Should additional domains be added to the EQ-5D health-related quality of life instrument for community-based studies? An analytical descriptive study
Journal Article
2015
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Population Health Metrics
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BioMed Central
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University of Cape Town
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Abstract
Background:
There is increasing interest in monitoring the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of
populations as opposed to clinical populations. The EQ-5D identifies five domains as being
most able to capture the HRQoL construct. The question arises as to whether these domains
are adequate within a community-based population or whether additional domains would add
to the explanatory power of the instrument.
Methods:
As part of a community-based survey, the responses of 310 informants who reported at least
one problem in one domain filled in the EQ-5D three-level version and the WHOQOL-BREF
(World Health Organization Quality of Life Scale – Abbreviated version). Using the EQ-5D
visual analogue scale (VAS) of rating of health as a dependent variable, the five EQ-5D and
four selected WHOQOL-BREF items were entered as dummy variables in multiple
regression analysis.
Results:
The additional domains increased the explanatory power of the model from 52 % (EQ-5D
only) to 57 % (all domains). The coefficients of Self-Care and Usual Activities were not
significant in any model. The most parsimonious model included the EQ-5D domains of
Mobility, Pain/Discomfort, Anxiety/Depression, Concentration, and Sleep (adjusted r2 = .57).
Conclusions:
The EQ-5D-3 L performed well, but the addition of domains such as Concentration and Sleep
increased the explanatory power. The user needs to weigh the advantage of using the EQ-5D,
which allows for the calculation of a single summary index, against the use of a set of
domains that are likely to be more responsive to differences in HRQoL within community
living respondents. The poor predictive power of the Self-Care and Usual Activities domains
within this context needs to be further examined.
Description
Reference:
Jelsma J. and Maart, S. (2015). Should additional domains be added to the EQ-5D health-related quality of life instrument for community-based studies? An analytical descriptive study. Population Health Metrics 13:13 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12963-015-0046-0