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Effects of Graves’ ophthalmopathy on quality of life

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Abstract

General health-related quality of life is markedly impaired in patients with Graves’ ophthalmopathy (GO), and even worse than in patients with other chronic conditions like diabetes, emphysema or heart failure. A disease-specific quality-oflife questionnaire for GO has been developed, the so-called GO-QOL, consisting of two subscales: one for visual functioning (8 questions referring to limitations due to decreased visual acuity and/or diplopia) and one for appearance (8 questions referring to limitations in psychosocial functioning due to changes in appearance). The GO-QOL was found to be a valid and reliable instrument. A minimal clinically important difference (MCID) in the GO-QOL score was derived from data obtained before and after specific eye treatments. Based on the patient’s opinions, changes of ≥ 6 points (minor surgery) or ≥ 10 points (surgical decompression, immunosuppression) are recommended as MCID. It is concluded that the GO-QOL is an useful instrument for measuring changes over time in visual functioning and appearance of GO patients. The GO-QOL is available in six languages, and can be used as a separate outcome measure in clinical studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Meibergdreef 9, Amsterdam, 1105 AZ, The Netherlands

    W. M. Wiersinga & M. F. Prummel

  2. Institute for Research in Extramural Medicine, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    C. B. Terwee

Authors
  1. W. M. Wiersinga
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  2. M. F. Prummel
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  3. C. B. Terwee
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Correspondence to W. M. Wiersinga.

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Wiersinga, W.M., Prummel, M.F. & Terwee, C.B. Effects of Graves’ ophthalmopathy on quality of life. J Endocrinol Invest 27, 259–264 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03345275

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