Measurement of Health-Related Quality of Life Among Colorectal Cancer Patients Using the Vietnamese Value Set of the EQ-5D-5L.

PURPOSE

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is an important construct in clinical settings, and it is crucial that it should be properly measured. As the EuroQol-5-dimensions-5 levels (EQ-5D-5L) is more effective for such measurement than the 3-level model, data on economic models, clinical studies, and public health evaluations previously collected through the EQ-5D-3L need to be revaluated using the EQ-5D-5L. This study evaluated colorectal cancer (CRC) patients' HRQoL scores using the Vietnamese EQ-5D-5L value set.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The cross-sectional study included CRC patients treated at a tertiary public hospital. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L, and HRQoL utility scores were calculated using the Vietnamese value set. Tobit regression examined factors associated with HRQoL.

RESULTS

The analysis included 197 CRC patients. Ages ranged from 20 to 87 years (M = 57.64, SD = 13.5); 42.2% and 57.8% were diagnosed with cancer of the colon or rectum/anus, respectively. Mean EQ-5D-5L was 0.561 (range, -0.5115 to 1). Most participants experienced anxiety/depression (88%), followed by pain/discomfort (87%), mobility (71%), usual activity (69%), and self-care (67%). Advanced CRC stage (stage II: β -0.303, se 0.08; stage III: β -0.305, se 0.07; stage IV: β -0.456, se 0.07) and surgery (β -0.113, se 0.05) were negatively associated with EQ-5D-5L scores. Advanced education (high school: β 0.273, se 0.07); college/vocational: β 0.134se 0.05; university/higher: Coef 0.213, se 0.08;) and older age (age group 35-44: β 0.253, se 0.10; 45-54: β 0.327, se 0.09; 55-64: β 0.355 se 0.09; 65+ β 0.204, se 0.09) were positively associated with EQ-5D-5L scores.

CONCLUSION

Patients in advanced CRC stages or undergoing surgery experienced lower HRQoL and higher prevalence of anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort. Older age and high educational attainment predicted high HRQoL. This study provides information on CRC patients' health utility based on various patient characteristics, which can be used in future economic evaluations.