Temporal change in health-related quality of life: a longitudinal study in general practice 1999–2004

• Published in: British journal of general practice Vol. 59; no. 568; pp. 839 - 843
• Main Authors: Hazell, Michelle L, Morris, Julie A, Linehan, Mary F, Frank, Timothy L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Royal College of General Practitioners 01.11.2009
• Subjects: Adult; Family Practice - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Status; Humans; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Needs Assessment; Original Papers; Quality of Life; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0960-1643; 1478-5242; 1478-5242
• DOI: 10.3399/bjgp09X472890

In order to assess and plan for changing healthcare needs, the lack of available information regarding temporal changes in the health-related quality of life of a population must be addressed. This paper aims to describe such changes over 5 years in a general population. Longitudinal postal questionnaire study. UK general practice. This was a longitudinal postal questionnaire study in two general practice populations, using the generic instrument EQ-5D to measure health-related quality of life. Individuals were included if they responded to three postal surveys in 1999, 2001, and 2004 and there were three consecutive values of EQ-5D(index) available between 1999 and 2004. A total of 2498 subjects were included in the study. After adjustment for potential confounders (including ageing), health-related quality of life declined significantly over the observation period. The change in EQ-5D(index) was from 0.79 to 0.74 and for EQ-5D(vas) 76.8 to 73.3 (P for both trends <0.001). Health-related quality of life deteriorated in these populations over 5 years. In an era of improvements in mortality, this has important implications for the use of health-related quality of life data in healthcare planning and resource allocation.