The impact of 29 chronic conditions on health-related quality of life: a general population survey in Finland using 15D and EQ-5D.
BACKGROUND
Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an essential outcome of health care, but there is no gold standard of HRQoL measurement. We investigated the impact of major chronic conditions on HRQoL using 15D and EQ-5D in a representative sample of Finns.


METHODS
Information on chronic somatic conditions was obtained by interviews. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed using a structured interview (M-CIDI). Tobit and CLAD regression analysis was used to estimate the impact of conditions on HRQoL at the individual and population level.


RESULTS
Adjusted for other conditions and sociodemographic variables, Parkinson's disease had the largest negative impact on HRQoL at the individual level, followed by anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and arthrosis of the hip and knee. Based on prevalence, arthrosis of the hip or knee, depression, back problems and urinary incontinence caused the greatest loss of HRQoL at the population level. The results obtained with the two HRQoL measures differed markedly for some conditions and the EQ-5D results also varied with the regression method used.


CONCLUSIONS
Musculoskeletal disorders are associated with largest losses of HRQoL in the Finnish population, followed by psychiatric conditions. Different HRQoL measures may systematically emphasize different conditions.
Saarni
Samuli I
SI
Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland. samuli.saarni@helsinki.fi
Härkänen
Tommi
T
Sintonen
Harri
H
Suvisaari
Jaana
J
Koskinen
Seppo
S
Aromaa
Arpo
A
Lönnqvist
Jouko
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D011788:Quality of Life; D019057:Quality-Adjusted Life Years; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile