The impact of cataract surgery on depressive symptoms for bilateral cataract patients in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
BACKGROUND
Depression is common among older populations with cataract. However, the impact of cataract surgery on depression in both developed and developing countries remains unclear. The aim of this study is to determine the impact of cataract surgery on depressive symptoms and to examine the association between objective visual measures and change in depressive symptoms after surgery among a Vietnamese population in Ho Chi Minh City.


METHODS
A cohort of older patients with bilateral cataract were assessed the week before and one to three months after first eye surgery only or first- and second-eye cataract surgeries. Visual measures including visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, and stereopsis were obtained. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 20-item Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D). Descriptive analyses and a generalized estimating equations (GEE) analysis were undertaken to determine the impact of cataract surgery on depressive symptoms.


RESULTS
Four hundred and thirteen participants were recruited into the study before cataract surgery. Two hundred and forty-seven completed the follow-up assessment after surgery. There was a significant decrease (improvement) of one point in the depressive symptoms score (p = 0.04) after cataract surgery, after accounting for potential confounding factors. In addition, females reported a significantly greater decrease (improvement) of two points in depressive symptom scores (p = 0.01), compared to males. However, contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, and stereopsis were not significantly associated with change in depressive symptoms scores. First-eye cataract surgery or both-eye cataract surgery did not modify the change in depressive symptoms score.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a small but significant improvement in depressive symptoms score after cataract surgery for an older population in Vietnam.
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Kien Gia
KG
To
Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC), Curtin University, Australia.
Lynn B
LB
Meuleners
Curtin Monash Accident Research Centre (C-MARC), Curtin University, Australia.
Michelle L
ML
Fraser
United Nations Population Fund, Hanoi, Vietnam.
Dat
D
Van Duong
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Dung
D
Van Do
University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Van-Anh Ngoc
VA
Huynh
The Eye Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Tien Duy
TD
Phi
The Eye Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Hoang Huy
HH
Tran
The Eye Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Nguyen Do
ND
Nguyen
D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D015350:Contrast Sensitivity; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D003867:Depth Perception; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D057187:Independent Living; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014792:Visual Acuity