Health-related quality of life due to malaria in the Brazilian Amazon
Author Information
Author(s): Andrade Mônica Viegas, de Souza Noronha Kenya Valeria Micaela, Guedes Gilvan Ramalho, Julião Nayara Abreu, de Carvalho Lucas Resende, de Souza Aline, Silva Valéria Andrade, Motta-Santos Andre Soares, Bracarense Henrique, Peterka Cássio, Castro Marcia C.
Primary Institution: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Brazil
Hypothesis
This study aims to measure the loss of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) associated with malaria by comparing individuals with and without the disease.
Conclusion
The study found a significant loss of health-related quality of life due to malaria, with individuals experiencing a 16.3% decrease in quality of life.
Supporting Evidence
- Malaria remains a major public health problem, contributing to increased morbidity and mortality in tropical and subtropical countries.
- The mean utility was 0.69 for individuals with recent malaria and 0.83 for those without, indicating a significant HRQoL loss.
- 97.3% of surveyed individuals reported having experienced at least one episode of malaria in their lifetime.
- The study highlights the urgent need for effective malaria prevention and treatment programs.
Takeaway
Malaria makes people feel much worse, and this study shows that those who recently had malaria felt about 16% less healthy than those who didn't.
Methodology
Data was collected through face-to-face interviews using the EQ-5D-3L instrument and analyzed using Propensity Score Matching to compare health-related quality of life between individuals with and without recent malaria.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the convenience sampling method and the exclusion of certain populations.
Limitations
The study used a convenience sample and excluded certain high-incidence areas, which may underestimate the HRQoL loss due to malaria.
Participant Demographics
The sample included 1,179 individuals aged 18 years or older, with a near-equal representation of sexes and a mean age of 40 years.
Statistical Information
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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