Normative Comparison of Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients With Noninfectious Uveitis

OBJECTIVE: To compare vision-related functioning and health-related quality of life of patients with noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis with those of the US general population and normal-vision reference groups. METHODS: Secondary analysis of health-related quality of life measures administered at baseline to patients with noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis participating in the HURON trial, a 26-week, multicenter, masked, randomized, sham-controlled trial of a dexamethasone intravitreal implant (n=224) was performed. Patient-reported outcome measures included the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25, the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, the Short Form-6 Dimensions, and the EuroQol-5D. The National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 scores from the HURON uveitis population were compared with published National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 scores from a normal-vision reference group (n=122). The 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey, Short Form-6 Dimensions, and EuroQol-5D scores were compared with the US general population using data from the National Health Measurement Study (n=3844) and the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (n=955). RESULTS: Compared with a normal-vision population, the HURON uveitis population had clinically significant impairments across all National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 subscales and the composite score, with all subscale score differences exceeding 10 points (P< .001). The HURON uveitis population had significantly lower 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey mental component summary and Short Form-6 Dimensions scores compared with a US general population sample (P< .001). No significant differences were found for the 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey physical component summary and EuroQol-5D scores between the uveitis and US general population samples. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with the US general population and normal-vision reference groups, noninfectious intermediate or posterior uveitis results in meaningful reductions in mental health outcomes, health-related quality of life, and vision-related functioning. TRIAL REGISTRATION: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier:NCT00333814.