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What matters most?: evidence-based findings of health dimensions affecting the societal preferences for EQ-5D health states

¿Qué es lo que más importa?: evidencias empíricas sobre las dimensiones que afectan a las preferencias sociales por los estados de salud en EQ-5D

O que importa mais?: evidências empíricas das dimensões que afetam as preferências sociais para estados de saúde do EQ-5D

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.

Quality Adjusted Life Years; Health Evaluation; Health Technology Assessment


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