The Health Utilities Index (HUI) system for assessing health-related quality of life in clinical studies

• Published in: Annals of medicine (Helsinki) Vol. 33; no. 5; p. 375
• Main Authors: Furlong, W J, Feeny, D H, Torrance, G W, Barr, R D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 2001
• Subjects: Cost-Benefit Analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Health Status; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Quality of Life; Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; Reference Standards
• ISSN: 0785-3890
• DOI: 10.3109/07853890109002092

This paper reviews the Health Utilities Index (HUI) systems as means to describe health status and obtain utility scores reflecting health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The HUI Mark 2 (HUI2) and Mark 3 (HUI3) classification and scoring systems are described. The methods used to estimate multiattribute utility functions for HUI2 and HUI3 are reviewed. The use of HUI in clinical studies for a wide variety of conditions in a large number of countries is illustrated. HUI provides a comprehensive description of the health status of subjects in clinical studies. HUI has been shown to be a reliable, responsive and valid measure in a wide variety of clinical studies. Utility scores provide an overall assessment of the HRQoL of patients. Utility scores are also useful in cost-utility analyses and related studies. General population norm data are available. The widespread use of HUI facilitates the interpretation of results and permits comparisons. HUI is a useful tool for assessing health status and HRQoL in clinical studies.