Exploring the relation between the EQ-5D-5L pain/discomfort and pain and itching in a sample of burn patients

• Published in: Health and quality of life outcomes 2020-05, Vol.18 (1), p.144-144, Article 144
• Main Authors: Spronk, I, Bonsel, G J, Polinder, S, van Baar, M E, Janssen, M F, Haagsma, J A
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of daily living; Analysis; Burn patients; Burns; Chronic illnesses; Comorbidity; Correlation coefficient; Correlation coefficients; Discomfort; Disease; Domains; Dutch language; EQ-5D-5L; Health-related quality of life; Hospitals; Itching; Pain; Patients; POSAS; Psoriasis; Quality assessment; Regression analysis; Studies; Variables
• ISSN: 1477-7525; 1477-7525
• DOI: 10.1186/s12955-020-01394-0

The EQ-5D domain pain/discomfort (PD) uses one item to capture pain and other aspects of discomfort, like itching. This study explored how pain, itching and the EQ-5D-5L PD domain relate to each other in a sample of burn patients. Adult burn patients completed the EQ-5D-5L and the Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) 5-7 years after sustaining their injury. The POSAS includes a separate pain and an itching item. Spearman's correlation coefficient established the association between the EQ-5D-5L PD and the POSAS pain and itching item. With multivariable regression analysis the linear association between the POSAS pain and itching item and EQ-5D-5L PD domain was tested. Data from 245 patients were included. Mean EQ-5D-5L index value was 0.87 and 39.2% reported at least slight problems on the EQ-5D-5L PD domain. Most patients gave corresponding answers on the EQ-5D-5L PD domain and on the POSAS pain (73%) and itching (70%) item. Spearman correlation coefficients of the EQ-5D-5L PD domain with the POSAS pain and itching were 0.468 (p