Value Health. 2026 Mar 11:S1098-3015(26)00097-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jval.2026.02.016. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: The EQ-5D-5L is commonly used to assess health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Post COVID-19 condition (PCC) patients, but evidence on its psychometric properties and responsiveness to change in this population is limited. This study assessed psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L in long-term HRQoL assessments of PCC patients.
METHODS: Participants from multiple Dutch COVID-19 cohorts completed a self-administered questionnaire two and three years after acute COVID-19. Measures included 13 PCC-related symptoms, the EQ-5D-5L, Self-rated health (SRH), and (at three year follow-up) a Global Rating of Change (GRC) scale. Psychometric properties were assessed via hypothesis testing of the following: distributional characteristics (ceiling/floor), divergent validity, convergent validity, explanatory power, known-group validity and responsiveness.
RESULTS: Data from 237 participants were analysed. A ceiling was observed in 7.2% of participants. Correlations between EQ-5D-5L dimensions ranged from weak to strong (r: 0.24-0.62). EQ-5D-5L index and EQ VAS showed a strong correlation and EQ-5D-5L index and SRH showed moderate correlation. Usual activities and mobility explained most of the EQ VAS variance (R2) (39.0% of total 41.3%). Median EQ-5D-5L index increased with higher symptom severity (p < .001). Weak correlations were observed between EQ-5D-5L index change scores and changes in SRH and symptom severity, and GRC, with low discrimination between change subgroups (AUC < 0.7).
CONCLUSIONS: Most psychometric properties of the EQ-5D-5L in PCC populations were sufficient, with some limitations in capturing health in people with more severe symptoms, and an inability to detect change over time.
PMID:41825800 | DOI:10.1016/j.jval.2026.02.016