Time-tradeoff measures and healthy years equivalents were assessed and compared through an empirical study based on Multi-attribute utility theory. The study included 33 student subjects as a pilot study, and 54 end-stage renal disease patients in Wisconsin. The two outcome measures were compared with the survival duration of 1, 5, and 10 years. The results of the study show that the time-tradeoff method and the two-stage method did not lead to the same numerical quantities, although they aim to measure the same quantities (equivalent numbers of healthy years) theoretically. The healthy years equivalents involved more inconsistencies, and were less reliable than the time-tradeoff measures. Overestimation of the healthy years equivalents was observed. This seemed to be caused by the complex procedure of the two-stage method as well as by the preferences assessment biases. Based on the study experiences, the time-tradeoff measure would be recommended for problems involving generic medical applications and health policies.