The reliability and stability of Slovenian population preferences for EQ-5D health states in time

Abstract

Background: Subjective health states valuation has an increasing impact in the last decade and is used more and more in determining the quality of life of population. On its basis the quality adjusted life years (QALYs) are calculated that are used in economic cost utility analyses in health care fi eld. Quite in a few countries such analyses are recommended or even demanded in the process of taking decisions on fi nancing new health technology including medicines, equipments and medical procedures. Th e preferences of the population have therefore an enormous impact on the allocation of restricted health care budget and through this on the health care development. Th e question is whether population preferences for health care states or for separate health care states dimensions, that impact the healthrelated quality of life, change in time. Th e goal of the study is to examine the stability and reliability of preferences for the EQ-5D health states in Slovenian population at two points in time. Methods: Two-stage random sample was selected from the adult Slovenian population in years 2000 and 2005. Each time, the respondents valued a subset out of the 243 EQ-5D health states. Regression analysis was used to get the valuations for all EQ-5D states in both years. First, we compared unadjusted and adjusted mean valuations among both groups. Second, we evaluated diff erences in mean valuations among the groups aft er adjusting for other sociodemographic characteristics: age and education.Results: Th e valuations showed the stability of the preferences towards EQ-5D health states in Slovenian population. Conclusions: Within Slovenia, the preferences of Slovenian population are stable in time and proper to use in economic analyses.