141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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276989
Impact of diabetes on vision-related quality of life: Findings from a clinical trial of African-americans


Tuesday, November 5, 2013

David M. Weiss, BA, Department of Research, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Lisa A. Hark, PhD, RD, Glaucoma Research Center, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Benjamin Leiby, PhD, Division of Biostatistics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA
Ann P. Murchison, MD, MPH, Department of Research, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Julia A. Haller, MD, Ophthalmologist-in-Chief, Wills Eye Institute, Philadelphia, PA
Objective: To assess the impact of diabetes on vision-related quality of life (VRQoL) among a sample of older African-Americans (AA) who have not had recent eye examinations. Methods: Baseline data were obtained on 187 AAs enrolled in a clinical trial to test the efficacy of a culturally-relevant, home-based intervention to increase rates of dilated fundus examinations. Participants were AA, ≥ 65, with type 2 diabetes, with no eye examination in the preceding year. Each subject completed a baseline assessment which included the National Eye Institute's previously validated Visual Functioning Questionnaire-25 (VFQ-25). Baseline scores were compared with previously published VFQ-25 scores of a sample with diabetic retinopathy and a sample of non-diabetic subjects without ocular pathology. Results: Subjects were older (73.7 vs. 59.3), primarily female (68.4% vs 35.9%) and African American (100% vs 10%) compared to the diabetic retinopathy study sample. However, subjects' mean VFQ-25 scores were within 5 points of 11 of the 12 VFQ-25 subscales. Some of which include general vision (65.8±17.1 vs. 69.5±17.4), near vision (76.1±21.9 vs. 75.8±21.7), distance vision (84.09±18.36 vs. 82.9±17.9), social functioning (91.0±16.3 vs. 93.9±12.9, mental health (78.13±21.79 vs. 77.2±21.3), and dependency (89.4±19.4 vs. 91.3±17.4). Compared to non-diabetics, subjects' mean scores were lower (i.e., worse) by ≥ 10 points on 7 of the 12 VFQ-25 subscales. Conclusions: Diabetes negatively impacts VRQoL. These findings point to the need for clinical interventions for African-American patients with diabetes who do not adhere to vision care guidelines to prevent visual impairment, reduce health care costs, and improve VRQoL.

Learning Areas:

Chronic disease management and prevention
Epidemiology

Learning Objectives:
Describe the vision-related quality of life in a clinically significant population that does not adhere to yearly eye care recommendations. To assess the impact of diabetes on vision-related quality of life in an older African-American population who are not adherent to the yearly eye care recommendations.

Keyword(s): Diabetes, Vision Care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have served as the Research Manager for the Department of Research at Wills Eye Institute for the past three years. Our research primarily focuses on reducing health disparities, improving vision care, and increasing vision care utilization.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4276.1: Vision and eye health