title: Health-related quality of life as measured with EQ-5D among populations with and without specific chronic conditions: a population-based survey in Shaanxi Province, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to examine health-related quality of life (HRQoL) as measured by EQ-5D and to investigate the influence of chronic conditions and other risk factors on HRQoL based on a distributed sample located in Shaanxi Province, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method was performed to select subjects. EQ-5D was employed to measure the HRQoL. The likelihood that individuals with selected chronic diseases would report any problem in the EQ-5D dimensions was calculated and tested relative to that of each of the two reference groups. Multivariable linear regression models were used to investigate factors associated with EQ VAS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most frequently reported problems involved pain/discomfort (8.8%) and anxiety/depression (7.6%). Nearly half of the respondents who reported problems in any of the five dimensions were chronic patients. Higher EQ VAS scores were associated with the male gender, higher level of education, employment, younger age, an urban area of residence, access to free medical service and higher levels of physical activity. Except for anemia, all the selected chronic diseases were indicative of a negative EQ VAS score. The three leading risk factors were cerebrovascular disease, cancer and mental disease. Increases in age, number of chronic conditions and frequency of physical activity were found to have a gradient effect.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present work add to the volume of knowledge regarding population health status in this area, apart from the known health status using mortality and morbidity data. Medical, policy, social and individual attention should be given to the management of chronic diseases and improvement of HRQoL. Longitudinal studies must be performed to monitor changes in HRQoL and to permit evaluation of the outcomes of chronic disease intervention programs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Statistics, and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Hazard Assessment and Control in Special Operational Environment, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Siming
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Haibo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.forename: Lingxia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Yongyong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires