Ocular Damage Index, Ocular Pain and Subjective Visual Rating in Patients with Behçet's Uveitis: A Study of Impact on Health-Related Quality of Life

Purpose: The aim of our study is to assess subjective disease burden parameters (SVR and OP) as well as objective ones (BCVA and ODI) as predictors of HRQoL in Egyptian patients with BD uveitis. Methods: Ninety-six patients with BD uveitis were recruited in this cross-sectional study from the Rheumatology Department, Cairo University Hospital. HRQoL was assessed using RAND-36 item health survey 1.0, subjective visual rating (SVR) was measured on a 6-point Likert scale. Ocular pain (OP) was rated on a numeric rating scale. The Ocular Damage Index (ODI) was calculated using the ocular domain of the BD damage index. Linear regression was performed to determine predictors of HRQoL metrics. Results: SVR predicted Vitality (beta = 0.15, p = 0.004), Emotional Well-being (EW) (beta = 0.13, p = 0.005), General Health (beta = 0.18, p = 0.012) and Mental Component Summary (beta = 0.22, p = 0.002). OP predicted Social Function (beta = -3.18 p < 0.001), General Health (beta = -1.55, p = 0.004), Physical Component Summary (beta = -2.00, p = 0.007) and Mental Component Summary (beta = -1.53, p = 0.005). BCVA predicted Physical Function (beta = 31.1, p = 0.02) and Emotional Well-being (beta = 7.94, p = 0.01). ODI failed to predict any HRQoL metrics. ODI was independent predictor of legal blindness adjusted for uveitis duration and severity. Legally blind patients had worse HRQoL metrics than patients with better vision. Conclusion: In BD uveitis patients, subjective disease burden parameters were more informative about HRQoL metrics than objective ones. Longitudinal studies are needed to elucidate the utility of ODI as an outcome measure in BD uveitis.