BACKGROUND:

The EQ-5D is a widely used generic health-related quality of life instrument that has been used to describe population health and health outcomes in clinical trials and health economic evaluations.

AIMS:

To generate Danish population norms for the EQ-5D index score, stratified by age and gender.

METHODS:

The EQ-5D data from three population health surveys were pooled, thus providing EQ-5D profile data for 15,700 individuals aged 20-79 years. The Danish TTO scoring algorithm was used to weight each respondent's profile data to derive a single index score. Mean values were computed by gender and 10-year age groups, and educational groups.

RESULTS:

In a random sample from the general Danish population, the mean EQ-5D index score ranged between 0.93 for 20-29 year-olds and 0.83 for 70-79 year-olds. Men had a significantly higher score than women in all age groups. Longer education was associated with higher EQ-5D index score in most age groups.

CONCLUSIONS:

The calculated mean values for the EQ-5D index score may be used as reference values for comparative purposes in future Danish population health and evaluative studies.