title: Related quality of life questionnaire specific to dysthyroid ophthalmopathy evaluated in a population of patients with Graves' disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to measure quality of life (QOL) impairment in individuals currently suffering from Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and to determine the correlation of GO-specific QOL scores with disease severity and activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy three GO-specific QOL surveys were prospectively analysed and compared with GO status. The GO-specific QOL survey was translated into Spanish and applied to Argentine patients with Graves' disease (GD). Results were compared with presence or absence of GO, Clinical Activity Score (CAS), severity score, age, gender and thyroid function.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six patients answered the survey and underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation, 15 did not have GO and were considered to be a control group. Appearance QOL score for patients with GO (53 ± 31.4) was lower than the control group (88.3 ± 17) (p < 0,000), no difference was observed in functional QOL score. There was a negative correlation between GO severity and both functional (r = -0.575; p < 0.000) and appearance QOL (r = -0.577; p < 0.000). Functional QOL differed between patients with active GO vs control group (p = 0.043). Patients with active and inactive GO had lower appearance QOL scores than control group (p < 0.000, p < 0.001 respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GO has significant impact on the life of these Argentine patients. QOL was worse in GO patients than in control group, functional QOL was mostly affected by the activity and appearance QOL was mainly altered by the effects of the disease. Patients with more severe GO had lower scores on both QOL scales.
authors.affiliation: División Endocrinología, Hospital de Agudos J. M. Ramos Mejía, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Laura Carolina
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Delfino
authors.affiliation: División Endocrinología, Hospital de Agudos J. M. Ramos Mejía, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Anabela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zunino
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Oftalmología, Hospital de Agudos J. M. Ramos Mejía, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sapia
authors.affiliation: División Endocrinología, Hospital de Agudos J. M. Ramos Mejía, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Del Carmen Silva
authors.initials: MDCS
authors.lastname: Croome
authors.affiliation: División Endocrinología, Hospital de Agudos J. M. Ramos Mejía, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Verónica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ilera
authors.affiliation: División Endocrinología, Hospital de Agudos J. M. Ramos Mejía, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alicia Teresa
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Gauna
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D006111:Graves Disease / Q000523:psychology; D049970:Graves Ophthalmopathy / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000067029:Physical Appearance, Body; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires