Scale-Description

The EuroQol EQ-5D is a tool for measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL). It is designed to provide a simple, general assessment of an individual’s health and to allow comparisons between different populations and patient groups. The EQ-5D was developed by the EuroQol Group and is widely used in clinical trials, health surveys, and health decision-making.

Analysis and Use of Data

The EQ-5D is used to measure and analyze quality of life across five key dimensions:
Mobility: The ability to move around.
Self-care: The ability to take care of oneself, such as dressing and washing.
Usual Activities: The ability to perform daily activities, such as work, study, or hobbies.
Pain/Discomfort: The level of pain or discomfort the individual experiences.
Anxiety/Depression: The level of anxiety or depression.
Each of these dimensions is rated on a scale with either three or five levels, depending on the version of the tool being used (EQ-5D-3L or EQ-5D-5L). These levels range from no problems to extreme problems in each dimension. The combination of responses creates a “health profile,” which can be used to compare different health conditions or populations.
EQ Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS)
Additionally, the tool includes the Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS), a horizontal scale from 0 (worst possible health) to 100 (best possible health), where the individual rates their overall health status.

Purpose

The main goal of the EQ-5D is to assess the quality of life from the individual’s perspective, considering various aspects of daily living. This tool is used both for clinical evaluation and population research, as well as in health-related economic analyses (e.g., cost-utility analysis). It also allows researchers and healthcare providers to make informed decisions based on the data collected.

Scoring

The EQ-5D scoring uses an algorithm that converts responses into a numerical utility index, which ranges from 0 (equivalent to death) to 1 (representing perfect health). Some models also allow negative values, indicating states worse than death.
The EQ-5D scoring process includes:
Health Profile: The responses in the five dimensions create a unique health profile.
Utility Index: This profile is converted into a utility index using specific algorithms based on population studies.
VAS Score: The value derived from the VAS scale, which can be used alongside the utility index to assess the individual’s subjective overall health.

References

EuroQol Group. (1990). EuroQol – A new facility for the measurement of health-related quality of life. Health Policy, 16(3), 199-208.
Herdman, M., Gudex, C., Lloyd, A., Janssen, M., Kind, P., Parkin, D., … & Badia, X. (2011). Development and preliminary testing of the new five-level version of EQ-5D (EQ-5D-5L). Quality of Life Research, 20(10), 1727-1736.
Brooks, R. (1996). EuroQol: the current state of play. Health Policy, 37(1), 53-72.
Dolan, P. (1997). Modeling valuations for EuroQol health states. Medical Care, 35(11), 1095-1108.
Devlin, N. J., & Brooks, R. (2017). EQ-5D and the EuroQol Group: Past, present and future. Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, 15(2), 127-137.