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Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine
Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine 1/2011

01-01-2011 | Regular Article

Evaluation of health-related quality of life using EQ-5D in Takamatsu, Japan

Authors: Ai Fujikawa, Takeshi Suzue, Fumihiko Jitsunari, Tomohiro Hirao

Published in: Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine | Issue 1/2011

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Abstract

Objectives

Healthy Japan 21 (Japanese National Health Promotion in the 21st Century) was started in 2000 to promote extension of healthy life expectancy and improve health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The present study aims to describe HRQOL of Japanese subjects using the EuroQol questionnaire (EQ-5D) and investigate the influence of social background, health-related behaviors, and chronic conditions on HRQOL using representatives in Takamatsu, Japan.

Methods

Data were obtained from a 2005 Takamatsu City health survey mailed to 2,500 randomly selected Japanese individuals in Takamatsu, a medium-sized city. We examined data from 915 Japanese adults. The questionnaire addressed social background, health-related behaviors, chronic conditions, EQ-5D items, and self-rated health. The impact of social background, health-related behaviors, and chronic conditions on Japanese HRQOL was examined through multivariate regression, adjusting for age and sex.

Results

EQ-5D scores decreased with age, particularly for respondents who were unemployed or retired. Adjusting for sex and age, the results showed that age, unemployment/retirement, feeling severe stress, and musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal diseases were significantly associated with decreased HRQOL. Conversely, sufficient sleep (7–8 h/day) and having a hobby were significantly associated with increased HRQOL.

Conclusions

Information is lacking regarding HRQOL in Japanese populations. This study furthers our understanding of some important determinants influencing Japanese HRQOL, using the EQ-5D in Takamatsu, Japan. Our results also resembled some findings from similar studies in other countries. We hope to use the EQ-5D with other health survey questionnaires to gather more data about HRQOL of Japanese people.
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Metadata
Title
Evaluation of health-related quality of life using EQ-5D in Takamatsu, Japan
Authors
Ai Fujikawa
Takeshi Suzue
Fumihiko Jitsunari
Tomohiro Hirao
Publication date
01-01-2011
Publisher
Springer Japan
Published in
Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine / Issue 1/2011
Print ISSN: 1342-078X
Electronic ISSN: 1347-4715
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12199-010-0162-1

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