OBJECTIVES

The measurement and valuation of health-related quality of life is as an integral part of assessment processes of health interventions. EQ-5D 3L is one of the most widely used instrument in the world given its simplicity, high level of validity, low cost and large availability of language translations. Little is known about how self-perceived health status (SPHS) is influenced by socioeconomic factors in Latin America. We aimed to analyse this relationship in 22 countries of the region.

METHODS

Using the Gallup World Survey dataset 2007-2008 that contained 22 Latin American countries, we analysed the association between SPHS (EQ-5D, dichotomous variable that took value 1 if respondent had at least one health problem in any of the five dimensions) and a number of socioeconomic variables (household income, individuals living on less than $2/day and $1.25/day, perception of the national economy, standard of living, standard of living better, not enough money for food, not enough money for shelter, having a saving account, educational level), adjusted by country-level development indicators clustered into 5 categories (Human Development Index (HDI), Gini coefficient of inequality, percentage of rural population, and average life expectancy). Multivariate regressions were conducted using Stata 12.0.

RESULTS

We found a significant association between SPHS and most socioeconomic factors, including household income, being dissatisfied with current standard of living (OR=1,5), feelings of not improving the standard of living at present time (the same standard OR=1,2; getting worse OR=1,6), and not having enough money for food (OR=1,4). All categories showed a protective effect for poor quality of life compared to cluster 1, which represents countries low HDI level, high GINI level and medium rural population percentage.

CONCLUSIONS

Quality of life is intimately related to socioeconomic conditions, both at household and country level independently. Improving countries economic and human development could impact of individual ́s quality of life.