Variations in self-reported health status: results from a New Zealand survey

To report measures of the self-reported health of a sample of the New Zealand adult population elicited using the EuroQol Group's EQ-5D questionnaire, and to investigate variations in these measures, according to respondents' socio-demographic characteristics.

Personal health status questions were included in a self-completed postal questionnaire mailed to a non-stratified sample of 3000 New Zealanders, selected at random from the electoral roll. 1350 questionnaires were completed and returned. Each respondent rated their health on the five EQ-5D dimensions- mobility, self care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression- and assigned a global score to their profile.

Pain/discomfort was the most commonly experienced health problem, with 41% of all respondents and 63% of over-70 year olds reporting moderate or extreme problems. Just 4.5% of respondents reported problems with self-care. Respondents were more likely to report problems on each of the five dimensions and to have a lower global score if they smoked, if they were unemployed, a houseworker or retiree, and if their education did not continue past the minimum school leaving-age, or they did not have a degree or equivalent qualification. Problems on all dimensions were more common the older the respondent, and the global score was lower for over-70 year olds than for younger people. Neither the global score nor the incidence of problems on any of the dimensions was related to sex or ethnicity.

The EQ-5D is a potentially useful instrument for monitoring health in the New Zealand context. Further research to explore its validity and reliability, particularly for Maori, would be valuable.