QALYs for COVID-19: A Comparison of US EQ-5D-5L Value Sets

Stephen Poteet () and Benjamin M. Craig ()
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Stephen Poteet: St. Petersburg College
Benjamin M. Craig: University of South Florida

The Patient: Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, 2021, vol. 14, issue 3, No 5, 339-345

Abstract: Abstract Background In economic evaluations, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) can serve as a unit of measurement for disease burden. Obtaining QALY values for COVID-19 presents a challenge owing to the availability of two US EQ-5D-5L value sets and the potentially asymptomatic presentation of the disease. The first value set was completed allowing for the discounting of future health outcomes while the second value set is undiscounted. Objective The objective of this study was to compare the distribution of QALY values using a national survey and the two published value sets; and to estimate the association between COVID-19 outcomes and QALY losses. Methods Between 9 and 11 November, 2020, 1153 US adults completed the EQ-5D-5L instrument (five items and a visual analog scale) as well as self-reported their demographics, COVID-19 symptoms, and memberships to populations that are at risk of COVID-19 infection. The two US value sets were applied to the EQ-5D-5L responses to produce QALY values. We estimated the mean QALYs by visual analog scale decile and a generalized linear model of COVID-19 outcomes. Results The discounted values are higher than the undiscounted values for each visual analog scale decile owing to methodological differences. Persons at increased risk, with a fever in the past day, and with one or more other symptoms have significantly greater QALY losses (p

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1007/s40271-021-00509-z

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