OBJECTIVES: Utility is a measure used in pharmaco-economic studies to calculate the gain of Quality-Adjusted Life Years. Painful chronic osteoarthritis (PCOA), chronic-low-back-pain (CLBP) or cancer pain (CP) are among the most prevalent health conditions resulting in seeking medical advice. The objective was to fit equations allowing to estimate the age and sex adjusted utility value of the EQ-5D-5L according with the severity of pain for patients with PCOA, CLBP or CP in Spain.

METHODS: The year 2011/2012 National Health Survey, which includes the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire and self-reported health conditions, was used. Data from individuals, both gender, above 18 years-old, who self-reported OA, CLBP or cancer as diagnosed by a physician were analysed. The Spanish raw utility values were extracted from the website of EuroQol group. Linear regression models were fitted to estimate adjusted utility value from EQ-5D-5L separately by sex. Severity of pain was assessed by means of the pain item of the EQ-5D-5L. Age and number of comorbidities were used as covariates.

RESULTS: =0.52, F=500.2 (p<0.001)] and women [adjusted R=0.55, F=1,485.8 (p<0.001)]; U_EQ-5D-5L= 1.351-0.156(EQ-5D-5L_{item pain score})-0.002[age(years)]-0.018(number-of-comorbidities), and U_EQ-5D-5L= 1.535-0.169(EQ-5D-5L_{item pain score})-0.005[age(years)]-0.013(number-of-comorbidities). For CLBP were, respectively for men [adjusted R=0.60, F=807.8 (p<0.001)] and women [adjusted R=0.59, F=1,397.8 (p<0.001)]; U_EQ-5D-5L= 1.240-0.147(EQ-5D-5L_{item pain score})-0.001[age(years)]-0.018(number-of-comorbidities), and U_EQ-5D-5L= 1.377-0.160(EQ-5D-5L_{item pain score})-0.003[age(years)]-0.013(number-of-comorbidities). For cancer subjects were, respectively for men [adjusted R=0.57, F=129.1 (p<0.001)] and women [adjusted R=0.64, F=264.1 (p<0.001)]; U_EQ-5D-5L= 1.346-0.174(EQ-5D-5L_{item pain score})-0.002[age(years)]-0.016(number-of-comorbidities), and U_EQ-5D-5L= 1.466-0.175(EQ-5D-5L_{item pain score})-0.004[age(years)]-0.011(number-of-comorbidities).

CONCLUSIONS: This work provides equations allowing to estimate the age and number-of-comorbidities adjusted utility value of subjects with PCOA, CLBP or CP according to severity of pain and sex in Spain.CONCLUSIONS