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Ulf Gerdtham. Photo.

Ulf Gerdtham

Professor

Ulf Gerdtham. Photo.

Inequality and heterogeneity in health-related quality of life : findings based on a large sample of cross-sectional EQ-5D-5L data from the Swedish general population

Author

  • Fitsum Sebsibe Teni
  • Ulf-G Gerdtham
  • Reiner Leidl
  • Martin Henriksson
  • Mimmi Åström
  • Sun Sun
  • Kristina Burström

Summary, in English

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate inequality and heterogeneity in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to provide EQ-5D-5L population reference data for Sweden.

METHODS: Based on a large Swedish population-based survey, 25,867 respondents aged 30‒104 years, HRQoL is described by sex, age, education, income, economic activity, health-related behaviours, self-reported diseases and conditions. Results are presented by EQ-5D-5L dimensions, respondents rating of their overall health on the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS), VAS index value and TTO (time trade-off) index value allowing for calculation of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Ordinary Least Squares and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to study inequalities in observed EQ VAS score between socioeconomic groups and the likelihood to report problems on the dimensions, respectively, adjusted for confounders.

RESULTS: In total, 896 different health states were reported; 24.1% did not report any problems. Most problems were reported with pain/discomfort. Women reported worse HRQoL than men, and health deteriorated with age. The strongest association between diseases and conditions and EQ VAS score was seen for depression and mental health problems. There was a socioeconomic gradient in HRQoL; adjusting for health-related behaviours, diseases and conditions slightly reduced the differences between educational groups and income groups, but socioeconomic inequalities largely remained.

CONCLUSION: EQ-5D-5L population reference (norms) data are now available for Sweden, including socioeconomic differentials. Results may be used for comparisons with disease-specific populations and in health economic evaluations. The observed socioeconomic inequality in HRQoL should be of great importance for policy makers concerned with equity aspects.

Department/s

  • Department of Economics

Publishing year

2022

Language

English

Pages

697-712

Publication/Series

Quality of Life Research

Volume

31

Issue

3

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Springer

Topic

  • Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 1573-2649