Acta Paediatr. 2014 Nov 13. doi: 10.1111/apa.12863. [Epub ahead of print]

Measuring health-related quality of life with EQ-5D-Y instrument in children with asthma.

Bergfors S1, Aström M, Burström K, Egmar AC.

Author information

• 1Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Medical Management Centre, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm County Council, Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden.

Abstract

AIM:

Asthma is one of the most common chronic paediatric diseases worldwide and affects different dimensions of health-related quality of life. This study tested the feasibility and convergent validity of using EQ-5D-Y instrument on children and adolescents with asthma.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional design was chosen and children with asthma, aged from eight to 16-years-of-age, were recruited from clinics in Stockholm, Sweden. To test convergent validity, the EQ-5D-Y instrument was combined with the Paediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire.

RESULTS:

The EQ-5D-Y proved feasible as nearly 96% of the 94 respondents completed all items on the questionnaire. High and moderate correlations between the two instruments were found for the dimensions of 'doing usual activities' and 'activity limitations' and for 'having pain or discomfort' and 'symptoms'. The visual analogue scale of the ED-5D-Y correlated with the Paediatric Quality of Life Questionnaire total score and the self-rated health question. The dimensions on the EQ-5D-Y with most reported problems were 'usual activities', 'pain or discomfort' and 'worried, sad or unhappy'.

CONCLUSION:

The EQ-5D-Y instrument seemed to provide feasiblity and convergent validity for measuring health-related quality of life in children and adolescents with asthma.