Health-related quality of life profiles of patients with diabetic retinopathy

• Purpose: There are various instruments for estimating health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, if the results are to be compared with those for other diseases, it is essential to use measures that are applicable to all disease areas. The aim of this study was to explore the HRQoL profiles of patients with DR using two generic multi-attribute instruments, the Health State Utilities Index Mark 3 (HUI-3) and the EQ-5D questionnaire, and to investigate these questionnaires’ sensitivity to differences in HRQoL due to DR. Methods: The study population comprised 166 Swedish diabetes patients diagnosed with DR at different severities. Patients were interviewed over the telephone using HUI-3 and EQ-5D. The vision-specific National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25 (NEI VFQ-25) was also included, to give an empirical framework for the results of the generic instruments. Linear and logistic regression models were used to adjust for possible confounders. Results: Patients with vision impairment (VI) reported lower scores in Vision, Ambulation, and Pain in HUI-3 and more problems with Usual activities and Anxiety/depression in EQ-5D. However, even though NEI VFQ-25 showed a negative association between DR severity and Mental health and Near activities, neither EQ-5D nor HUI-3 identified a negative relationship between DR severity and HRQoL. Conclusion: The generic instruments show lowered HRQoL for patients with VI in various dimensions but were not sensitive to decrements related to the diagnosis of DR alone. The questionnaire of HUI-3 was more sensitive than EQ-5D to differences in HRQoL due to DR-related VI.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Hälso- och sjukvårdsorganisation, hälsopolitik och hälsoekonomi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Health Care Service and Management, Health Policy and Services and Health Economy (hsv//eng)

Keyword

diabetes

diabetic retinopathy

health-related quality of life

health profile

EQ-5D

Health Utilities Index

HUI-3

National Eye Institute Visual Functioning Questionnaire 25

NEI VFQ-25

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

ovr (subject category)