Does the type of treatment have an influence on utility values in a glaucoma population?

Abstract

PurposeTo assess the impact of glaucoma therapy on utility values in a glaucoma population.MethodsA cross-sectional study of consecutive glaucoma patients was conducted. Utility values were obtained using the time trade-off method. Visual function variables (visual acuity and mean deviation in the better eye) and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics (age, sex, race, educational level, type of glaucoma, current and past glaucoma treatments, and comorbidities) were also obtained for statistical analysis. We divided the patients into three groups: medical treatment (group 1), surgical treatment (group 2), and mixed surgical and medical treatment (group 3).ResultsMean age of the study population (n=225) was 65.7 years. After controlling for glaucoma stage (early, moderate, and advanced), the difference among the groups in mean utility values was not statistically significant. Number of medications per patient, type of medication, or type of surgical technique did not have an impact on the utility values.ConclusionOur findings suggest that the type of therapy did not affect the utility values in a glaucoma population.

Maximizing cost-effectiveness by adjusting treatment strategy according to glaucoma severity

“…We also assumed utility values did not vary according to the different glaucoma therapies and therefore we applied the same utility values for all treatment strategies, following some evidence in the literature. [31] …”