Racial/ethnic differences in preferences for the EQ-5D health states: results from the U.S. valuation study.

OBJECTIVE: We examined differences in preferences for the EQ-5D health states among blacks, Hispanics, and others living in the United States.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: A multi-stage probability sample was selected from the adult U.S. population. Each respondent valued a subset of the 243 EQ-5D health states. Regression analysis was used to analyze differences in mean valuations for 13 health states among the racial/ethnic groups. First, we compared unadjusted mean valuations among the three groups. Second, we evaluated differences in mean valuations among the groups after adjusting for other sociodemographic characteristics. Third, we evaluated the impact of race/ethnicity on estimates derived from the U.S. health state valuation (i.e., D1) model.

RESULTS: Valuations differed among the groups for seven of the 13 health states, and these differences persisted after adjusting for other sociodemographic factors. Blacks appeared to perceive extreme health problems to be associated with less disutility than did members of the other two groups.

CONCLUSION: Within the United States, there exist racial/ethnic differences in the perceived desirability of the EQ-5D health states that cannot be readily explained by socioeconomic disparities.