Performance of two measures of general health-related quality of life, the EQ-5D and the RAND-36 among critically ill patients.
OBJECTIVE
To compare two health-related quality of life measures, the preference-based EQ-5D with five questions and the profile-based RAND-36 with 36 questions, in previous critically ill patients.


METHODS
Prospective observational study.


METHODS
A ten-bed medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) in a tertiary care university hospital.


METHODS
Of the 2,709 critically ill patients, treated during the years 1995-2000, the 1,099 patients of the 1,443 still alive who returned both mailed measures were included in the study.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
The EQ-5D and the RAND-36 correlated well (P <.001). Ceiling effect was more obvious with the EQ-5D; the values of the RAND-36 varied usually from 0 to 100 in all the three levels of the corresponding EQ-5D question, and the weakest statistically significant differences were between the EQ levels 2 and 3. In particular, the RAND-36 proved to differentiate better the levels of mobility, self-care, and poor outcome.


CONCLUSIONS
The EQ-5D and the RAND-36 correlated well, but when more precisely stated information is needed, especially regarding mobility, self-care, or low quality of life levels of previous critically ill patients, the profile-based RAND-36 may discriminate better.
Kaarlola
Anne
A
Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Meilahti Hospital, Helsinki University Central Hospital, P.O. Box 340, 00029, Finland. anne.kaarlola@hus.fi
Pettilä
Ville
V
Kekki
Pertti
P
D018806:APACHE; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006304:Health Status; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors