Background

During pregnancy, physiological changes occur from conception to birth. We assessed the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) throughout pregnancy and postpartum using the EQ-5D-5L.

Methods

Between May and July 2021 (wave 1) and December 2021 and April 2022 (wave 2), we conducted a series of cross-sectional, national online surveys of 5250 pregnant and postpartum United States (US) adults. The survey included the EQ-5D-5L, EQ visual analog scale (EQ VAS), items measuring respondents’ sociodemographic and health information, last menstrual period, estimated date of delivery, and date of pregnancy end (if postpartum). We examined monthly EQ-5D-5L items, utility values, and EQ VAS scores during pregnancy and postpartum. We used quantile regression adjusted for calendar month of last menstrual period to estimate changes in HRQoL at different time points of pregnancy and postpartum.

Results

There was a steady increase in the frequency of respondents reporting health-related problems and a decline in EQ-5D-5L utility values from early pregnancy until the ninth month of pregnancy (β = − 0.21; standard error [SE] 0.02; P < 0.001), followed by a 0.10 (SE 0.02; P < 0.001) unit increase in values during the first postpartum month and a stabilization during the remainder of the postpartum period (β = 0.02; SE 0.02; P = 0.214). The median EQ-5D-5L utility value was lowest during the ninth month of pregnancy (median 0.78 [interquartile range 0.30]).

Conclusions

HRQoL as measured by EQ-5D-5L varies across pregnancy, indicating progressive declines throughout pregnancy and a return to first trimester values during the first month postpartum. Studies involving HRQoL measurement in pregnant people should account for the stage of pregnancy in their estimates.