Self-assessed health status in Poland: EQ-5D findings from the Polish valuation study

INTRODUCTION: There are no population norms currently available in Poland for any generic health-related quality of life (HRQoL) questionnaire for adults. OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate the health status of a representative sample of the general Polish population using the EQ-5D questionnaire. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult subjects who were visiting patients in 8 medical centers in Warsaw, Skierniewice, and Puławy, were interviewed during the Polish EQ-5D valuation study. Stratified quota sampling was used. The respondents completed the EQ-5D questionnaire and provided information on age, sex, marital status, education, employment, income, housing conditions, medical history, and smoking habits. The inter views were conducted between February and May 2008. RESULTS: The final sample (n = 317) was representative of the general Polish population with respect to age and sex. Moderate problems in at least 1 dimension of the HRQoL were reported by 57% of the respondents, while extreme problems by 4.7%. Pain or discomfort was reported by 40% of the respondents, anxiety or depression by 38%. Problems with mobility were reported by 16% of the respondents, with usual activities (work, school) by 13%, and with self-care by 3%. The mean state of health recorded on the visual analogue scale (VAS) was 81.6 ±14.4 points. The mean VAS value decreased from 87 and 91 points in the youngest age group to 67 and 72 points in the oldest age group, in men and women, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Pain and anxiety are commonly reported problems in the Polish population, especially by young women. EQ-5D is a valuable tool for studying health outcomes and differences in health status within the Polish population.