# Evaluation of Factors Associated With Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Chronic Diseases in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

## TL;DR

This study evaluates how factors like age, disease burden, and lifestyle affect the quality of life for people with chronic diseases in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

## Contribution

The study identifies multimorbidity as a key factor affecting health-related quality of life in chronic disease patients in Jeddah.

## Key findings

- Patients with chronic diseases in Jeddah reported moderate to good HRQoL with a mean EQ-5D index score of 0.84±0.23.
- Multimorbidity was strongly associated with poorer HRQoL, while disease duration had no significant impact.
- More than half of participants experienced impaired health, particularly in pain and psychological well-being.

## Abstract

Background

Chronic diseases are emerging as a growing concern in Saudi Arabia, contributing to increased morbidity, mortality, healthcare costs, and reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). HRQoL is influenced by disease and treatment and is commonly assessed using the EuroQol five-dimensions five-levels (EQ-5D-5L) instrument. Assessing HRQoL helps in identifying areas that can be improved, ultimately leading to enhanced patient care and outcomes.

Objective

The study aims to evaluate the HRQoL among patients with chronic diseases and to assess the association of sociodemographic, clinical, lifestyle, and disease-related factors with HRQoL in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Methods

A cross-sectional, multicenter study was conducted. Data were obtained using either interview-administered or self-administered questionnaires. The first section included patients’ specific variables, while the second section consisted of the EQ-5D instrument.

Results

The study included 503 participants. The mean age of the participants was 44.3±13.8 years. The mean EQ-5D index score was 0.84±0.23, and the mean EQ-visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) score was 77.22±20.60, indicating a generally good level of HRQoL at the population level. A strong relationship was observed between increasing chronic disease burden (multimorbidity) and poorer HRQoL across the overall sample, whereas the mean disease duration was not significantly related to HRQoL.

Conclusion

Patients with chronic diseases in Jeddah reported moderate to good HRQoL, the overall mean EQ-5D index score was 0.84±0.23, and the mean EQ-VAS score was 77.22±20.60. More than half of the participants experienced impaired health, especially in pain and psychological well-being. Multimorbidity was the most significant cause of impaired HRQoL, whereas the disease duration was not significantly related to HRQoL.