Evaluation of health-related quality of life using EQ-5D in China during the COVID-19 pandemic

PLoS One. 2020 Jun 18;15(6):e0234850. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234850. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Objective: Since December 2019, an increasing number of cases of the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Now, more cases have been reported in 200 other countries and regions. The pandemic disease not only affects physical health who suffered it, but also affects the mental health of the general population. This study aims to know about the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of living using EQ-5D in general population in China.

Methods: An online-based survey was developed and participants were recruited via social media. The questionnaires included demographic and socioeconomic data, health status, the condition epidemic situation and EQ-5D scale. The relationships of all factors and the scores of EQ-5D were analyzed. Logistic regression model were used to the five health dimensions.

Results: The respondents obtained a mean EQ-5D index score of 0.949 and a mean VAS score of 85.52.The most frequently reported problem were pain/discomfort (19.0%) and anxiety/depression (17.6%). Logistic regression models showed that the risk of pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression among people with aging, with chronic disease, lower income, epidemic effects, worry about get COVID-19 raised significantly.

Conclusion: The article provides important evidence on HRQOL during the COVID-19 pandemic. The risk of pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression in general population in China raised significantly with aging, with chronic disease, lower income, epidemic effects, worried about get COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results from each categorical data can be used for future healthcare measures among general population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anxiety
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • Child
  • China / epidemiology
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / psychology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Depression
  • Female
  • Health Status
  • Health Surveys
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain
  • Pandemics*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / psychology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Quality of Life*
  • Research Design*
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

The study was funded by the Soft Science Project of Shanxi of China (2017041040-4), the Soft Science Project of Shanxi of China (2018041033-1) to WP, and by the prevention and control COVID-19 project of Changzhi Medical College by XN (XG202004).