About EQ-5D

The EQ-5D-3L essentially consists of 2 pages – the EQ-5D descriptive system and the EQ visual analogue scale (EQ VAS). The EQ-5D-3L descriptive system comprises the following 5 dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression. Each dimension has 3 levels: no problems, some problems, extreme problems.

Scoring the EQ-5D-3L Descriptive System: The respondent is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking (or placing a cross) in the box against the most appropriate statement in each of the 5 dimensions.

Scoring the EQ VAS: The EQ VAS records the respondent’s self-rated health on a vertical, visual analogue scale where the endpoints are labeled ‘Best imaginable health state’ and ‘Worst imaginable health state’. This information can be used as a quantitative measure of health outcome as judged by the individual respondents.

The EQ-5D-5L still consists of 2 pages – the EQ-5D-5L descriptive system and the EQ visual Analogue scale (EQ VAS). The descriptive system comprises the same 5 dimensions as the EQ-5D-5D-3L (mobility, self care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression). However, each dimension now has 5 levels: no problems, slight problems, moderate problems, severe problems, and extreme problems.

Scoring the EQ-5D-5L Descriptive System: The respondent is asked to indicate his/her health state by ticking (or placing a cross) in the box against the most appropriate statement in each of the 5 dimensions. This decision results in a 1-digit number expressing the level selected for that dimension. The digits for 5 dimensions can be combined in a 5-digit number describing the respondent’s health state.

Scoring the EQ VAS: The EQ VAS records the respondent’s self-rated health on a 20 cm vertical, visual analogue scale with endpoints labeled ‘the best health you can imagine’ and ‘the worst health you can imagine’. This information can be used as a quantitative measure of health as judged by the individual respondents.