Journal Article

DZNE-2026-00352

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Measuring health-related quality of life in multiple sclerosis: comparing the acceptability, validity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D-3L and MSIS-8D.

Goodwin, E. ; Michalowsky, B.DZNE* ; Middleton, R. ; Hawton, A.

2026
Springer Nature Switzerland AG Cham

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1007/s11136-026-04229-5

Abstract: Purpose: Concerns have been raised about the sensitivity and responsiveness of the EQ-5D, one of the most commonly used preference-based health-related quality of life measures, in the context of multiple sclerosis (MS). In response to these concerns, a condition-specific preference-based measure, the Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale Eight Dimensions (MSIS-8D), was developed. This research aimed to assess the psychometric and distributional properties of the MSIS-8D compared to the EQ-5D-3L, in people with MS. Methods: Analyses were undertaken using data from the UK MS Register. Both measures were compared in terms of acceptability (missing data), distributional properties (health state frequencies, health state density curves and indices), construct validity in relation to disability, mobility, fatigue, anxiety and depression (discriminative and convergent validity, using ANOVA, independent t-tests and Spearman correlations), and responsiveness to symptom onset and relapse (mean change scores, standardised response means, standardised effect sizes, paired t-tests). Results: The MSIS-8D exhibited superior distributional properties, while the EQ-5D-3L showed greater acceptability. Both measures demonstrated excellent construct validity. Neither measure appeared responsive to symptom onset, and only the MSIS-8D met all criteria for responsiveness when people moved from a non-relapse to a relapse state. Conclusion: Although the MSIS-8D appears to offer superior distributional properties and responsiveness compared to the EQ-5D-3L, the responsiveness of both measures in this analysis was limited. This adds weight to existing concerns about the ability of utility measures used in healthcare decision-making to fully capture treatment effects in MS.

Keyword(s): EQ-5D ; Economic evaluation ; Health-related quality of life ; Multiple sclerosis ; Preference-based measures ; Psychometrics

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Patient-Reported Outcomes and Health Economics Research (AG Michalowsky)

Research Program(s):

1. 353 - Clinical and Health Care Research (POF4-353) (POF4-353)

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Database coverage:
; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Clinical Medicine ; Current Contents - Social and Behavioral Sciences ; DEAL Springer ; DEAL Springer ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF < 5 ; JCR ; National-Konsortium ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Social Sciences Citation Index ; Web of Science Core Collection

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