Vision-Related Quality of Life, Anxiety and Depression in Congolese Patients with Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy

To assess the impact of polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) on quality of life (QoL) and mental health in a cohort of Congolese patients.

Fifteen PCV patients and 26 age-matched controls completed the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaire. Outcome measures were QoL and HADS scores, frequency of anxiety and depression, correlations between best-corrected distance visual acuity (BCDVA) and QoL and HADS scores. Risk factors for anxiety and depression were also determined.

The QoL composite score was (54.9 ± 24.2) in patients and (94.5 ± 4.5) in controls, p <.001. Patients scored higher on HADS-A (9.5 ± 3.4) and HADS-D (6.7 ± 4.7) than controls (3.0 ± 2.7 and 1.5 ± 2.6), all p <.001. Anxiety and depression were present in 73.3% and 46.7% of patients, respectively, versus 1% each of controls (p <.001). Every unit improvement in best eye's BCDVA increased QoL composite score by 24.3, but decreased HADS-D by 5.9. Macular lesions decreased QoL by 34.5 while increasing HADS-A and HADS-D scores by 4.2 and 4.4, respectively. A history of stroke also increased the HADS-A score by 5.9.

PCV impairs the QoL and induces both anxiety and depression in Congolese PCV patients. Screening for QoL, anxiety and depression in PCV patients at first presentation will help detect those in need of psychological support.