QLU-C10D: A Cancer-Specific Health State Classification System for Comprehensive Quality of Life Assessment

The QLQ-C30 questionnaire, developed by EORTC in 1986, encompasses multiple aspects of cancer patients' lives through its 30 items. Despite its widespread use, the QLQ-C30's results cannot be directly utilized in cost-utility analysis (CUA). To address this limitation, MAUCaC and EORTC collaborated to develop the QLU-C10D health state classification system. This system comprises 10 dimensions corresponding to the 13 core items in the QLQ-C30, enabling direct application of the results in CUA. As a cancer-specific utility measurement tool, the QLU-C10D questionnaire excels in detecting dimensions specific to cancer patients, such as nausea and vomiting, which are often overlooked by generic questionnaires like EQ-5D and SF-6D commonly employed in breast cancer patients. The QLU-C10D offers a more accurate reflection of cancer patients' quality of life during treatment and recovery, providing a more comprehensive understanding of their well-being. Currently, 12 countries, including Australia, Germany, Italy, and China, have established country-specific utility scoring systems based on the QLU-C10D. Furthermore, numerous studies have validated the measurement properties of the QLU-C10D across different cancer patients in various countries.