Health-Related Quality of Life Among Food Bank Users in Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Food bank users experience food insecurity, a social determinant of health linked to poorer physical and mental health. However, evidence on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of food bank users in Spain is scarce. Objectives: This study sought to assess HRQoL among users of the Navarra Food Bank and identify associated sociodemographic factors. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study of heads of household using the Navarra Food Bank. A simple random sample of 350 participants was selected from a population of 2749 families. HRQoL was assessed by telephone using the EQ-5D-5L. We described the prevalence of problems in the five EQ-5D-5L dimensions, calculated the EQ-5D-5L utility index using the Spanish value set, and analyzed EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS) scores. Associations with sociodemographic characteristics were examined using multivariable general linear models. Results: Mean EQ-VAS was 73.56 (95% CI: 71.62-75.50), and mean EQ-5D-5L utility index was 0.815 (95% CI: 0.800-0.831). The most frequently reported problems were anxiety/depression (62.9%) and pain/discomfort (55.7%), while mobility (25.5%), usual activities (19.7%), and self-care (8.7%) were less commonly affected. Older age was significantly associated with both EQ-VAS and EQ-5D-5L utility index. Employment status and nationality were significantly associated with EQ-VAS, whereas sex was significantly associated with the EQ-5D-5L utility index. Conclusions: HRQoL was impaired among users of the Navarra Food Bank, with the greatest burden observed in the anxiety/depression and pain/discomfort dimensions. Older age and selected sociodemographic characteristics were associated with poorer HRQoL. Given the cross-sectional design, the findings should be interpreted as associative rather than causal.