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Choosing a value set

The responses to the five EQ-5D dimensions (i.e. an EQ-5D health state or profile) can be converted into a single number called an index value. The index value reflects how good or bad the health state is according to the preferences of the general population of a country/region. The collection of index values for all possible EQ-5D states is called a value set. Value sets are available for the EQ-5D-3L, EQ-5D-5L and EQ-5D-Y for different countries/regions. Several valuation techniques have been used to generate these value sets: time trade-off (TTO), visual analogue scale (VAS), and more recently, discrete choice experiments (DCE).

For the EQ-5D-5L a standardized valuation study protocol (called EQ-VT) was developed by the EuroQol Group to create standard value sets for the EQ-5D-5L. EQ-5D-5L users are recommended to use these standard values sets produced with EQ-VT.

An international valuation protocol for EQ-5D-Y was published in 2020. A number of EQ-5D-Y valuation studies are in development and EQ-5D-Y value sets have begun to be published.

The starting point when selecting a value set is the anticipated use of the EQ-5D data. Once this decision has been made, a set of weights that represent the general population’s preferences might be the ideal system of choice, but such a system might not be available for your country/region. The following flowchart and considerations may help you to choose the most appropriate value set. For guidance on submissions to NICE please see NICE position statement.

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Economic studies

For economic studies where cost-utility analysis is anticipated, most health economists would recommend a choice-based based value set, derived from TTO or DCE data. If a choice-based value set is not available for your country/region, you can select a choice-based value set for a country/region that most closely approximates yours. Alternatively, you can use a VAS-based value set if that is available for your country/region.

For economic studies where cost-utility analysis is not anticipated, either a VAS-, DCE- or a TTO value set can be used. If a value set is not available for your country/region, you can select a value set for a country/region that most closely approximates yours.

Crosswalk value sets for the EQ-5D-5L

If a standard EQ-5D-5L value set is not available for your country/region, then a so-called “crosswalk” value set can be used. A crosswalk value set is one that has been created for the EQ-5D-3L and then adapted to fit the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system.

The crosswalk value sets were created by the EuroQol Group as an interim solution for use until national EQ-5D-5L value sets are available. Crosswalk value sets are based on a study that administered both the EQ-5D-3L and the EQ-5D-5L in a sample of 3691 patients with different diseases and from different countries/regions. More information on the crosswalk methodology can be found here and here.

(Version18NOV2021)

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