RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: Few studies have examined the impact of chronic diseases on populations using a comprehensive health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Korea. We assessed HRQOL of patients with 16 common chronic diseases. METHODS: We interviewed patients with chronic diseases (n=980) and healthy control (n=288) using two HRQOL measurements: Korean Medical Outcome Study Short Form-36 (KSF-36) and Korena EuroQol-5 Dimensions (KEQ-5D), and questions on sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. RESULTS: Each illness had a distinctive profile. Among disease groups, the KSF-36 global health score was highest in DM and lowest in fibromyalgia. The KSF-36 physical component summary score was highest in DM and lowest in osteoarthritis . The KSF-36 mental component summary score was highest in hypertension and lowest in fibromyalgia. The KEQ-5D utility score was highest in DM and lowest in fibromyalgia. The KEQ-5D visual analog score was highest in DM and lowest in liver cirrhosis. In correlation analysis, the KSF-36 physical component summary, mental component summary and five domains in KEQ-5D were well correlated with each others. CONCLUSION: Health related quality of life in Korean patients with chronic disease is lower than healthy control. Patients with hypertension and DM registered the two highest scores in global health but patients with fibromyalgia reported the worst health experience in global health.We can compare the profiles of the groups and determine the relative impact on the patients of the various diseases and these data will provide a baseline of the current health related quality of life of individuals suffering from a variety of conditions.