Health-related quality of life and recovery patterns among hospitalised injury patients in Vietnam

To measure post-injury health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among hospitalised injury patients following discharge and to identify factor associated with lower HRQoL over time.

A prospective cohort study was conducted from January 2010 to October 2011 in Thai Binh province, Vietnam. Participants were 18 years or older, hospitalised for at least 1 day and normally residing in Thai Binh province. Data on demographic and injury characteristics were collected during their hospital stay. Data on HRQoL, measured by the Health Utilities Index mark 3 (HUI3), were collected in the participants’ home at 1, 2, 4 and 12 months after their hospital discharge. Generalised estimating equation model was selected to examine the association of demographic and injury characteristics with HRQoL which were repeatedly measured over time.

HUI3 multi-attribute score was lowest at the first follow-up (0.52 for males, 0.28 for females). The scores significantly improved over time (increment of 0.08 or greater, p values < 0.001). Ambulation and Pain were single-attributes with scores significantly increased over time (increment of 0.05 or greater, p values < 0.001). Factors identified to be associated with lower HUI3 scores were older age (p values < 0.02 or less), more severe injury (p values = 0.05 or less) and having other illnesses (p values < 0.01).

The study provides important, and previously unreported, estimates of post-injury HRQoL in Vietnam. Even for those having the lowest levels of severity, the loss in HRQoL is significant, highlighting the importance of efforts on injury prevention and rehabilitation services.