Relative contributions of reduced vision and general health to NEI-VFQ scores in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the relative contributions of central vision loss and general health to vision-targeted quality of life as measured by the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI-VFQ).


METHODS
Data on quality of life (NEI-VFQ and the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey [SF-36]) and visual acuity were collected as part of the Submacular Surgery Trials Pilot Study. Information on medical conditions was collected by patient chart review. Twenty-four-month data for 120 patients were analyzed using linear regression methods.


RESULTS
Median patient age at the 24-month examination was 77 years; 60% were women, and 98% were non-Hispanic whites. A 3-line decrement in visual acuity in the better-seeing eye was associated with a 5.1- to 17.1-point decrement in NEI-VFQ scores after adjustment for general health (SF-36 physical component summary [PCS] and mental component summary [MCS] scores). A 10-point decrement in the PCS score was associated with a 4- to 9-point decrement in NEI-VFQ scores after adjustment for visual acuity in the better-seeing eye and MCS score. A 10-point decrement in the MCS score was associated with a 4- to 8-point decrement in NEI-VFQ scores after adjustment for visual acuity in the better-seeing eye and PCS score. Diabetes, arthritis/rheumatism, and hypertension also had large effects on NEI-VFQ scores in the adjusted analysis.


CONCLUSIONS
The NEI-VFQ is sensitive to differences in visual acuity in the better-seeing eye, as expected, and to differences in general health. Adjustment for general health should be considered when comparing NEI-VFQ scores between patient groups.
Miskala
Päivi H
PH
Department of Ophthalmology, Wilmer Clinical Trials and Biometry, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 550 N. Broadway, Ninth Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. pmiskala@jhmi.edu
Bressler
Neil M
NM
Meinert
Curtis L
CL
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009316:National Institutes of Health (U.S.) / Q000592:standards; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000592:standards; D011788:Quality of Life; D014481:United States; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology