title: Impact evaluation and association with EuroQol 5D health-related utility values in Ménière's disease.
abstract: The study was aimed at evaluating the validity of impact measures among patients with Ménière's disease (MD) with outcome variables of EuroQol generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) measures (i.e., EQ-5D) by using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and EQ-5D index values. 183 members (out of 200 contacted) of the Finish Ménière Association returned the questionnaires that they had filled out. Various open-ended and structured questionnaires focusing on diagnostic aspects of symptoms and impairment caused by the disease were used. For activity limitation and participation restriction, standardized questionnaires were used. Open-ended questions on impact of the disease were asked, and subsequently classified based on the WHO-ICF classification. The general HRQoL was evaluated with EQ-5D index value and EQ VAS instruments. Correlation and linear regression analyses were used to explore the association between HRQoL and other aspects. Based on the explanatory power of different models the disease specific semeionic model provides the most accurate prediction in EQ-5D index calculations (38 % of the variance explained). In EQ VAS scores, HRQoL is most accurately determined by participation restriction (53 % of the variance explained), but the worst prediction was in ICF-based limitations (8 % of the variance explained). Interestingly, attitude and personal trait explained the reduction of HRQoL somewhat better than ICF-based variables. Activity limitation and participation restrictions are significant components of MD, but are less frequently recognized as significant factors in self-evaluating the effect of MD on the quality of life. The current study results suggest that MD patients seem to have problem identifying factors causing activity limitation and participation restrictions and hence use the semiotic description focusing on complaints.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.
authors.forename: Ilmari
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pyykkő
authors.affiliation: Department of Speech and Hearing Sciences, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX USA ; Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, The Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden ; Audiology India, Mysore, Karnataka India.
authors.forename: Vinaya
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1254-8407
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Manchaiah
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Hilla
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Levo
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Erna
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kentala
keywords: Activity limitations; EQ-5D; EuroQol; ICF; Ménière’s disease; Participation restrictions; Quality of life