ScholarWorks@성균관대학교

초록

Background: To evaluate the risk factors and quality of life (QoL) in geographic atrophy (GA) in a Korean population. Methods: This cross-sectional study, based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2017-2021), included 15,030 subjects aged >= 40 years. Participants were classified into four categories: early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) (n = 2,068), wet AMD (n = 94), GA (n = 36), and no AMD (n = 12,832). Demographics and activity limitations were compared across these groups. Additionally, the subjects' QoL was assessed using the EuroQoL-5 Dimension (EQ-5D) and Health-Related Quality of Life Instrument with 8 Items (HINT-8) methods. Results: Among the four groups, the GA group showed highest mean age (72.47 +/- 7.45 years), prevalence of current smokers (61.11%), and prevalence of diabetes (41.67%). GA group reported activity limitations (16.67%) and vision problems (5.56%) at relatively higher rates compared to other groups. In the QoL assessment, the EQ-5D evaluation showed that the GA group experienced a similar decline in QoL as the wet AMD group (0.93 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.93 +/- 0.01; P = 0.971), while the HINT-8 evaluation indicated a relatively more severe QoL decline in GA group compared to wet AMD group (22.74 +/- 3.70 vs. 20.35 +/- 3.33; P = 0.007). GA group frequently reported difficulties with mobility (27.27%), usual activities (15.15%), and climbing stairs (61.54%), which were comparable to the frequencies observed in patients with wet AMD. Conclusion: In South Korea, patients with GA tended to have relatively higher rates of current smoking and diabetes compared to individuals without GA. A decline in QoL in these patients was primarily associated with activity limitations. To improve patients' QoL, social support is needed to help overcome these activity limitations. Furthermore, it will be necessary to introduce therapeutic interventions to slow the progression of GA.

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