The estimation of a preference-based single index for the IBS-QoL by mapping to the EQ-5D-5L in patients with irritable bowel syndrome

PURPOSE: The Irritable Bowel Syndrome Quality of Life (IBS-QoL) questionnaire is a commonly used and validated IBS-specific QoL instrument. However, this questionnaire is in contrast to the EQ-5D-5L, not preference-based and as such does not allow calculation of QALYs. The objective of this study was to describe the convergent- and known-group validity of both questionnaires and to develop a mapping algorithm from EQ-5D-5L which enable IBS-QoL scores to be transformed into utility scores for use in economic evaluations. METHODS: We used data from two multicenter randomized clinical trials, which represented the estimation and external validation dataset. The convergent validity was investigated by examining correlations between the EQ-5D-5L and IBS-QoL and the known-group validity by calculating effect sizes. Ordinary least squares (OLS), censored least absolute deviations (CLAD), and mixture models were used in this mapping approach. RESULTS: 283 IBS patients were included (n = 189 vs. n = 84). Mean IBS-QoL score was 71.13 (SD 15.66) and mean EQ-5D-5L utility score was 0.73 (SD 0.19). The overall sensitivity of the IBS-QoL and EQ-5D-5L to discriminate between patient and disease characteristics was similar. CLAD model 4, containing the total IBS-QoL score and squared IBS-SSS (IBS severity scoring system), was chosen as the most appropriate model to transform IBS-QoL scores into EQ-5D-5L utility scores. CONCLUSION: This study reports the development of an algorithm where the condition-specific questionnaire IBS-QoL can be used to calculate utility values for use in economic evaluations. Including a clinical measure, IBS-SSS, in the model improved the performance of the algorithm. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11136-021-02995-y.