NICE confirms the adoption of EQ-5D-5L instrument and new UK 5L value set as the preferred approaches

NICE confirms the adoption of EQ-5D-5L instrument and new UK 5L value set as the preferred approaches for deriving utilities in adults for use in technology appraisal submissions

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has released a new interim methods statement on 27 August 2026 on the use of the EQ-5D-5L (5L) instrument and new 5L value set for the UK in technology appraisals. In the statement, NICE noted:

“After this interim methods statement is published, the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and the new UK value set will be NICE’s preferred approaches to measure and value health-related quality of life in adults.[1] The UK 5L value set should be used to derive all utility values for adults in reference-case analyses [Section 1.7].”

The release of the new interim methods statement follows a public consultation on its proposal to adopt the new 5L value set.

The NICE technology appraisal and highly specialised technologies guidance manual (PMG36), and the developing NICE guidelines manual (PMG20) will be updated later this year to incorporate the new recommendations. However, to avoid unnecessary delay in implementing the new 5L value set NICE has published the interim methods statement.

The decision by NICE to adopt the new 5L value set is the culmination of a multi-year research project. Data collection for the 5L valuation study started in 2022 and included 1200 interviews with a representative sample of the adult population from across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to identify preferences for 5L health states. The study used state-of-the-art methodologies, and data quality was rigorously and independently assessed throughout the study. The EuroQol Executive Committee and Board would like to express their gratitude to the research team and all of the partners involved in this complex project.

The interim methods statement on implementing the EQ-5D-5L and its new value set for the UK, along with answers to FAQs, can be found on the NICE website. The UK EQ-5D-5L value set publication can be accessed online (with open access). Supplementary materials including scoring algorithms (including SAS, SPSS, STATA, R and Excel) and FAQs can be found on the EuroQol website.

[1] Please note, NICE does not recommend specific measures of health-related quality of life in children and young people (Interim Methods Statement, Section 1.7)