HEALTH RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE MEASURED BY EQ-5D-5L AMONG PATIENTS WITH NON-SPECIFIC LOW BACK PAIN IN HONG KONG: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Author(s)
Yingcheng Wang, PhD1, Wai Ling Lin, PhD2, Kwok Yin Au, PhD3, Lai Yim, MA1, Mingjun Rui, MSc1, Qiran Wei, MSc1, Jiaqi Shi, MSc1, Joyce You, PharmD1.
1School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China, 2Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China, 3School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
1School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China, 2Hong Kong Institute of Integrative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China, 3School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
OBJECTIVES: Low back pain is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is associated with reduced health related quality of life (HRQoL) and increased healthcare utilization. Evidence on HRQoL among patients with non-specific low back pain (NSLBP) in Hong Kong remains limited. This study evaluated HRQoL and factors associated with reduced health utility among patients with NSLBP.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 174 adults with NSLBP at a Chinese medicine clinic in Hong Kong. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L and EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Descriptive analyses were performed to summarize patient characteristics and HRQoL outcomes. Reduced health utility was defined as an EQ-5D-5L utility score below the median value. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with reduced health utility.
RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 57.4 (SD 16.6) years. Mean EQ-5D-5L utility and EQ-VAS scores were 0.662 (SD 0.404) and 70.8 (SD 16.0), respectively, with a median utility of 0.815. Most participants (87.9%) reported problems (defined as levels 2-5) in pain/discomfort dimension, followed by usual activities (46.6%), mobility (42.0%), anxiety/depression (39.1%), and self-care (21.3%). In multivariable logistic regression, participants with post-secondary education or above had significantly lower odds of reduced health utility (utility <0.815) than those with secondary education or below (OR=0.31, 95% CI: 0.15-0.65; p=0.002). Participants with three or more chronic diseases had significantly higher odds of reduced health utility than those with fewer than three chronic diseases (OR=3.23, 95% CI: 1.29-8.83; p=0.016).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NSLBP experienced impairment in HRQoL, particularly in the pain/discomfort dimension. Participants with secondary education or below and those with three or more chronic diseases were more likely to experience reduced health utility. These findings provide local evidence on the burden of NSLBP and inform future patient management strategies in Hong Kong.
METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 174 adults with NSLBP at a Chinese medicine clinic in Hong Kong. HRQoL was assessed using the EQ-5D-5L and EQ visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Descriptive analyses were performed to summarize patient characteristics and HRQoL outcomes. Reduced health utility was defined as an EQ-5D-5L utility score below the median value. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with reduced health utility.
RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 57.4 (SD 16.6) years. Mean EQ-5D-5L utility and EQ-VAS scores were 0.662 (SD 0.404) and 70.8 (SD 16.0), respectively, with a median utility of 0.815. Most participants (87.9%) reported problems (defined as levels 2-5) in pain/discomfort dimension, followed by usual activities (46.6%), mobility (42.0%), anxiety/depression (39.1%), and self-care (21.3%). In multivariable logistic regression, participants with post-secondary education or above had significantly lower odds of reduced health utility (utility <0.815) than those with secondary education or below (OR=0.31, 95% CI: 0.15-0.65; p=0.002). Participants with three or more chronic diseases had significantly higher odds of reduced health utility than those with fewer than three chronic diseases (OR=3.23, 95% CI: 1.29-8.83; p=0.016).
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with NSLBP experienced impairment in HRQoL, particularly in the pain/discomfort dimension. Participants with secondary education or below and those with three or more chronic diseases were more likely to experience reduced health utility. These findings provide local evidence on the burden of NSLBP and inform future patient management strategies in Hong Kong.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
PCR17
Topic
Clinical Outcomes, Patient-Centered Research
Topic Subcategory
Patient-reported Outcomes & Quality of Life Outcomes
Disease
Musculoskeletal Disorders (Arthritis, Bone Disorders, Osteoporosis, Other Musculoskeletal), Systemic Disorders/Conditions (Anesthesia, Auto-Immune Disorders (n.e.c.), Hematological Disorders (non-oncologic), Pain)