Health State Utilities for Childhood Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Based on Parent Preferences in the United Kingdom

• Published in: Medical decision making 2005-01, Vol.25 (1), p.56-70
• Main Authors: Secnik, Kristina, Matza, Louis S., Cottrell, Suzi, Edgell, Eric, Tilden, Dominic, Mannix, Sally
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - classification; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - drug therapy; Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder; Central Nervous System Stimulants - adverse effects; Central Nervous System Stimulants - therapeutic use; Child; Child Behavior - drug effects; Cost benefit analysis; Drug therapy; Economic aspects; Evaluation; Female; Health Status; Humans; London; Male; Parents; Quality of Life; Severity of Illness Index; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0272-989X; 1552-681X
• DOI: 10.1177/0272989X04273140

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to use standard gamble (SG) utility interviews to assess parent preferences for health states of childhood attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods. The study was conducted in August 2003 in London, England. Parents (N = 83) of children diagnosed with ADHD completed SG utility interviews, rating their child’s current health and 14 hypothetical health states describing untreated ADHD and ADHD treated with a nonstimulant, immediate-release stimulant, or extended-release stimulant. Raw temporary utilities ranging from 0 (worst health) to 1 (best health) were adjusted to a chronic utility scale ranging from 0 (death) to 1 (best health) using a linear transformation. Parents rated the severity of their children’s ADHD symptoms using the Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS) and their children’s health-related quality of life using the EuroQol EQ-5D. Results. Raw and adjusted SG ratings of hypothetical health states ranged from 0.63-0.90 and 0.88-0.96, respectively. Parents’ raw SG scores of their child’s current health state (mean = 0.72) were significantly correlated with inattentive, hyperactive, and overall ADHD symptoms (r = -0.25, -0.27, -0.27; P < 0.05) and the EQ-5D visual analogue scale (r = 0.26; P < 0.05). Conclusion. This UK-based study suggests that parent SG interviews are a valid method for obtaining utilities for child ADHD-related health states. The utilities obtained in this study would be appropriate for use in a cost-utility analysis evaluating the costs and benefits of childhood ADHD treatments in the United Kingdom.