Vision-related Quality of Life in Glaucomatous Patients in Brazilian Population.

Abstract

Purpose : Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible loss of vision. Although blindness is the most feared consequence of glaucoma, there is evidence that even mild disease may have a significant impact on quality of life (QoL). The impact of glaucoma on QoL has previously been investigated using the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25), however this evaluation has not been done in Brazilian population. The purpose of this study was to assess the vision related QoL and the impact of potential influencing factors in Brazilian glaucoma patients.

Methods : This was a cross-sectional study including 22 glaucoma patients defined based on the presence of repeatable standard automatic perimetry (SAP) visual field (VF) defects at time of evaluation. All patients had SAP, NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire and complete ophthalmological evaluation. The correlations of QoL scores to the best-corrected visual acuity and the VF loss were investigated. The potential impact factors (socioeconomic and comorbidities index) to QoL of glaucoma patients were further analyzed by multiple regression analysis.

Results : Mean age in glaucoma subjects was 62.3±18.5 years. Average SAP mean deviation (MD) of the better and worse eye of glaucoma patients were -9.4±8.3 dB and -15.9±8.3 dB, respectively. Average visual acuity of the better and worse eye of glaucoma subjects were 0.4±0.4 dB and 0.7±0.4 LogMAR, respectively. Average QoL scores of glaucoma subjects were 71.2±9.9 units. There were a significant correlation between QoL scores and SAP MD of the better eye (R²=17%; P=0.036). And there was a significant correlation between QoL score and visual acuity of the better eye (R²=42%; P=0.001). In the multivariable model containing socioeconomic and comorbidities index, QoL remained significant related to visual acuity of the better eye (R²=31%; P=0.035). There was no significant association between QoL and any investigated disease (diabetes mellitus, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, depression, asthma and cancers) (P>0.05).

Conclusions : SAP MD of the better eye and visual acuity of the better eye were associated with worse QoL of glaucoma patients in Brazilian population. Assessment of these metrics may help to find patients at greater risk of having disability from the disease.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.