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Abstract #73213 Published in IGR 18-4
Impact of socioeconomic status on vision-related quality of life in primary open-angle glaucoma
Kuo YS; Liu CJ; Cheng HC; Chen MJ; Chen WT; Ko YCEye 2017; 31: 1480-1487
PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) on vision-related quality of life (VRQOL) in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).Patients and methodsThis prospective cross-sectional study included consecutive patients with POAG at a tertiary hospital between March 2012 and January 2013. All patients had visual acuity no worse than 20/60 in the better eye and reliable visual field tests. VRQOL was assessed by the validated Taiwan version 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25). Sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, and ocular parameters were recorded. SES was evaluated based on educational attainment and monthly income, both stratified into three levels. Analysis of variance and linear regression analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between SES, VRQOL, and clinical parameters. RESULTS: Among the 186 patients recruited, intergroup differences were not observed among educational or monthly income levels for binocular vision or integrated visual field defects. Patients of lower educational and monthly income levels had lower self-reported general health ratings. After adjustment for visual function, treatment complexity, and general health in the multiple linear regression model, patients with a college degree or higher reported better NEI VFQ-25 scores for the composite score (P=0.041), mental health (P=0.035), and peripheral vision (P=0.05) than did those with education below junior high school. Monthly income levels did not affect the NEI VFQ-25 scores. CONCLUSION: Educational attainment significantly affects VRQOL in patients with POAG. Additional counseling may be provided to patients with lower educational background to help them cope with the disease.Eye advance online publication, 2 June 2017; doi:10.1038/eye.2017.99.
Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
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