Quality of life in community-dwelling Dutch elderly measured by EQ-5D-3L

Marie-Josée J. Mangen, Marieke Bolkenbaas, Susanne M. Huijts, Cornelis H. van Werkhoven, Marc J. M. Bonten, G. Ardine de Wit

We aimed to evaluate health status and associated factors in community-dwelling elderly in the Netherlands. Participants from a placebo-controlled double-blind randomized controlled trial conducted in the Netherlands were invited at the time of enrolment to participate in this study. Data were collected on comorbidities, socio-demographic background and health status, using EQ-5D-3L instrument. EQ-5D-3L summary index values (EQ-5D-indices) was derived using Dutch tariff. Regression analysis was conducted to identify factors associated with EQ-5D-indices and visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). 48,634 elderly (≥65 years) were included. The most frequently reported complaint was pain/discomfort (29.4%), but for the elder elderly (i.e. ≥85 years) it was mobility (52.9%). The proportion of persons reporting (multiple) problems increased with age from 31.5% for 65-69 years old subjects to 65.9% for elder elderly. The mean EQ-5D-indices and EQ-VAS decreased with age from 0.94 and 84, respectively in those 65 to 69 years old to 0.86 and 76, respectively, in ≥85 years old subjects. Increasing age, female gender, low education, geographic factors and comorbidities were associated with impaired health status. Within community-dwelling elderly large differences in health status exist. Impairment increases rapidly with age, but health status is also associated with socio-demographic variables and comorbidities. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00812084 .