Measurement of Health Related Quality of Life in Malaria Patients in Indonesia using EQ-5D-5L
IC01-IC06
Correspondence
Dr. Dwi Endarti,
Sekip Utara Rd, Yogyakarta, Indonesia.
E-mail: endarti_apt@ugm.ac.id
Introduction: Indonesia is one of the countries with high malaria cases. In 2017 there were at least 261,167 malaria cases nationally. West Papua is included in the 3 major provinces with the highest incidence of malaria. Malaria disease alters patient’s Quality of Life (QoL). Thus, measurement of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) is gaining importance.
Aim: This study was aimed at measuring HRQOL in malaria patients and examining the relationship between socio-demographics and HRQOL.
Materials and Methods: Data were collected from 110 patients with malaria visiting primary healthcare centres. It was a cross-sectional study conducted from October to December 2018. Measurement of HRQOL was done using the European Quality of Life-Five Dimension-Five Level (EQ-5D-5L) instrument. Descriptive analysis was used to analyse patients HRQOL in terms of EQ-5D-5L descriptive system, EQ-5D-5L index scores (utility), and European Quality-Visual Analog Scale (EQ-VAS). Relationships between socio-demographics and HRQOL were examined using multivariate regression analyses.
Results: Almost all of the respondents reported problems in all domains. There were no responses of “extreme problems” for any of the domains. “Pain/discomfort” (99%) and “usual activities” (95.4%) domains were the most reported problems among malaria patients. The mean EQ-5D-5L and VAS score was 0.490±0.470 and 50.9±0.5, respectively. Utility score in patients with severe malaria (0.349) was lower compared to patients with mild malaria (0.571). Patients with health insurance had a better QoL. Sociodemographic factors, particularly the type (severity) of malaria and health insurance, contributed 36.9% to the HRQOL.
Conclusion: Malaria was associated with poor HRQOL and particularly affected “Pain/discomfort” and “usual activities” domains.