Abstract

AIM. The aim of the present study was to compare health related quality of life (HRQL), measured among participants of the Estonian Postmenopausal Hormone Ther apy trial, using EQ-5D, with their subjective well-being, diagnosed diseases, and several back ground characteristics.

METHODS. A questionnaire containing EQ-5D, questions about subjective well-being, number of children, marital and working  status, etc., was mailed to participants at the end of the second trial year. Of 1823 women, 1251 (68.6%) returned the questionnaire. Data about diagnosed diseases were obtained from the Estonian Cancer Registry and from the Estonian Health Insurance Fund database. The EQ-5D score was computed by summarizing the scores for each of the five categories, and compared with the subjective well-being, diagnosed diseases, and several background characteristics of the trial participants.

RESULTS. The HRQL was in st rong correlation with subjective well-being.  Both were associated with the number and character of diagnosed diseases. Women who were younger and were working had higher HRQL and reported better subjective wellbeing. Married women and women who had more than one child had better subjective well-being.

CONCLUSION. The EQ-5D, a l though strongly correlated with subjective wellbeing, cannot be replaced with the latter. The EQ-5D should be validated in Estonia and used more widely in clinical practice and in population based surveys.