OBJECTIVES

The EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D have been widely used for surveys in populations, clinical practices, and clinical trial. The purpose of this study was to compare the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D to assess the health-related quality of life of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

METHODS

: The study was conducted at the primary health care in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The inclusion criteria were type 2 diabetes mellitus outpatients, at least 18 years old, and provided informed consent to participate in the study. We compared the ceiling effect of EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D by calculating the proportion at the highest scores. The mean difference in the utility scores based on demographic characteristics was evaluated using the Mann Whitney U test or Kruskal Wallis test, the correlation between EQ-5D-5L, SF-6D, and DQLCTQ were assessed using the Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

: The mean scores on the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D were 0.821 (SD 0.181) and 0.883 (SD 0.100) respectively in the 349 subjects. Eighty five (21%) patients reported perfect health on EQ-5D-5L (11111) and 15.3% patients reported perfect health on SF-6D (111111). EQ-5D-5L, SF-6D, and EQ-VAS were able to detect statistically significant differences in the complications of diabetes mellitus. The Pearson correlation coefficients of the SF-6D and the EQ-5D-5L, the SF-6D and the EQ-VAS, and The EQ-5D-5L and the EQ-VAS were 0.749, 0.440, and 0.394 respectively. For the correlation between all utility scores and diabetes quality of life clinical trial questionnaire (DQLCTQ) were moderate correlation between the EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D with the physical function, energy/fatigue, mental health, and frequency of symptoms.

CONCLUSIONS

: The SF-6D had the highest mean utility score and the EQ-VAS showed the lowest average utility score at 0.763 (SD 0.117). The EQ-5D-5L presented a higher percentage of the ceiling effect than did the SF-6D. Both EQ-5D-5L and SF-6D could differentiate utility scores by complication.