Glaucoma and Vision-Related Quality of Life
Paul M. Gentile, MPH(c); Anneclaire De Roos, PhD, MPH; Lisa A. Hark, PhD, RD; Rebecca Gensure, MD; Deiana
Johnson, MPH
Drexel University School of Public Health, Wills Eye Hospital Department of Research, Philadelphia, PA
Purpose
The severity of glaucoma can lead to overall poorer quality
Results
Table 1: Comparison of baseline NEI-VFQ-25 Subscale Scores and glaucoma diagnosis
Patients aged 50 years and over were examined and interviewed at the community and main sites and
of life (QoL). This study aimed to assess and identify factors
were diagnosed with some form of glaucoma. Overall, 208 (73.8%) accounted for Black or African
related to quality of life among a high-risk group of patients
American. Females 187 (66.3) and males 95 (33.7) were accounted for in the study population. A review
with a variety of glaucoma related diagnosis in Philadelphia.
of quality of life scores among the patients was examined utilizing the NEI-VFQ-25 and GDS-15. From
We wish to investigate how baseline assessment of QoL,
the NEI-VFQ-25, 196 (69.5%) patients had subscale scores in 76-100 range, indicating a high QoL. In
demographics, and type of glaucoma might together provide
the GDS-10,198 (87.2%) had an overall score in the 0-4 range, indicating no depression. Across all the
useful information on whether or not future patients might
sites, only 2 people were screened positive on the GDS-15 for being suspected clinically depressed.
benefit from additional services such as a patient navigator
These individuals were referred to a social worker. Glaucoma patients that were female were also noted
or social worker to address their overall QoL.
as having lower QoL than males (p<0.1). Type of glaucoma diagnosis has also indicated that patients
with some form of glaucoma are more likely to have overall poorer QoL (p<.001).
Methods
•
The study included 282 enrolled patients from previous
Figure 1:
Distribution of GDS-15 scores across all
community and hospital sites
Figure 2:
Distribution of NEI-VFQ-25 scores across
community and hospital sites
community sites that were used in a previous CDC-funded
study, and from Wills Eye Hospital.
•
Each patient underwent a baseline assessment utilizing
the National Eye Institute (NEI) Visual Function
Questionnaire (VFQ) and Geriatric Depression Scale
(GDS) to measure quality of life.
•
Information captured from patient, and electronic medical
Mean= 2.01
SD=2.49
Mean= 78.55
SD= 15.90
Table 2: Univariate/Multiple Linear Regression of Association of the NEI-VFQ with patient demographics and
diagnosis
Estimate (linear regression)
Variable
Estimate (multiple linear
* p≤.05
regression)
Age
Race
White/Caucasian
Black or African-American
Other
Diagnosis
Primary Open-Angle
Narrow-Angle
Other
Gender
Male
Female
records included: Race/ethnicity, age, gender, marital
status, medications, and glaucoma diagnoses.
•
0.02 (CI: -0.17, 0.21)
Reference
-3.54 (CI: -9.00, 1.92)
-10.04 (CI: -17.25, -2.84)*
Reference
-3.64 (CI: -9.10,1.82)
-10.59 (CI: -17.84, -3.34)*
-2.98 (CI: -7.247, 1.287)
1.61 (CI: -2.744, 5.976)
-6.02 (CI: -12.33, .281)
-4.162 (CI:-8.83, .510)
-.717 (CI, -5.473, 4.04)
-7.39 (CI: -14.04,-.74)*
Reference
-2.72 (CI: -6.66,1.21)
Reference
-3.38 (CI: -7.30, .54)
Conclusions
A univariate and multi-variate analyses was used to
assess the relationship between glaucoma diagnosis,
race/ethnicity, gender, age, and overall quality of life.
•
0.04 (CI: -0.15, 0.24)
As suggested by the literature a score for the GDS-15
was chosen as a significant value indicating that the
patient may have a severe form of depression and would
be referred by the patient navigator.
Funded by the Partridge Foundation
The findings from this study emphasize the need to continue early detection and treatment of glaucoma in order to maintain a high QoL
among high-risk populations in Philadelphia. Many of the patients in this study indicated higher QoL and were diagnosed early which was
representative in their overall composite score from the baseline assessment. Given that there were patients whose scores were indicative of
mild and severe depression were associated with glaucoma and later stages of the disease. The later stages leads an individual to
experience vision-loss and development of clinical depression. This study was able to determine and support the literature on how there is a
relationship between the severity of glaucoma and overall QoL.
Contact: Paul Gentile at pgentile1@gmail.com