Quality-of-Life Weights for the U.S. Population : Self-Reported Health Status and Priority Health Conditions, by Demographic Characteristics

Background: Many of the large ongoing national surveys of the U.S. population contain a question that asks for the respondent's self-reported health status: "excellent," "very good," "good," "fair" or "poor." These surveys could be used to conduct cost-utility analyses of health care policies, treatments or other interventions if quality-of-life (QOL) weights for the self-reported health statuses were also available. Objective: The objective of this study was to produce nationally representative QOL weights for self-reported health status and for 10 "priority" health conditions, by a series of demographic variables. Research design: The Medical Expenditure Panel Survey contains the questions from the EQ-5D health status measure. A recent study has calculated time-trade-off-derived QOL weights corresponding to the EQ-5D health states for a large sample of Americans. We use these data to construct QOL weights for the five self-reported health status categories and 10 priority health conditions, by a series of demographic variables. Results: Mean and median QOL weights were produced for self-reported health status, the 10 priority health conditions, and the demographic variables. We also report mean QOL weights for the self-reported health state and priority health conditions, by the demographic variables. Finally, ordinary least squares and CLAD regression equations were used to estimate adjusted QOL weights for these variables. Conclusions: By providing nationally representative QOL weights for self-reported health status and 10 priority health conditions, by demographic variable, we have facilitated the use of large national surveys for conducting cost-utility analysis and increased their value to researchers and policy makers