The impact of microbial keratitis on quality of life in Uganda
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMJ Open Ophthalmology
Abstract
Microbial keratitis (MK) is a frequent cause
of sight loss in sub-Saharan
Africa. However, no studies have
formally measured its impact on quality of life (QoL) in this
context.
Methods As part of a nested case–control design for risk
factors of MK, we recruited patients presenting with MK
at two eye units in Southern Uganda between December
2016 and March 2018 and unaffected individuals,
individually matched for sex, age and location. QoL was
measured using WHO Health-Related
and Vision-Related
QoL tools (at presentation and 3 months after start of
treatment in cases). Mean QoL scores for both groups
were compared. Factors associated with QoL among the
cases were analysed in a linear regression model.
Results 215 case-controls
pairs were enrolled. The
presentation QoL scores for the cases ranged from 20 to 65
points. The lowest QoL was visual symptom domain; mean
20.7 (95% CI 18.8 to 22.7) and the highest was psychosocial
domain; mean 65.6 (95% CI 62.5 to 68.8). At 3 months, QoL
scores for the patients ranged from 80 to 90 points while
scores for the controls ranged from 90 to 100. The mean
QoL scores of the cases were lower than controls across all
domains. Determinants of QoL among the cases at 3 months
included visual acuity at 3 months and history of eye loss.
Conclusion MK severely reduces QoL in the acute
phase. With treatment and healing, QoL subsequently
improves. Despite this improvement, QoL of someone
affected by MK (even with normal vision) remains lower
than unaffected controls.
Description
Keywords
Microbial keratitis, Quality of life
Citation
Arunga S, Wiafe G, Habtamu E, et al. The impact of microbial keratitis on quality of life in Uganda. BMJ Open Ophthalmology 2019;4:e000351. doi:10.1136/ bmjophth-2019-000351