Acceptable health and ageing: results of a cross-sectional study from Hungary

We aimed to investigate the acceptability of imperfect health states in relation to age in Hungary and analyse its determinants. Results are contrasted to age-matched actual population health scores and to findings from a previous study in The Netherlands.

A cross-sectional online survey was performed. The same survey questions were applied as in a previous study in The Netherlands in order to enable inter-country comparisons. The descriptive system of the EQ-5D-3L health status questionnaire was used to assess the acceptability of moderate and severe health problems at ages from 30 to 80 by 10-year age-groups. Descriptive statistics were performed and linear regression analysis was used to investigate the determinants of acceptability.

Altogether 9281 (female 32.8%) were involved with mean age 36.0 years and EQ-5D-3L index score of 0.852 (SD 0.177). Acceptability of health problems increased with age, differed per health domain and with severity of the problems. Except for 'Self-care', moderate health problems were acceptable by the majority from age 70 and acceptability scores were lower than EQ-5D-3L population norms from that age. The lowest average acceptability age was found in the 'Anxiety/depression' and dimension the highest in the 'Self-care' dimension. Respondents' age, current health, and lifestyle were significant determinants (R²: 0.041-0.130). With a few minor exceptions in some health dimensions, acceptability levels and patterns were strikingly similar to the Dutch findings.

In Hungary, acceptability of health problems increases with age and the majority found severe problems never acceptable. Views on acceptability of health problems seem to be fairly generalizable across European countries with different health and economic indicators.