Health-related quality of life

Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a multi-dimensional concept that includes domains related to physical, mental, emotional, and social functioning. It goes beyond direct measures of population health, life expectancy, and causes of death, and focuses on the impact health status has on quality of life. A related concept of HRQoL is well-being, which assesses the positive aspects of a person’s life, such as positive emotions and life satisfaction.

Definition

The term Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is used to denote the perception of individuals or groups about their mental and physical health over time. It is a broad-ranging concept affected in a complex way by the person's physical health, psychological state, personal beliefs, social relationships and their relationship to salient features of their environment.

Measurement

HRQoL is measured in terms of physical and mental components. The physical component includes physical functioning, bodily pain, and role limitations due to physical health problems. The mental component includes vitality (energy/fatigue), social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and mental health (psychological distress and psychological well-being).

Importance

HRQoL is important because it:

• Measures patients' perception of how an illness and its treatment affect the physical, mental, and social aspects of their personal life.
• Provides information about the long-term impact of the disease and treatment on patient's life.
• Helps to guide policies and interventions to improve the health of the population.

See Also

• Quality of life
• Mental health
• Physical health
• Social health

References

Health-related quality of life Resources
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