The Patients’ Perspective for the Impact of Late Detection of Ocular Diseases on Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background

Late detection of ocular diseases negatively affects patients’ quality of life (QoL), encompassing health status, psychological, financial, and social aspects. However, the early detection of eye conditions leads to rapid intervention and avoiding complications, thus preserving the QoL. This study assessed the impact of ocular diseases late detection on patients’ QoL at multi-eye clinics based on questionnaire responses.

Methods

We developed an original Arabic-English questionnaire to assess the QoL of patients with ocular diseases referred from primary and secondary healthcare centers to tertiary hospitals. It covered preliminary data, patient perspectives on having lately detected ocular disease and treatment costs, and the impact of late detection on finances, social life, psychology, health status, and awareness of current initiatives. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the associations between patient perspectives on having ocular diseases detected at a late stage and its impact on different domains. Multivariate logistic regression was applied with impact types of health status, psychological, financial, and social (dependent variables) and age, income levels, and hospital type (independent variables).

Results

Three hundred and eighty-eight responded, with 50% experiencing psychological effects, 27% health issues, 23% social impacts, and 23% financial burdens. Two hundred seventeen patients (56%) reported having ocular condition detected in late stage. Logistic regression analysis showed positive association with health status, social well-being, and financial effects (p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed pronounced effects in patients ≤ 50 years, with income \< 5000 SAR, and those visiting private clinics (p < 0.05). The social impact was greater in patients visiting private hospitals. Ninety percent of all patients emphasized the importance of increasing awareness for better QoL.

Conclusion

Significant associations were found between the late detection of eye diseases and their impact on QoL. Therefore, early detection and increasing patients’ awareness of ocular diseases and treatment are essential.

Keywords:

• irreversible vision
• physiological effects
• financial effects
• social effects
• ocular diseases

Abbreviations

AMD, Age Related Macular Degeneration; DR, Diabetic Retinopathy IRB, Institutional Review Board; KAMC, King Abdulaziz Medical City; QoL, Quality of Life; VI, Visual Impermanent.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate

This study was approved by the ethical committee of the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center and authorized by Institutional Review Board (IRB) number RC20/007/R. The study was adhered to the rules of the Declaration of Helsinki for research involving human participants. A consent form was introduced to the patients, with a full explanation of the study aims and the contents of the questionnaire.

Consent for Publication

The manuscript is approved by all authors for publication.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this work.

Additional information

Funding

There is no financial relationship relevant to this submitted work.