Social Determinants of Health-Related Quality of Life among Residents in Zhejiang and Qinghai, China

• Main Authors: Yuxuan Gu, Hao Zhang, Shahmir H. Ali, Minzhuo Huang, Jingming Wei, Shuyan Gu, Xuemei Zhen, Xiaoqian Hu, Xueshan Sun, Hengjin Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-04-01
• Series: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
• Subjects: EQ-5D; health-related quality of life; population health; regional differences; China
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/8/1314

Social determinants are closely related to health and play a significant role in shaping the quality of life of a population. This study aimed to explore the differences in HRQoL (health-related quality of life) scores of residents in the eastern province of Zhejiang and the western province of Qinghai and probe factors affecting the HRQoL among the two populations. A sample of 4210 residents from a cross-sectional survey was included in the analysis. The EQ-5D-3L instrument was used to measure the HRQoL of residents. A Chi-square test and a t-test were used to examine the differences between different variables and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with interaction effects was used to analyze factors associated with the HRQoL between the two provinces. Residents’ EQ-5D index score (EQ VAS score) was 0.963 (82.71) and 0.962 (81.51), respectively, in Zhejiang and Qinghai. Generally, residents in Qinghai displayed significantly worse HRQoL scores than those in Zhejiang. The differences between the two regions lay on mobility, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depressions. In both regions, an increased education level and being employed were most strongly associated with a positive HRQoL; increased age and presence of chronic diseases were most strongly associated with a negative HRQoL. When formulating health policies, the significant health disparities between western and eastern provinces must be given greater consideration. The health of vulnerable groups should be particularly focused on to improve the observed health disparities.