Development Of A Multi-attribute Instrument For Estimating Of Utilities In People With Glaucoma

Abstract

 

Purpose:

 

We developed a short interview based upon the National Eye Institute’s Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ) to estimate utility loss from POAG progression.

 

Methods:

 

We identified items from the NEI-VFQ responsive to differences in mean deviation in a cross sectional sample of 1,677 people enrolled in OHTS and 99 people with more advanced disease. Twelve items were identified and incorporated into a conjoint interview administered to 48 people with POAG. From these results we identified 5 items of greatest importance (the peripheral vision item was added separately). We then constructed an interview using standard gamble and visual analog scale which was administered to 404 community based participants to elicit utlility weights for these items.

 

Results:

 

The five attributes most important to people with glaucoma were reading, driving, leaving home, requiring help with activities and the ability to accomplish tasks. Loss of all of these functions and peripheral vision had a disutilty of 0.27. In the Table we detail the utility loss associated with each item.

 

Conclusions:

 

There is measurable loss of utility associated with modest loss in visual function. However, determining how this is associated with glaucoma progression remains to be seen and will be part of our validation of the instrument.  

 

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: systems/equipment/techniques • intraocular pressure