Purpose: Health-related quality of life outcomes are increasingly used to monitor population health and health inequalities and to assess the (cost-) effectiveness of health interventions. The EQ-5D-5L has been included in the Belgian Health Interview Survey, providing a new source of population-based self-perceived health status information. This study aims to estimate Belgian population norms for the EQ-5D-5L by sex, age, and region and to analyze its association with educational attainment.
Methods: The BHIS 2018 provided EQ-5D-5L data for a nationally representative sample of the Belgian population. The dimension scores and index values were analyzed using logistic and linear regressions, respectively, accounting for the survey design.
Results: More than half of respondents reported problems of pain/discomfort, while over a quarter reported problems of anxiety/depression. The average index value was 0.84. Women reported more problems on all dimensions, but particularly on anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort, resulting in significantly lower index values. Problems with mobility, self-care, and usual activities showed a sharp increase after the age of 80 years. Consequently, index values decreased significantly by age. Lower education was associated with a higher prevalence of problems for all dimensions except anxiety/depression and with a significantly lower index value.
Conclusion: This paper presents the first nationally representative Belgian population norms using the EQ-5D-5L. Inclusion of the EQ-5D in future surveys will allow monitoring over time of self-reported health, disease burden, and health inequalities.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11136-021-02971-6 | DOI Listing |
BMC Public Health
January 2025
Society and Ageing Research Lab (SARLab), Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
Background: Due to a globally ageing population, the demand for informal caregivers is increasing. This study investigates the socio-demographic profile of informal caregivers in Belgium and assesses the relationship between informal care (intensity and care recipients) and mental health, considering potential moderators like education, age, and gender.
Methods: Using population-based data from the 2013 and 2018 waves of the Belgian Health Interview Survey (N = 14,661), we conducted multivariate (multinomial/ordinal) logistic and linear regression analyses to examine the socio-demographic profile of informal caregivers and their psychological distress, measured through the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12).
Acta Gastroenterol Belg
January 2025
Belgian Cancer Registry, Brussels, Belgium.
Background And Study Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted the healthcare system and society in 2020. This study assessed its possible impact on occurrence and stage of colorectal cancer diagnoses in Belgium.
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Diseases
December 2024
Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC), Kigali 7162, Rwanda.
Objectives: Marburg virus disease (MVD) is on the WHO list for pandemic-prone pathogens. The current outbreak in Rwanda provides an opportunity to map outbreaks and generate information to inform policymaking, resource mobilization, and guide the implementation of cost-effective response strategies.
Methods: We synthesized available information about MVD to build holistic, up-to-date evidence to inform policymakers, public health leaders, and healthcare and public health services providers in their development and implementation of cost-effective preparedness, prevention, and control measures.
BMJ Open Respir Res
December 2024
Omicron ApS, Søborg, Denmark.
Introduction: We assessed the impact of recruitment criteria on lung cancer detection in a future Danish screening programme with low-dose CT.
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Parasit Vectors
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IRCCS Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital, Negrar di Valpolicella, Verona, Italy.
Background: Strongyloidiasis is a neglected tropical disease (NTD) caused by the soil-transmitted helminth Strongyloides stercoralis, recently included in the 2030 targets of the World Health Organization for the control of STHs. Assessment of infection prevalence is fundamental for decision-making about the implementation of control programs, but diagnostic assays to be applied in such context require evaluation. Seroassays based on recombinant antigens, which could be produced in a standardized and scalable manner, are particularly appealing for use in control programs.
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