Health-state utilities in a general population in relation to age, gender and socioeconomic factors

Background: This study examined health-related quality of life in a general population in relation to different socioeconomic variables. Method: The s tudy was cross-sectional and was conducted in Uppsala county, Sweden, which had approximately 290,000 inhabitants in 1995. The study was based on a se lf-administered postal questionnaire sent to a random sample of 8,000 inhab itants aged 20-84 years, with a response rate of 68%. Health-related qualit y of life was measured on a 0 (dead) to 1 (full health) cardinal scale by t wo methods used to measure health-state utilities in economic evaluations, i.e. the rating scale method and the time trade-off method. Results: The me an age was 46 years and approximately 54% were women. Almost 70% were marri ed or cohabiters. Approxiamtely 33% of the respondents had less than high-s chool education and 26% had a university degree. The mean income was SEK 13 ,000 per month and the proportion unemployed was 4.5%. The proportions of b lue-collar workers, white-collar workers and self-employed were 40, 50 and 10% respectively. With the rating scale method, the mean health-state utili ty decreased from 0.86 in the youngest age group (20-29 years) to 0.63 (80- years) in the oldest age group and from 0.94 to 0.61 with the time trade-o ff method. Quality of life increased with income, education and social grou p and decreased with being single and unemployed. Conclusion: These methods are useful in assessing health-related quality of life in the general popu lation and that quality of life varies substantially among different socioe conomic groups.