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The European Journal of Health Economics
Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics 7/2016

01-09-2016 | Original Paper

Unchained melody: revisiting the estimation of SF-6D values

Author: Benjamin M. Craig

Published in: The European Journal of Health Economics | Issue 7/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

In the original SF-6D valuation study, the analytical design inherited conventions that detrimentally affected its ability to predict values on a quality-adjusted life year (QALY) scale. Our objective is to estimate UK values for SF-6D states using the original data and multi-attribute utility (MAU) regression after addressing its limitations and to compare the revised SF-6D and EQ-5D value predictions.

Methods

Using the unaltered data (611 respondents, 3503 SG responses), the parameters of the original MAU model were re-estimated under three alternative error specifications, known as the instant, episodic, and angular random utility models. Value predictions on a QALY scale were compared to EQ-5D3L predictions using the 1996 Health Survey for England.

Results

Contrary to the original results, the revised SF-6D value predictions range below 0 QALYs (i.e., worse than death) and agree largely with EQ-5D predictions after adjusting for scale. Although a QALY is defined as a year in optimal health, the SF-6D sets a higher standard for optimal health than the EQ-5D-3L; therefore, it has larger units on a QALY scale by construction (20.9 % more).

Conclusions

Much of the debate in health valuation has focused on differences between preference elicitation tasks, sampling, and instruments. After correcting errant econometric practices and adjusting for differences in QALY scale between the EQ-5D and SF-6D values, the revised predictions demonstrate convergent validity, making them more suitable for UK economic evaluations compared to original estimates.
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Metadata
Title
Unchained melody: revisiting the estimation of SF-6D values
Author
Benjamin M. Craig
Publication date
01-09-2016
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
The European Journal of Health Economics / Issue 7/2016
Print ISSN: 1618-7598
Electronic ISSN: 1618-7601
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10198-015-0727-4

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