Assessment of vision-related quality of life and depression and anxiety rates in patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

Abstract

To assess the vision-related quality of life and the depression and anxiety rates in patients with neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration (nAMD). A cross-sectional study of patients with nAMD treated with intravitreal injections was performed. The patients completed two validated questionnaires: the Visual Functioning Questionnaire (VFQ-25, score from 0 to 100), and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Age, gender and visual acuity (VA) in the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) scale was registered. Fifty-five patients with nAMD participated with a mean age of 80.9±6.6 years-old (range 67-93) and a mean VA in the best eye of 73.5±12.7 letters (range 44-95). The global VFQ-25 mean score was 57.4±21.9 being 38.9±13.2 for the general vision and 42.0±19.5 for the general health. VA in the best eye was associated with the global score of the VFQ-25 scale (R=0.608; P<.001), but no correlation was observed with general health (P=.936). In the HADS scale, 26.9% and 25.5% of patients had symptoms of depression and anxiety respectively. A negative correlation was found between the HADS and VFQ-25 scales for the general vision score (R=-0.438). This study elucidates the impact of vision impairment and the visual functioning in nAMD, describing an important rate of depression and anxiety symptoms.