All the selected variables for the final model had a small positive impact on the valuation.

• Self-evaluation by Visual Analog Scale and Religiosity were the greatest influencers

• Social Class had no significative influence on the valuation process.

• Relevant information about the influence of demographic characteristics could help to design valuation studies.

Acknowledgments

To all participants in “EuroQol Brasil study.”

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Reviewer Disclosures

Peer reviewers on this manuscript have no relevant financial or other relationships to disclose.

Author contribution statement

MS- analyzed and major writing, BS- major analysis and reviewed writing, AM- reviewed analysis and writing. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

0356/25-10-2011- Instituto Nacional de Cardiologia Committee.

Availability of data and material

The database (‘Base de Dados EQ 5D3L’) is available at: http://natsinc.org/wpress/euroqol/#.

Additional information

Funding

Financial support for this study was provided entirely by the Brazilian Ministry of Health through the FINEP and FAPEMIG agencies (01.11.0292.00). The funding agreement ensured the authors’ independence in designing the study, interpreting the data, and writing and publishing the report.