References:1. EuroQol Group. EQ-5D-3L User Guide. http://www.euroqol.org/fileadmin/user_upload/Documenten/PDF/Folders_Flyers/UserGuide_EQ-5D-3L.pdf (Accessed on 15 May 2012)2. Szende A, Oppe Mark, Devlin N (Eds). EQ-5D Value sets: Inventory, Comparative Review and User Guide Series: EuroQol Group Monograph, Vol. 2, 20073. Jelsma J, Hansen K, De Weerdt W, De Cock P, Kind P. How do Zimbabweans value health states? Popul Health Metr. 2003 Dec 16;1(1):11

4. EuroQol Group. EQ-5D-3L translations. http://www.euroqol.org/eq-5d/eq-5d-products/eq-5d-3l-translations.html (Accessed on 15 May 2012)5. Faridah A, Goh A, Soraya A. Estimating an EQ-5D value set for Malaysia using time trade-off and visual analogue scale methods. Value Health 2012;15:S85-S906. Lee YK, Nam HS, Chuang LH, et al. South Korean time trade-off values for EQ-5D health states: modeling with observed values for 101 health states. Value Health 2009;12:1187-93

EQ-5D is a measure of health related quality of life from the EuroQol group that describes QOL within a five attribute descriptive profile and a single index value.1 Utility tariffs (value sets) have been developed for several populations to calculate single index values from the EQ-5D using health preferences elicited from population surveys.2 It is questionable whether the health state preferences that underlie utility tariffs from specific country populations are applicable in different cultures, particularly where the local culture may be quite different from those where these health preferences were obtained.3

The objective of this study was to compare the quality of life (QOL) of Malaysian post-acute coronary syndrome (post ACS) patients calculated using utility tariffs from Malaysia as well tariffs from United Kingdom, United States, Japan, Korea and New Zealand.

Background

The study utilizes primary QOL data from 112 Malaysian patients collected soon after admission for ACS. Data collected in the intensive cardiac care unit and cardiothoracic ward of the Sarawak General Hospital, Malaysia as part of a study on the cost effectiveness of a cardiac rehabilitation program. QOL data collection from January 2008 to December 2009 using validated Malay (Malaysia) and English (Malaysia) language versions of the EQ-5D.4

EQ-5D index scores were calculated for the patient set using utility tariffs from

Statistical significance of differences in the index scores derived from the Malaysian and foreign utility tariffs was evaluated using paired t-test at α<0.05. Analyses were conducted using STATA SE version 11.2.

Methods

o Malaysia (VAS)5

o United Kingdom (TTO)2

o United Kingdom (VAS)2

o Japan (TTO)2

o Korea (TTO)6

o New Zealand (VAS)2

o United States (TTO)2

acknowledgementsWe wish to thank the Director General of Health, Malaysia for permission to present this poster. We would also like to thank the staff at the Cardiology department and the Clinical Research Centre, Sarawak General Hospital for their assistance.

discussion Comparison of QOL index scores in Figure 2 show that index scores calculated using Malaysian utility tariffs are significantly different to those calculated using tariffs from other countries, except the United States population tariff (p=0.110). This result may or may not be an aberration due to small sample size, a limitation of this study. The health preferences of Malaysians appear to be unique compared to those of other countries. Further analysis with a larger sample should be conducted to determine the possible reasons for the non-significant difference in mean index score calculated using Malaysian and United States tariffs.

COMPARING QUALITY OF LIFE IN A MALAYSIAN POST ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME POPULATION USING EQ-5D UTILITY TARIFFS FROM DIFFERENT COUNTRIESAzmi S1, Anchah L2, Goh A1, Fong A2 1Azmi Burhani Consulting Sdn Bhd, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, 2Sarawak General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Kuching, Malaysia.HEALTH . RESEARCH . SOLUTIONS

Figure 1: Profile of Patients (% reporting problem)Figure 3: Comparison of Malaysian tariff index score with other countries tariff index score

Figure 2: Comparisons of Predicted QOL index score calculated by utility tariffs from Malaysia and other countries (n=110)

0.792

0.716 0.7150.742

0.832

0.675

0.784

resultsTable 1: Sample Patient Characteristics

Characteristic N Statistic Age, mean (sd) ≤40 years 41-55 years 56-70 years ≥71 years

112 9

44 52 7

56.3 years (10.4) 8 %

39.3% 46.4% 6.3%

Gender Male Female

112 99 13

100% 88.4% 11.6%

BMI, mean (sd) <18.50 18.50-24.99 25.00-29.99 ≥30.00

88 2

34 38 14

25.9 (18.1) 2.3%

38.6% 43.2% 15.9%

Risk factors Family history of MI Smoking status Hypertension Diabetes

112 22 60 72 27

100% 20%

55.1% 74.2% 30.7%

Duration of hospitalisation, mean (sd) 112 6 days (8.3) Length of stay in cardiac care , mean (sd) 112 2.7 days (5.1) LVEF on admission, mean (sd) 108 50.2% (12.4)

Corresponding author’s email : soraya.azmi@azmi-burhani.com