Factors associated with lower self-reported quality of life among glaucoma patients

Abstract

Purpose : Factors associated with poor quality of life (QoL) in glaucoma are not well understood. In this study, we used the Glaucoma Computerized Adaptive Testing System (GlauCAT) to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors associated with lower scores in five QoL domains reported by patients with glaucoma.

Methods : 138 English-speaking adults presenting to an outpatient glaucoma clinic at a tertiary eye center were enrolled in this study. Patients with a history of intra-ocular surgery 90 days prior to enrollment, and/or who met criteria for cognitive impairment were excluded. GlauCAT is a tablet-administered survey that uses computerized adaptive testing and item banking to measure QoL in five domains (Table 1). Scores for each domain range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating better QoL. Multivariable linear regression analyses were used to identify clinical and sociodemographic factors associate with domain scores. Covariates associated with domain scores with a significance at p-value <0.1 on univariate analyses were included in the multivariable models.

Results : Low visual acuity was associated with lower scores on activity limitation (3.1 points lower with each 0.1 worse logMAR, 95% CI -4.8 to -1.4) and mobility (2.5 points lower with each 0.1 worse logMAR, 95% CI -4.1 to -0.9). Factors associated with lower emotional well-being scores were worse visual field mean defect (2.7 points lower with each 5 dB worse visual field mean defect, 95% CI -5.2 to -0.2), low visual acuity (1.9 points lower with each 0.1 worse logMAR, 95% CI -3.5 to -0.4), history of a glaucoma laser procedure and/or surgery (13.3 points lower vs no treatment, 95% CI -24.3 to -2.3) and female gender (6.8 points lower vs male, 95% CI -12.9 to -0.7). No significant clinical or demographic correlates of the ocular comfort symptoms and concerns domains were found.

Conclusions : Worse visual acuity was associated with greater self-reported activity limitation and worse mobility and emotional well-being. Worse visual field mean deviation, history of glaucoma laser and/or surgery and female gender were associated with worse emotional well-being.

This is a 2021 ARVO Annual Meeting abstract.

 

Description of GlauCAT domains

 

Multivariable linear regression models demonstrating the clinical and demographic covariates associated with GlauCAT domain scores.