Quality of Life and Burden of Care in Glaucoma Patients and Their Families in a South Asian Population

Abstract

Purpose: To study the quality of life and burden of care in glaucoma patients and their families and to compare it with cataract patients. Methods:This was an observational, prospective, cross-sectional study in which 100 glaucoma patients and 50 patients with age -related cataract as controls, 40 years of age or older were enrolled. Patients were interviewed to obtain information on visual disability and vision-specific quality of life using NEI VFQ-25 and on general quality of life using WHOQoL-BREF. Burden of care of glaucoma was assessed using Family Burden Interview Schedule. Scores of these three questionnaires were taken as main outcome measures.Results: Scores for patients with glaucoma were significantly lower than those with cataract in visual function, social function, mental health, role difficulties and dependency sub-scales in NEI VFQ-25 questionnaire (P<0.05). General quality of life scores were significantly poor in glaucoma as compared to cataract patients in all domains of WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire including general well-being, physical health, psychological, social relationship and environment (P<0.05). There was more burden of care in glaucoma patients and their families as compared to cataract patients in Family Burden Interview Schedule questionnaire for all sub-scales including financial burden, disruption of routine family activities, family leisure, family interaction, physical health and mental health (P<0.05). Conclusions:The general quality of life was poor, and influence of limitation in visual functioning on health related quality of life, and burden of care was significantly higher in glaucoma patients as compared to cataract patients.

Quality of Life among Patients with Glaucoma in the West Bank, Palestine: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Social withdrawal is one aspect that affects QoL of glaucoma patients. The financial, medical, and social problems are not only borne by the patient but the family as well( 12 ). Patients' QoL may differ based on their views on the disease, their cultural and environmental contexts ( 13 ).…”