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Risk factors for poor vision-related quality of life among cataract patients. Evaluation of baseline data

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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.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest or financial support.

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Correspondence to Irini P. Chatziralli.

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The authors have full control of all primary data, and they agree to allow Graefe’s Archives of Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology to review their data if requested.

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Chatziralli, I.P., Sergentanis, T.N., Peponis, V.G. et al. Risk factors for poor vision-related quality of life among cataract patients. Evaluation of baseline data. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 251, 783–789 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2194-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-012-2194-2

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