Determinants of the acceptability of health problems in diferent ages: exploring a new application of the EQ VAS

Background We aimed to determine the acceptability of non-perfect health states with age using the EQ VAS and analyse the infuencing factors. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey on a convenience sample from the general population (N=200). Respondents were asked to indicate on the EQ VAS the health states that are still acceptable for ages between 30 and 80 years in 10-year intervals (VAS acceptable health curve, AHCvas). We recorded respondents’ current health, health-related lifestyle, demographic background and explored the reference person they imagined when evaluating acceptable health states. We evaluated the AHCvas by estimating linear multilevel models including a random intercept (estimated at age 30) and a random slope for age. Results AHCvas scores were available for 194 respondents (mean age=42.8 years, range 19–93, 58% female). For ages of 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 and 80 years, mean AHCvas scores were 93, 87, 80, 73, 65 and 57, respectively. The decline of AHCvas was linear with age. Respondents’ age, health status, lifestyle and health-related experiences, as well as their reference point taken (e.g. imagining themselves, others or both during the valuation task) infuenced signifcantly the acceptability of health problems. Conclusions When measured with the EQ VAS, health problems were increasingly acceptable with age. Capturing well the individual variability in the assessment of acceptable health states at diferent ages, the EQ VAS is a useful addition to EQ-5D-3L descriptive system-based measures of acceptable health.