Impact of COVID-19 Confinement on Quality of Life of Patients with Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Two-Wave Panel Study

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Intravitreal injections of antiangiogenic agents (anti-VEGF) can stop vision loss in the neovascular form of the disease (nAMD). The aim of this study was to assess the general health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a cohort of patients with nAMD treated with intravitreal anti-VEGF injections and to detesrmine to what extent their HRQoL was affected by COVID-19. This was an observational, analytical, and longitudinal study performed with a two-wave panel survey. Clinical outcomes, HRQoL, and tangible support were evaluated. In the final survey, changes in living conditions and medical visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic were also examined. Of the 102 patients initially interviewed in the before-COVID survey, 24 were lost after 30 months of follow-up. In the initial assessment, the mean health index was 0.73 ± 0.2. The EQ VAS score worsened at the final survey (p = 0.048). Patients needing treatment in both eyes (p = 0.007) and with lower levels of bilateral visual acuity (p = 0.018) reported an increase in social support at the final survey. In conclusion, patients perceived a worsening in HRQoL after confinement. However, patients enjoyed good social support that improved in the after-COVID survey.

Technological Perception with Rural and Urban Differentiation and Its Influence on the Quality of Life of Older People with Age-Related Macular Degeneration

“…More recently, COVID-19 has served as an example of the lack of support and delays in medical treatments for conditions like AMD. Sanabria et al (2023) demonstrated a worsening perception of QoL in those with AMD [39]. According to Van Hu et al (2023), comorbidities are factors influencing QoL, with the presence of ≥3 chronic diseases in addition to AMD being associated with lower evaluations of the mental health component.…”

Classification Maps: A New Mathematical Tool Supporting the Diagnosis of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

“…Wonyoung Jung et al analyzed a relation between AMD and the risk of end-stage renal disease by using nationwide, population-based cohort data in Korea [25]. María Sanabria et al studied the impact of COVID-19 on the quality of life of patients with AMD [26]. Yeong Choi et al investigated the roles of miRNAs in the aqueous humor of patients with typical AMD and polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy using next-generation sequencing and quantitative PCR [27].…”