Why was the EQ-5D-Y-5L introduced?

The EQ-5D-Y-5L provides respondents with a greater range of response options than the EQ-5D-Y-3L. Expanding the number of severity response levels in each dimension reduces ceiling effects and improves the sensitivity of the measure in some conditions.  

The five-level structure of the EQ-5D-Y-5L is also more comparable to the adult EQ-5D-5L, which leads to a smoother transition between youth and adult instruments, for example when monitoring health-related quality of life in longitudinal studies and moving from paediatric to adult populations.

Having two versions of EQ-5D-Y available provides researchers with a wider choice of tools, allowing them to select the version which best meets their study needs and which is best adapted to local conditions.