[Health-related quality of life in Chileans from vulnerable communes]

Abstract

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting social and health crisis impacted the well-being of the population. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) could be affected, mainly in conditions of social vulnerability. The objective was to analyze the HRQoL and the psychometric properties of the EQ-5D instrument in adult Chilean population from vulnerable communes of the Metropolitan Region.

Method: Cross-sectional study carried out during quarantine period April to June 2021. Five hundred adults residing in Chilean communes were selected and completed a structured questionnaire by video-call, including the EQ-5D instrument. Descriptive analyzes and confirmatory factor analyzes of the traditional reflective model were performed.

Results: The age of the sample was 36.36±12.41 years, the majority reported having a secondary education level and being employed. Regarding the EQ-5D instrument, the most affected dimensions were pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The global health status was 73.0±19.71 points. The model showed an adequate fit: χ²=6.992, p=0.221, CFI=0.996, TLI=0.993, RMSEA=0.028 (90% CI: 0.000-0.073) and SRMR=0.067. In addition, the items of the scale were good indicators of the construct of interest.

Conclusions: In a pandemic context, the population was mostly affected by pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. The EQ-5D instrument is a useful tool to estimate CRSV in the Chilean population in the context of pandemic. In addition, the psychometric evidence supports the dimensionality of the construct and the potential utility of decomposing its analysis.

Keywords: Análisis factorial; Calidad de vida; Coronavirus; Factor analysis; Mental health; Quality of life; Salud mental; Social vulnerability; Vulnerabilidad social.