Health-related quality of life measured using EQ-5D in patients with lymphomas

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to estimate the health preference-based index scores of the population of patients with lymphoma using the EQ-5D in China.

Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to examine the health and well-being of patients with lymphoma in China. Their health-related quality of life (HRQoL; using the EQ-5D), demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, and health conditions were assessed. The data were analyzed using Pearson's χ² test, analysis of variance, and binary logistic and Tobit regression models.

Results: A total of 3261 patients (sex: men = 58.5%, age: < 30 years = 9.5% and > 60 years = 24.6%) participated in the study. The mean EQ-5D-5L index and EQ-VAS scores were 0.83 and 68.8, respectively. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that women reported more pain-related problems than men did. Unemployed participants were substantially more likely to report health problems on all the five dimensions of the EQ-5D than their employed counterparts. The Tobit regression model revealed that respondents who were older, unemployed, with low income, received chemotherapy, and with short durations reported a low index score.

Conclusion: Using the EQ-5D, the preference-based scores of different subpopulations of patients with lymphoma may support economic evaluation by promoting the simultaneous consideration of both the reasonable use of resources and satisfactory achievement of health outcomes.

Keywords: China; EQ-5D; Health-related quality of life; Lymphoma.