Comparison of Euroqol EQ-5D and SF-36 in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

The objective of the study was to compare the Euroqol EQ-5D (Euroqol) and s hort-form 36 (SF-36) health questionnaires in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). One hundred and twenty-seven out-patients referred to a ho spital-based infectious disease clinic with a diagnosis of CFS were contact ed by post and asked to complete both questionnaires. Additional data were determined from hospital casenotes. Eighty-five patients returned correctly completed questionnaires. Euroqol health values and visual analogue scale (VAS) scores were strongly and significantly correlated with all dimensions of the SF-36, with the exception of physical limitation of role. SF-36 dim ensions were in turn strongly and significantly correlated with each other, with the same exception. Patients reported a high degree of physical disab ility and a moderate degree of emotional or psychological ill-health. The E uroqol elements dealing with mobility and self-care referred to inappropria tely severe degrees of disability for these patients with CFS. Similarly so me dimensions in the SF-36 were oversensitive and did not discriminate betw een patients with moderate or severe disability. It was concluded that Euro qol scores correlated strongly with SF-36 scores and provided useful inform ation about patients with CFS and that Euroqol would be a useful tool for t he rapid assessment of health status in CFS. The current Euroqol instrument refers to inappropriately severe degrees of disability for patients with C FS and would need to be modified to be maximally useful in this situation. Qual. Life Res. 8:9-16 (C) 1999 Kluwer Academic Publishers.