This study aimed to develop a value set for the EQ-5D-5L based on preferences of the general adult population of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The study followed the EuroQol EQ-5D-5L valuation protocol and involved conducting interviewer-administered face-to-face or online interviews in Arabic or English, using the EuroQol Valuation Technology with a sample of 1005 adults representing the UAE general population. Sample recruitment involved a 2-stage quota sampling strategy across the 7 emirates of the UAE, ensuring representation of nationals and expatriates. Various models using composite time trade-off data only, discrete choice experiment data only, and hybrid using both composite time trade-off and discrete choice experiment data were examined, along with various sensitivity analyses to examine the robustness of the models.
The average age of respondents was 39 years (SD 10.8), 44.5% were female, and 11% were UAE nationals. The best-performing model to generate the value set for the EQ-5D-5L was the hybrid tobit model censored at −1.0, corrected for heteroskedasticity. Values ranged from −0.654 for the worst health state (55555) to 1 for full health (11111) and 0.962 for 11211, with 15.3% of predicted values worse than dead. Mobility problems had the largest impact on health state preference values relative to other dimensions.
This value set will facilitate the application and use of the EQ-5D-5L instrument in the UAE population in generating local evidence on the cost-effectiveness of healthcare interventions, as well as to enhance other applications of EQ-5D in population health assessment and health systems.