Can the Child Health Utility 9D measure be useful in oral health research

Background Cost-utility analysis using the quality-adjusted life years (QALY) as an outcome measure to inform healthcare resource allocation is becoming more common. The Child Health Utility 9D (CHU9D) enables the calculation of utility values in children. Children were involved throughout its development to ensure it is child centred. Aim To determine whether the CHU9D is responsive to the changing components of the dmfs+DMFS index score in children receiving dental care over a 1-year period. Design The study sample comprised children aged 6 to 9 years old who were enrolled in a split-mouth, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial. All children had a comprehensive clinical examination including radiographs and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) was measured using the CHU9D at baseline and 1 year. Descriptive statistics was followed by bivariate analyses before effect sizes were calculated. A negative binomial model was fitted to assess whether the utility score predicted the components of decayed and filled teeth (combined primary and permanent teeth). Results Eighty (92%) children completed the CHU9D at baseline and follow-up. They presented with a mean baseline d3mfs+D3MFS of 6.7 (SD = 7.1), which rose to 7.3 (SD = 7.0) at follow-up. The mean CHU9D score improved from 0.88 to 0.90 from baseline to follow-up. No statistically significant relationships were found between caries status and the CHU9D score. Conclusion The CHU9D was found to be unresponsive to the changing components of dental caries experience.