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


OBJECTIVE
This paper aims to describe such changes over 5 years in a general population.


METHODS
Longitudinal postal questionnaire study.


METHODS
UK general practice.


METHODS
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.


RESULTS
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).


CONCLUSIONS
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.
University of Manchester, Respiratory Research Group, School of Translational Medicine and NIHR, Translational Research Facility, Respiratory Medicine, Manchester.
Michelle L
ML
Hazell
Julie A
JA
Morris
Mary F
MF
Linehan
Timothy L
TL
Frank
D000328:Adult; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D011788:Quality of Life; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors