Background The EQ-5D is one of the most frequently used generic, preference-based instruments for measuring the health utilities of patients in economic evaluations. It is recommended for health technology assessment by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. Because the EQ-5D plays such an important role in economic evaluations, useful information on its responsiveness to detect meaningful change in health status is required. Objective This study systematically reviewed and synthesized evidence on the responsiveness of the EQ-5D to detect meaningful change in health status for clinical research and economic evaluations. Methods We searched the EuroQol website, PubMed, PsychINFO, and EconLit databases to identify studies published in English from the inception of the EQ-5D until August 15, 2014 using keywords that were related to responsiveness. Studies that used only the EQ-VAS were excluded from the final analysis. Narrative synthesis was conducted to summarize evidence on the responsiveness of the EQ-5D by conditions or physiological functions. Results Of 1,401 studies, 145 were included in the narrative synthesis and categorized into 19 categories for 56 conditions. The EQ-5D was found to be responsive in 25 conditions (45%) with the magnitude of responsiveness varying from small to large depending on the condition. There was mixed evidence of responsiveness in 27 conditions (48%). Only four conditions (7%) (i.e., alcohol dependency, schizophrenia, limb reconstruction, and hearing impairment) were identified where the EQ-5D was not responsive. Conclusion The EQ-5D is an appropriate measure for economic evaluation and health technology assessment in conditions where it has demonstrated evidence of responsiveness. In conditions with mixed evidence of responsiveness, researchers should consider using the EQ-5D with other condition-specific measures to ensure appropriate estimates of effectiveness. These conditions should be a main focus for future research using the new EQ-5D version with 5 response levels.

Trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 are associated with serious and/or fatal birth defects, with death frequently occurring in the first month of life. Previous studies are limited by small samples and are dated. This study characterized the comorbid birth defects associated with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 among US liveborn infants using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's Kids' Inpatient Database and Nationwide Inpatient Sample, two large, current and nationally representative databases. The occurrence of 39 commonly reported comorbid birth defects among infants with trisomies 18 and 13 was compared to the occurrence of malformations among newborns without trisomies. The prevalences of trisomy 18 and 13 were 1.29/10,000 and 0.85/10,000 live births, respectively. Among infants with trisomy 18, 61% were female, 45.4% with heart defects. Among those with trisomy 13, 53% were female, 38.4% had heart defects, 24.5% had orofacial anomalies, and 11.2% had central nervous system abnormalities. More than half of the newborns with both conditions died prior to discharge. This updated information can be used to inform clinical decision‐making and may help providers better prepare families for infants with trisomies. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

These data establish current relationships for the POPC and PCPC outcome scales based on multi-institutional data. The reported relationships can be used as reference values for evaluating clinical programs or for clinical outcomes research.