Study: Majority of wet AMD patients report low quality of life

Most patients with wet age-related macular degeneration experience significant reductions in quality of life as a result of their vision loss, according to a survey by AMD Alliance International.

Investigators with the organization examined the cumulative effect of wet AMD-related vision loss on the quality of life (QOL) in 800 patients in France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. The researchers used the MacDQoL questionnaire to examine the disease's impact on 23 QOL aspects and the importance of each aspect to patients. Additionally, investigators used the EQ5-D instrument to assess the patient QOL domains and sense of well-being and the PRIME-MD PHQ-2 to screen for depression, according to a press release from AMD Alliance International.

Researchers found that nine out of 10 patients reported having a poor QOL as a result of their wet AMD. Also, patients who had lived with wet AMD for the longest period of time reported the poorest QOL, the release said.

In addition, 66% of wet AMD patients reported struggling to perform daily tasks, 32% reported being unable or struggling to either dress or wash themselves and 51% reported that their disease had an effect on mobility, according to the release.

Regarding the psychological impact of wet AMD, 60% of patients reported anxiety and depression.

Overall, 90% of wet AMD patients reported that receiving treatment would positively affect their quality of life, according to the release.