EQ-5D-5L norms for the urban Chinese population in China

• Published in: Health and quality of life outcomes Vol. 16; no. 1; p. 210
• Main Authors: Yang, Zhihao, Busschbach, Jan, Liu, Gordon, Luo, Nan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 08-11-2018; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Adolescent; Adult; Age; Age Factors; Aged; Analysis; Anxiety; Anxiety - psychology; China; Cities; Clinical trials; Demographic variables; Demographics; Depression - psychology; EQ-5D-5L; Female; Females; Gender; Health; Health services; Health Status; HRQoL; Humans; Male; Males; Medical research; Mental depression; Middle Aged; Norms; Outcome and process assessment (Medical care); Pain; Pain - psychology; Patient Reported Outcome Measures; Population; Population norm; Population studies; Quality of Life; Questionnaires; Self Care; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic factors; Studies; Urban areas; Urban Population - statistics & numerical data; Urban populations; Valuation; Young Adult; China; HRQoL; EQ-5D-5L; Population norm; China
• ISSN: 1477-7525; 1477-7525
• DOI: 10.1186/s12955-018-1036-2

To generate Chinese population norms for the EQ-5D-5L dimensions, EQ-VAS (Visual Analogue Scale) scores and EQ-5D-5L index scores, stratified by gender and age. The EQ-5D is a widely used generic health-related quality of life instrument to describe population health and health outcomes in clinical trials and health economic evaluations. Currently, there are no EQ-5D-5L population norms for China.
This norm study utilized the data collected in an EQ-5D-5L valuation study in China between December 2012 and January 2013. In the valuation study, respondents were asked to report their own health states using the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and the EQ-VAS. Respondents' demographic information was also collected. The EQ index score was calculated using the EQ-5D-5L value set based on the Chinese urban population. Norm scores were reported by important demographic variables.
The mean EQ-VAS scores ranged between 88.3 for males of < 19 years and 82.9 for females of 60-69 years. Contrary to other population studies, females reported higher EQ-VAS scores than males in every age group except for 20-29 years. The mean EQ-5D-5L index values ranged from 0.912 for females of > 70 years to 0.971 for females of 30-39 years. Respondents reported more problems in the dimensions 'pain/discomfort' and 'anxiety/depression' than in the dimensions 'mobility', 'self-care' and 'usual activities' in all age groups.
The population norm scores for the EQ-5D can be used as reference values for comparative purposes in future Chinese studies. Further research into rural and/or a more representative population is warranted.