Comparison of EQ-5D-3L and 5L versions following operative fixation of closed ankle fractures

Frailty and health-related life quality in long-term follow up of intensive care patients above 65 years old: Protocol for a Norwegian prospective, observational multicenter study

BACKGROUND

Frailty is strongly correlated with mortality in intensive care unit patients, yet routine screening among intensive care patients is rarely performed. The aim of this study is to assess frailty and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients before intensive care admission and to compare this with outcomes after 3 and 12-months. The Clinical Frailty Scale and EQ-5D-5L will be used to assess frailty and HRQoL, respectively.

METHODS

This is an ongoing, prospective observational study including patients from five Norwegian ICU's. Inclusion criteria are patients aged ≥65 years requiring invasive mechanical ventilation for ≥24 h. The Clinical Frailty Scale and EQ-5D-5L are administered at baseline (before critical illness) and at 3- and 12-months post-inclusion. Additional data collected includes patient characteristics, ICU treatment details, illness severity and mortality. The EQ-5D-5L will be compared to Norwegian population norms and assessed for measurement properties.

RESULTS

Inclusion started July 2022 and will be stopped at 350 patients. The study will be completed in 2025.

CONCLUSION

The study will assess the feasibility and measurement properties of the Clinical Frailty Scale and EQ-5D-5L in ICU survivors by telephone at long-term follow-up study and will give additional information on the frailty and HRQoL of intensive care survivors.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

The study is registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT06012942. Protocol version 2.7.1, 19.05.2023.

Use of EQ-5D-5L for Assessing Patient-Reported Outcomes in a National Register for Specialized Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE

To compare problems reported on EQ-5D-5L dimensions, index, and EQ visual analog scale (VAS) scores in patients receiving specialized rehabilitation in Norway with general population norms.

DESIGN

Multicenter observational study.

SETTING

Five specialist rehabilitation facilities participating in a national rehabilitation register between March 11, 2020, and April 20, 2022.

PARTICIPANTS

1167 inpatients admitted (N=1167), with a mean age of 56.1 (range, 18-91) years; 43% were female.

INTERVENTIONS

Not applicable.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

EQ-5D-5L dimension, index, and EQ VAS scores.

RESULTS

At admission, mean±SD EQ-5D-5L index scores were 0.48 (0.31) compared to 0.82 (0.19) for general population norms. EQ VAS scores were 51.29 (20.74) compared to 79.46 (17.53) for population norms. Together with those for the 5 dimensions, these differences were all statistically significant (P<.01). Compared to population norms, patients undergoing rehabilitation had more health states as assessed by the 5 dimensions (550 vs 156) and EQ VAS (98 vs 49). As hypothesized, EQ-5D-5L scores were associated with number of diagnoses, admission to/from secondary care, and help with completion. At discharge there were statistically significant improvements in all EQ-5D-5L scores that compare favorably with available estimates for minimal important differences.

CONCLUSIONS

The large deviations in scores at admission and score changes at discharge lend support to EQ-5D-5L application in national quality measurement. Evidence for construct validity was found through associations with number of secondary diagnoses and help with completion.