Related quality of life questionnaire specific to dysthyroid ophthalmopathy evaluated in a population of patients with Graves' disease

ABSTRACT Objective The aim of this study was to measure quality of life (QOL) impairment in individuals currently suffering from Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO) and to determine the correlation of GO-specific QOL scores with disease severity and activity. Subjects and methods Seventy three GO-specific QOL surveys were prospectively analysed and compared with GO status. The GO-specific QOL survey was translated into Spanish and applied to Argentine patients with Graves' disease (GD). Results were compared with presence or absence of GO, Clinical Activity Score (CAS), severity score, age, gender and thyroid function. Results Fifty-six patients answered the survey and underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation, 15 did not have GO and were considered to be a control group. Appearance QOL score for patients with GO (53 ± 31.4) was lower than the control group (88.3 ± 17) (p < 0,000), no difference was observed in functional QOL score. There was a negative correlation between GO severity and both functional (r = -0.575; p < 0.000) and appearance QOL (r = -0.577; p < 0.000). Functional QOL differed between patients with active GO vs control group (p = 0.043). Patients with active and inactive GO had lower appearance QOL scores than control group (p < 0.000, p < 0.001 respectively). Conclusions GO has significant impact on the life of these Argentine patients. QOL was worse in GO patients than in control group, functional QOL was mostly affected by the activity and appearance QOL was mainly altered by the effects of the disease. Patients with more severe GO had lower scores on both QOL scales.

Assessment of Quality of Life and Depression in Korean Patients with Graves' Ophthalmopathy

PURPOSE: To assess quality of life and depressive status in Korean patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 49 patients (mean age, 41 years; sex ratio, M:F=11:38) with Graves' ophthalmopathy (referred to as the Graves' group) and 48 age-matched and sex-matched controls (mean age, 40.2 years; sex ratio, M:F=11:37) was performed using the Korean version of the 36-item Short-Form General Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Survey data was compared among patients with mild, moderately severe, and sight-threatening Graves' ophthalmopathy and between patients with low (0 or 1) or high (2 or 3) Gorman scores. RESULTS: Those in the Graves' group scored significantly lower on all categories of the SF-36, as compared to the control group (p or =16 had significantly lower scores on the SF-36 and higher clinical activity scores, as compared to the 33 patients with BDI scores <16 (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with Graves' ophthalmopathy had reduced health-related quality of life and were more likely to be depressed, especially those with a sight threatening condition or significant diplopia. It is important to identify these patients to provide the necessary psychological support.