title: Risk factors for poor vision-related quality of life among cataract patients. Evaluation of baseline data.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our study aims to investigate the possible risk factors for poor vision-related quality of life in patients scheduled to undergo phacoemulsification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants in our study were 220 patients who were eligible for phacoemulsification cataract surgery. All participants underwent a routine ophthalmological examination and completed the Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25), which encompasses 12 subscales and the composite score. Sociodemographic and lifestyle parameters were evaluated as potential risk factors for low VFQ-25 composite score, as well as subscale scores. Multivariate regression analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Composite score did not exhibit any significant associations. General Health subscale score was positively associated with higher educational level. Patients who currently worked presented with lower Vision Specific Mental Health subscale score (OR: 0.33, 95 % CI: 0.18 to 0.63). Vision Specific Role Difficulties subscale score was positively associated with exercise (OR: 1.89, 95 % CI: 1.30 to 2.75). Vision Specific Dependency subscale score was independently positively associated with marital status (married vs single/widowed/divorced, OR: 1.83, 95 % CI: 1.08 to 3.12) but inversely with current working status (OR: 0.40, 95 % CI: 0.20 to 0.79). Males exhibited lower Peripheral Vision subscale score compared with females (OR: 0.19, 95 % CI: 0.04 to 0.91).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Baseline vision-related quality of life in cataract patients presenting for surgery seems affected by inherent sociodemographic and lifestyle parameters, such as gender, educational level, marital status, current working status and exercise. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the discrepancies that risk factors may confer, and should thus focus on the most vulnerable subgroups.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Ophthalmology, Specialized Eye Hospital Ophthalmiatreion Athinon, 28 Papanastasiou street, 17342 Agios Dimitrios, Athens, Greece. eirchat@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Irini P
authors.initials: IP
authors.lastname: Chatziralli
authors.forename: Theodoros N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Sergentanis
authors.forename: Vasileios G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Peponis
authors.forename: Leonidas E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Papazisis
authors.forename: Marilita M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Moschos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D004522:Educational Status; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017533:Marital Status; D008875:Middle Aged; D018918:Phacoemulsification; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology; D014937:Work