GLAUCOMAS IMPACT ON QUALITY-OF-LIFE AND ITS RELATION TO CLINICAL INDICATORS - A PILOT-STUDY

Objective: This study aimed to compare the quality of life (Q of L) of patients with glaucoma and control subjects and to determine the rela tionships between Q of L and demographic and clinical variables in pat ients with glaucoma. Design: The study design was a stratified cross-s ectional study. Participants: A gender-, race-, and age-stratified cro ss-sectional sample of patients with glaucoma (n = 56) and control sub jects (n = 54) was obtained. Additional patients (n = 12) were include d to examine the relationships between glaucoma, its therapy, and Q of L. Intervention: The Medical Outcomes Study short form (MOS-20), the Activities of Daily Vision Scale (ADVS), and questions related to glau coma and side effects of treatment were administered. Descriptive stat istics characterized demographic variables and MOS and ADVS scales. Gr oup differences were evaluated using chi-square, Fisher's and Ordinal Exact, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and two-sample t tests. Spearman rank correl ations were obtained between MOS-ADVS scores and clinical and demograp hic variables. Regression was used for multivariate analysis. Main Out come Measures: The MOS scores, ADVS scores, visual acuity, visual fiel ds, and demographic variables were measured. Results: Patients scored significantly lower than did the control subjects in all MOS-20 catego ries except pain. Differences were physical (-20%), role (-43%), menta l health (-10%), general health (-22%), and social (-9%). The only cat egory that was not statistically significant was that of pain (P = 0.0 75). In the glaucoma subgroup, there were differences between whites a nd nonwhites in MOS subscales physical, role, social, pain, and health , and ADVS near vision, In patients, current medications and previous surgeries correlated with ADVS subscales night vision, near vision, an d glare; visual acuity and fields correlated with MOS subscales physic al, role and health, and all ADVS subscales, A multiple regression mod el including visual acuity and fields, urban residence, and female gen der explained 61% of the variability in ADVS overall score. Conclusion s: The Q-of-L perception differed between patients with glaucoma and c ontrol subjects. Increasing field loss, decreased visual acuity, and c omplexity of therapy correlated with patients' reduction in activities of daily vision.