[Quality of life in patients with primary congenital glaucoma following antiglaucoma surgical management].

Abstract

To evaluate the 23-item scale of Quality of Life (QOL) for patients with primary congenital glaucoma (PCG). It was a cross-sectional study. The QOL scale specific for patients with PCG was firstly evaluated on 51 patients with PCG following antiglaucoma surgery at last followup visit (7.80 years +/- 2.93 years with a median at 7 years) and 50 participants with normal visual acuity (VA) as control. All participants were aged 5-20 years old. The QOL of PCG was evaluated with type of disease, severity, surgical outcome, postoperative VA, age, gender and personality by using single-factor correlation analysis and multiple-factor stepwise regression analysis. The PCG-QOL scale achieved good reliability, validity and responsibility for PCG and 23-item were all qualified for QOL evaluation of PCG. The total scores of QOL in patients with PCG were significantly lower than those of normal individuals (PCG 60.22 +/- 10.02,normal individuals 71.41 +/- 10.11; t = 5.682, P = 0.000). Single-factor correlation analysis showed that the total scores of QOL were associated significantly with the severity of glaucoma (F = 24.026, P = 0.000), surgical outcome (t = 2.638, P = 0.009) and postoperative VA (F = 11.248, P = 0.000); The visual function scores were associated significantly with the severity (F = 12.677, P = 0.000) and postoperative VA (F = 10.369, P = 0.000). The self-care ability scores were associated significantly with the severity (F = 11.064, P = 0.000) and surgical outcome (t = 2.297, P = 0.042). The social and mental scores were all correlated significantly with the severity (F = 6.869, P = 0.020; F = 5.721, P = 0.019) and personality (t = 4.352, P = 0.009; t = 2.297, P = 0.042). Multiple-factor stepwise regression analysis showed that there were significant correlations between total scores and the severity (P3 = -6.985, P = 0.001), postoperative VA (beta = -4.978, P = 0.003) and personality (13 = -5.201, P = 0.020). The PCG-QOL scale could be used for evaluating the QOL of PCG patients aged 5-20 years. The main factors that influence on the QOL of patients with PCG are severity of the disease, postoperative VA and personality. Preventing progression of glaucoma, improving VA and giving right psychological guidance may improve the QOL of patients with PCG.