Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety and Depression among Glaucoma Patients in a Tertiary Health Institution in South-South Nigeria

Aim: To determine the prevalence and factors associated with Anxiety and Depression among `glaucoma patients.

Study Design: It was a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out at the Department of Ophthalmology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital Port Harcourt, Nigeria. From February to June 2016.

Patients and Methods: Glaucoma patients aged 18 years or older with no history of coexisting ocular pathology or chronic systemic illness were included in the study. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) questionnaires were administered. Ocular examinations done included visual acuity, applanation tonometry, and ophthalmoscopy. Perimetry was done using a standard achromatic perimetry with a fast threshold central 30-2 strategy. Data obtained from the subjects were analysed using SPSS (Version 20), and p value set at < 0.05.

Results: There were 141 males (47%) and 158 females (53%) giving a male: female ratio 1:1.12. The age range was 20-86 years with mean age of 53.61± 14.23 years. The prevalence of Anxiety and Depression were 37.5% and 34.1% respectively, while 53 subjects (17.7%) had both anxiety and depression. The mean scores of anxiety and depression among the study subjects were 6.49±3.851 (CI 6.05-6.93) and 5.78±3.832 (95% CI 5.35-6.21) respectively. Family history (O.R=1.893;P-value=0.019), previous membership of a Glaucoma Society(O.R=2.633;P-value=0.007), and BCVA in the better eye(O.R=0.235;P-value=0.001), were significant predictors of anxiety while age(O.R=0.774;P-value=0.029), educational status (O.R=0.139;P-value=0.001), and BCVA in the better eye (O.R=4.865;P-value=0.001) were significant predictive factors for depression after adjustment for cofounding factors.

Conclusion: There is high prevalence of Anxiety and Depression among this cohort of glaucoma patients. Combined management of glaucoma patients with Neuropsychiatrists will promote a holistic management with early detection of mental health challenges.