Abstract
The EQ-5D-5L is a widely used generic instrument to measure health-related quality of life. This study evaluates health perception in a representative sample of the general German population from 2015. To compare results over time, a component analysis technique was used that separates changes in the description and valuation of health states. The whole sample and also subgroups, stratified by sociodemographic parameters as well as disease affliction, were analyzed. In total, 2040 questionnaires (48.4% male, mean age 47.3 year) were included. The dimension with the lowest number of reported problems was self-care (93.0% without problems), and the dimension with the highest proportion of impairment was pain/discomfort (71.2% without problems). Some 64.3% of the study population were identified as problem-free. The visual analog scale (VAS) mean for all participants was 85.1. Low education was connected with significantly lower VAS scores, but the effect was small. Depression, heart disease, and diabetes had a strong significant negative effect on reported VAS means. Results were slightly better than those in a similar 2012 survey; the most important driver was the increase in the share of the study population that reported to be problem-free. In international comparisons, health perception of the general German population is relatively high and, compared with previous German studies, fairly stable over recent years. Elderly and sick people continue to report significant reductions in perceived health states.
Highlights
One key goal of health care provision is to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [1].HRQoL describes a multidimensional construct that includes physical, mental, functional, and social factors determining quality of life [2]
The EQ-5D-5L is currently available in 171 languages and has been used to measure HRQoL in population surveys from various countries including the USA, Canada, the UK, and Germany [11,12,13,14,15]
To retrieve a representative sample of the population, the Wort & Bild Verlag (W&B) survey used a random-route procedure based on 516 sample points, structured by a specific BIK code, a demographic and geographic classification system that has been used in past surveys
Summary
One key goal of health care provision is to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [1].HRQoL describes a multidimensional construct that includes physical, mental, functional, and social factors determining quality of life [2]. One key goal of health care provision is to improve health-related quality of life (HRQoL) [1]. HRQoL has gained considerable importance in the assessment of health care interventions. HRQoL is considered to be a fundamental measure of population health [2,3,4]. Instruments are used to measure HRQoL at the population level. The EQ-5D-5L is currently available in 171 languages and has been used to measure HRQoL in population surveys from various countries including the USA, Canada, the UK, and Germany [11,12,13,14,15]. In a nationwide survey from Germany in 2015, the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire was used to measure the HRQoL of
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