Search

Objectives: This study aimed to establish the Japanese population norms of the EQ-5D-5L and Health Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI3) and estimate the disutility associated with diseases and symptoms.Methods: We performed a door-to-door survey of the general population by random sampling. The planned sample size was 10 000 residents (age ≥16 years) of 334 districts in Japan. In addition to the EQ-5D-5L and HUI3 questionnaires, questions regarding demographic factors and self-reported main diseases and symptoms were asked. The EQ-5D-5L and HUI3 responses were converted to index values on the basis of Japanese value sets. Summary values by age and sex were calculated to obtain Japanese normative values. A multiple linear model was used to examine relationships between these values and diseases and symptoms.Results: We collected 10 183 responses from 334 districts. The mean EQ-5D-5L index values were 0.821 (male) and 0.774 (female) in the age group of 80 to 89 years, which were lower compared with 0.978 (male) and 0.967 (female) in the age group of 16 to 19 years. Similar trends were observed for the HUI3 values. Age, sex, household income, and education level had a significant influence on the values of both instruments. When measured with the EQ-5D-5L, Parkinson disease, dementia, and stroke were associated with the largest disutility (>0.2), and the disutility for depression was approximately 0.18. In contrast, the HUI3 disutility values for Parkinson disease and dementia were approximately 0.4.Conclusions: This study established the Japanese population norms of the EQ-5D-5L and HUI3, which can be used in healthcare decision making and contribute to a more reliable analysis of economic evaluations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Preference-based Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is one of the most important indicators for calculating QALY (Quality-Adjusted Life Years) in a cost-effectiveness analysis. This study aimed to collect data on healthy individuals' HRQL based on the preferences of Japanese people who had undergone a comprehensive health check-up, and to examine the influence of relevant factors, such as blood biochemical data and lifestyle behavior.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study targeting people who had undergone a comprehensive health check-up in 2015. Participants were asked to respond to a medical interview sheet. We then examined the utility value, as well as lifestyle habits such as alcohol intake, smoking, and exercise. HRQL was examined using EQ-5D-5L. Using a multiple regression analysis, we examined the influence of related factors, such as lifestyle and biochemical test data.Results: We collected 2037 responses (mean age = 54.98 years; 55.0% female). The average preference-based health-related HRQL was 0.936 ± 0.087. A total of 1167 people (57.2%) responded that they were completely healthy. The biochemical test data that were recognized to correlate with HRQL were hemoglobin, total cholesterol, creatinine, all of which were weak (r = - 0.045-0.113). The results of multiple regression analysis showed that significant facts were: being female, age (≧70 year-old), drinking alcohol (sometimes), activity (very often), and lack of sleep.Conclusions: The HRQL of participants who had undergone a comprehensive health check-up was generally high, and only declined for those over 70 years of age. It is suggested that preference-based HRQL is related to physical activity, and that decrease of activity and lack of sleep leads to a decrease in HRQL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence is accumulating for the presence of cognitive impairment in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). The Prospective Epidemiological Research on Functioning Outcomes Related to Major Depressive Disorder in Japan (PERFORM-J) study is a 6-month, non-interventional, prospective, multicenter, epidemiological study. Using baseline data, the relationship between cognitive symptoms and psychosocial function was analyzed in Japanese patients with MDD.Methods: A total of 518 Japanese outpatients (aged 18-65 years) with MDD initiating new antidepressant monotherapy (first-line or switch from a previous drug) participated. Assessment measures were: physician-rated Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) (depression severity); Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) (objective cognition); and patient-rated Perceived Deficits Questionnaire - Depression (PDQ-D) (subjective cognition); Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS); Work Productivity and Activity Impairment questionnaire (WPAI) (psychosocial function); and EuroQol-5 Dimension-5 Level (quality of life).Results: Over half of patients exhibited a greater than 1 standard deviation decline below norm in objective cognition, as measured by the DSST. Severity of depressive symptoms correlated positively with subjective (PDQ-D), but not objective (DSST) cognition. Depression severity and subjective cognition were significantly associated with psychosocial function, as measured by the SDS and WPAI (except the absenteeism items). Conversely, the association between objective cognition and psychosocial function was not significant.Limitations: Only outpatients were recruited. Occupations and job-related stress levels were not taken into account.Conclusions: Japanese patients with MDD presented a high incidence of cognitive impairment. The relationships between cognitive and psychosocial function in these patients suggest a need for therapeutics targeting cognitive impairment of MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Precarious employment has affected mental health, and limited data are available on the association of low stress tolerance with depressive symptoms among Japanese workers. Aims: This study aimed to examine the relationship between stress tolerance and depressive symptoms among Japanese workers, including company employees, civil servants and self-employed persons in various industries. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study. From March 26 to April 6, 2020, we performed a web-based survey of Japanese workers. The questionnaire included questions on socioeconomic factors, the SOC scale that assesses stress tolerance, the CES-D, and the EQ-5D-5L. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to determine the factors associated with depressive symptoms. Results: We included 3,001 participants in the analysis. A high SOC score, adequate sleeping time and frequency of exercise were associated with higher depressive symptoms. Employment status and long working hours were not associated with depressive symptoms. Younger workers had lower SOC scores than older workers. An inverse correlation between the SOC score and CES-D score was found among Japanese workers. Conclusions: Improving stress tolerance among younger workers is needed to prevent worsening mental health regardless of employment status for Japanese workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]