title: Visual functioning and health-related quality of life in diabetic patients about to undergo anti-vascular endothelial growth factor treatment for sight-threatening macular edema.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine patient-reported outcome (PRO) in a selected group of Swedish patients about to receive anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) treatment for diabetic macular edema (DME).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 59 patients with diabetes mellitus, who regularly visited the outpatient eye-clinics, were included. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected and the patients completed PRO measures before starting anti-VEGF treatment. PRO measures assessed eye-specific outcomes (NEI-VFQ-25) and generic health-related quality of life (SF-36).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The participants consisted of 30 men and 29 women (mean age, 68.5years); 54 (92%) patients had type 2 diabetes; 5 (9%) patients had moderate or severe visual impairment; 28 (47%) were classified as having mild visual impairment. Some of the patients reported overall problems in their daily lives, such as with social relationships, as well as problems with impaired sight as a result of reduced distance vision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further studies are needed to investigate PRO factors related to low perceived general health in this patient population. It is important to increase our understanding of such underlying mechanisms to promote improvements in the quality of patient care.
authors: School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden; Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: tga@du.se.
authors: Therese
authors: T
authors: Granström
authors: School of Education, Health and Social Studies, Dalarna University, Falun, Sweden.
authors: Henrietta
authors: H
authors: Forsman
authors: Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors: Janeth
authors: J
authors: Leksell
authors: Center for Clinical Research Västmanland County Hospital, Uppsala University/County Council of Västmanland, Västerås, Sweden.
authors: Siba
authors: S
authors: Jani
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Dalarna County Hospital, Falun, Sweden.
authors: Aseel Modher
authors: AM
authors: Raghib
authors: Center for Clinical Research Västmanland County Hospital, Uppsala University/County Council of Västmanland, Västerås, Sweden; Department of Ophthalmology, Västmanland County Hospital, Västerås, Sweden.
authors: Elisabet
authors: E
authors: Granstam
mesh_terms: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001766:Blindness / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D000069579:Ranibizumab / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012306:Risk; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014792:Visual Acuity
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D000069579:Ranibizumab
keywords: Anti-VEGF treatment; Diabetic macula edema; Health-related quality of life; Patient-reported measurements; Visual function