OBJECTIVES

: This study aims to evaluate health state utility using five-level EuroQol-5 dimensions (EQ-5D-5L) and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) among women with breast cancer in Taiwan and to compare the differences from other countries.

METHODS

: In this cross-sectional study, the questionnaires were distributed among patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–negative. The health utilities at diagnosis and after receiving breast cancer treatments were collected for each patient and compared across different countries. Patients’ expectations for breast cancer treatments were also assessed.

RESULTS

: Among 193 breast cancer patients who participated in this study, health utility assessed by either EQ-5D-5L or VAS was generally improved after receiving breast cancer treatments, compared to health utility at breast cancer diagnosis (before and after in EQ-5D-5L: 0.89±0.16 vs. 0.92±0.09, p=0.029; VAS: 0.73±0.21vs. 0.79±0.15, p<0.001). Compared to previous studies, the health utility scores among breast cancer patients in Taiwan appeared to be higher than the patients in Japan but lower than those from USA. When assessing patients’ expectations for breast cancer treatments, improving life expectancy came in the first place, followed by delaying the recurrence of breast cancer, reducing the occurrence of adverse events, and being able to stay in home to use non-parenteral therapy; without frequently back to hospital for parenteral therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

: Quality of life among breast cancer patients in Taiwan seemed suboptimal. This study indicates the necessity of shaping healthcare policy and introducing new treatment options in the future.