Validation of the EuroQol quality of life questionnaire on stroke victims

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To validate a quality of life scale, EuroQoL, on stroke patients. METHOD: 67 patients were scored simultaneously for EuroQoL-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D), NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and modified Barthel Index (mBI). Pearson test was used to correlate each scale. Additionally, 31 patients were examined by two independent evaluators on the same day through application of EQ-5D. Kappa statistics were used to evaluate interobserver agreement. RESULTS: EQ-5D showed good correlation with both stroke severity (NIHSS, r= -0.404, P<0.001) and degree of impairment on activities of daily living (mBI, r=0.512, P<0.001). We noticed a good interobserver agreement (k>0.60) in all dimensions evaluated (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: We demonstrated that EQ-5D is reproducible and valid on evaluation of quality of life in patients post stroke in Brazil.