Oral abstract presentation times
11th Rapid Fire
11th Oral
Abstract ID: 26-609
Relationship between disease-specific quality of life and generic health status in Thyroid Eye Disease: a community-based survey
Author: Anshul Radotra Base Hospital / Institution: Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust
Presentation Type: Oral Presentation Session: OrbitDate: 11th SeptemberTime: 16.15
Purpose
Thyroid Eye Disease (TED) causes significant morbidity, yet patient reported outcomes and socioeconomic impact are underrepresented. This study characterised disease-specific and generic quality of life (QoL) in a community-based TED cohort and examined associations with employment and financial impact.
Methods
A survey was completed by 83 attendees of a British Thyroid Foundation information event for people living with TED. Disease-specific QoL was assessed using the Graves’ Ophthalmopathy Quality of Life (GOQoL) questionnaire and generic health status using the EQ-5D-5L and EQ-Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), scored 0-100, higher scores indicating better health/QoL. Employment impact, financial difficulties, treatment history, and service access were also recorded. Associations between GOQoL and EQ-5D (used by NICE) were analysed using Pearson correlation, which is novel and has not previously been characterised.
Results
Mean GOQoL visual function (V) score was 55.8 ± 30.5, indicating moderate-severe functional impairment, while the appearance (A) score was 17.8 ± 22.8, reflecting marked psychosocial distress. 54.7% reported adverse employment impact, 51.3% reported financial difficulties. Participants with no TED specific treatment, used as a proxy for mild disease, also frequently note employment disruption (46.2%) and financial difficulties (45.2%). Within the EQ-5D-5L domains, notably 50.9% reported mobility issues, 59.1% had pain, and 78.4% had anxiety/depression. Mean EQ-VAS score was 53.9 ± 24.8. GOQoL V correlated moderately with EQ-VAS (r = 0.57, p < 0.001), while GOQoL A showed a weaker but significant correlation (r = 0.34, p = 0.002); both independently predicted EQ-VAS scores.
Conclusion
TED imposes substantial psychosocial and socioeconomic burden extending beyond visual dysfunction. Employment and financial impacts are evident even in untreated disease. Combined disease-specific and generic patient reported outcome measures better capture disease burden and translates patient experience into metrics relevant for service commissioning and health economic evaluation.
Additional Authors
| First name | Last name | Base Hospital / Institution |
|---|---|---|
| Joanne | Ploix | |
| Vickie | Lee | |
| Colin | Dayan | |
| Simon | Pearce |