BACKGROUND: We compared the quality of life perceived by patients with non-specific low back pain with that predicted by the social tariff of the Spanish version of EQ-5D questionnaire. METHODS: For each health state of the EQ-5D, an adjusted tariff for patients with back pain was obtained using a linear regression model in which the linear effect of the three levels of response for each of the five domains of the EQ-5D was assumed. These coefficients were compared with those obtained for the general Spanish population. In another model, equal in structure to the standard "Dolan N3" model, the linear effect of the five domains was not assumed. RESULTS: In 633 patients, 93 health states were recorded. Significant differences in the coefficients of self-care (p = 0.003) and the maximum level of severity in any dimension (p < 0.0001) were observed. The social tariff of the healthy population is different from the tariff of low back pain patients, with general population values being lower than those of patients, particularly in the 211 health states in which any dimension is at level 3. Weights of the different EQ-5D dimensions showed a non-linear effect on the patients' quality of life. CONCLUSION: Methods used to develop the social tariff for the Spanish version of EQ-5D were inadequate. In addition, this study shows that values given by the general population are different from those of low back pain patients, further confirming that the social tariff of EQ-5D should not be used with actual patients.
BACKGROUND: We compared the quality of life perceived by patients with non-specific low back pain with that predicted by the social tariff of the Spanish version of EQ-5D questionnaire. METHODS: For each health state of the EQ-5D, an adjusted tariff for patients with back pain was obtained using a linear regression model in which the linear effect of the three levels of response for each of the five domains of the EQ-5D was assumed. These coefficients were compared with those obtained for the general Spanish population. In another model, equal in structure to the standard "Dolan N3" model, the linear effect of the five domains was not assumed. RESULTS: In 633 patients, 93 health states were recorded. Significant differences in the coefficients of self-care (p = 0.003) and the maximum level of severity in any dimension (p < 0.0001) were observed. The social tariff of the healthy population is different from the tariff of low back painpatients, with general population values being lower than those of patients, particularly in the 211 health states in which any dimension is at level 3. Weights of the different EQ-5D dimensions showed a non-linear effect on the patients' quality of life. CONCLUSION: Methods used to develop the social tariff for the Spanish version of EQ-5D were inadequate. In addition, this study shows that values given by the general population are different from those of low back painpatients, further confirming that the social tariff of EQ-5D should not be used with actual patients.
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Authors: Francisco M Kovacs; Joan Llobera; Victor Abraira; Pablo Lázaro; Francisco Pozo; David Kleinbaum Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2002-06-01 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: Francisco M Kovacs; Víctor Abraira; Javier Zamora; María Teresa Gil del Real; Joan Llobera; Carmen Fernández; José Ramón Bauza; Kunibert Bauza; Josep Coll; María Cuadri; Elena Duro; Juan Gili; Mario Gestoso; Marina Gómez; Juana González; Patricia Ibañez; Antoni Jover; Pablo Lázaro; Miguel Llinás; Catalina Mateu; Nicole Mufraggi; Alfonso Muriel; Carmen Nicolau; María Arrate Olivera; Patricia Pascual; Lourdes Perelló; Francisco Pozo; Teresa Revuelta; Vicente Reyes; Sebestián Ribot; Jaime Ripoll; Juana Ripoll; Elena Rodríguez Journal: Spine (Phila Pa 1976) Date: 2004-01-15 Impact factor: 3.468
Authors: F J Gilbert; A M Grant; M G C Gillan; L Vale; N W Scott; M K Campbell; D Wardlaw; D Knight; E McIntosh; R W Porter Journal: Health Technol Assess Date: 2004-05 Impact factor: 4.014
Authors: Francisco M Kovacs; Carmen Fernández; Antonio Cordero; Alfonso Muriel; Luis González-Luján; María Teresa Gil del Real Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2006-05-17 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Jorge Cortés; Juan F Blanco; David Pescador; Nuria Asensio; Claudio Castro; Juan Moncada Herrera Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2010-08-09 Impact factor: 4.147
Authors: Francisco M Kovacs; Carmen Fernández; Antonio Cordero; Alfonso Muriel; Luis González-Luján; María Teresa Gil del Real Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2006-05-17 Impact factor: 2.655