Health-related quality of life and utility in patients with age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of best-eye and worst-eye visual acuity (BEVA and WEVA, respectively) on health-related quality of life and utility in patients with wet age-related macular degeneration.


METHODS
This cross-sectional, prospective, observational, multicenter study was performed in France, Germany, and Italy. Patients were stratified into 4 severity groups (BEVA, 20/40; WEVA, 20/200). Patients completed the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire, the Macular Disease Quality of Life Scale, and the Health Utility Index 3. Analysis of variance was used to adjust for age, sex, and country.


RESULTS
Patients (N = 360) were mainly female (59.6%), with a mean age of 77 years and mean time since age-related macular degeneration diagnosis of 2.3 years. Health Utility Index 3 scores decreased with VA severity from 0.62 to 0.39. The National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire global score decreased with VA severity from 67.0 to 40.7 and was related to the BEVA (P < .001) and WEVA (P = .03). Corresponding changes were observed on the general vision, distance vision, driving, and mental health dimensions. The average weighted impact score on the Macular Disease Quality of Life varied from -4.6 to -2.6, decreasing with VA severity. Both eyes contributed to the average weighted impact score.


CONCLUSIONS
The BEVA and WEVAs influenced vision-related quality of life independently, as measured by the National Eye Institute 25-Item Visual Function Questionnaire and Macular Disease Quality of Life Scale.
Sahel
José-Alain
JA
Department IV, Hôpital de XV-XX, Paris, France.
Bandello
Francesco
F
Augustin
Albert
A
Maurel
Frédérique
F
Negrini
Cristina
C
Berdeaux
Gilles H
GH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014792:Visual Acuity