title: Validation of the EQ-5D in Patients with Traumatic Limb Injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The measurement properties of the EQ-5D have not been explored for patients with traumatic limb injuries. The purpose of this study was to examine the construct validity, predictive validity, and responsiveness of the EQ-5D in patients with traumatic limb injuries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A consecutive cohort of 1,167 patients was assessed with the EQ-5D and the World Health Organization Quality of Life instrument (WHOQOL-BREF) at baseline while the patients were hospitalized because of the injury, and the patients were followed up at 3 months (1,003 patients), 6 months (1,010 patients), and 12 months (987 patients) after injury via telephone interview.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The utility and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores of the EQ-5D had moderate to high association with the physical and psychological domains and the two general questions (overall QOL and overall health) of the WHOQOL-BREF at all time points except baseline (Pearson's correlation coefficient >0.3), but the EQ-5D profiles were weakly associated with the social and environment domains of the WHOQOL-BREF (absolute value of Spearman's correlation coefficient <0.3). These results indicate that the EQ-5D has satisfactory construct validity. The utility and VAS scores of the EQ-5D at 3 and 6 months after injury can predict (with moderate to large relationships) the four domains and two general questions of the WHOQOL-BREF administered at 12 months after injury. The responsiveness of the utility and VAS of the EQ-5D were high (effect sizes >0.9) at 0-3, 0-6, and 0-12 months after injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The EQ-5D has sufficient construct validity, predictive validity, and responsiveness, and also provides evidence for using the utility of the EQ-5D for cost-utility analyses of patients with traumatic limb injuries in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, National Cheng Kung University College of Medicine, Tainan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Chuan
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Wen-Shian
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Sheng-Shiung
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Wen-Hsuan
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Hou
authors.forename: Ching-Lin
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Hsieh
authors.forename: Jung-Der
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D011788:Quality of Life; D013624:Taiwan; D016896:Treatment Outcome