Health state utilities associated with hyperphagia: Data for use in cost-utility models

Rare genetic diseases of obesity typically present with hyperphagia, a pathologic desire to consume food. Cost-utility models assessing the value of treatments for these rare diseases will require health state utilities representing hyperphagia. This study estimated utilities associated with various hyperphagia severity levels.

Four health state vignettes were developed using published literature and clinician input to represent various severity levels of hyperphagia. Utilities were estimated for these health states in a time trade-off elicitation study in a UK general population sample.

In total, 215 participants completed interviews (39.5% male; mean age 39.1 years). Mean (SD) utilities were 0.98 (0.02) for no hyperphagia, 0.91 (0.10) for mild hyperphagia, 0.70 (0.30) for moderate hyperphagia, and 0.22 (0.59) for severe hyperphagia. Mean (SD) disutilities were -0.08 (0.10) for mild, -0.28 (0.30) for moderate, and -0.77 (0.58) for severe hyperphagia.

These data show increasing severity of hyperphagia is associated with decreased utility. Utilities associated with severe hyperphagia are similar to those of other health conditions severely impacting quality of life (QoL). These findings highlight that treatments addressing substantial QoL impacts of severe hyperphagia are needed. Utilities estimated here may be useful in cost-utility models of treatments for rare genetic diseases of obesity.