THE EFFECT OF AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION ON QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG OUT PATIENTS ATTENDING OPHTHALMOLOGY DEPARTMENT AT SAINT PAUL’S HOSPITAL MILLENIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE IN ADDIS ABEBA, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Background: Age-related macular degeneration is a chronic progressive disease that mainly affects the central retina. It is estimated that 200 million people worldwide have AMD as of 2020, and this number is expected to reach 288 million in 2040.These numbers make Age-related macular degeneration one of the leading causes of blindness in adults over 50 years of age, according to the World Health Organization. In Ethiopia, the burden of vision impairment is substantial, with national surveys indicating that 1.6% of the population lives with blindness and 3.7% with low vision, translating to approximately 5.4 million people affected by vision loss. While comprehensive national data on AMD specifically remain limited, recent multicenter studies in Ethiopia have reported AMD prevalence of 15.4% among older adults attending hospital diabetic clinics, highlighting the significance of this condition in the Ethiopian healthcare context. At St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, where this study was conducted, the ophthalmology department serves as a major referral center for patients with retinal diseases, including AMD, yet the specific burden and impact of AMD on patients' quality of life in this setting have not been systematically documented Objective: To assess the effects of Age-related macular degeneration on the quality of life among out patients attending Ophthalmology Department in SPHMMC. Method: A facility based cross sectional study was carried out on patients who attended outpatient ophthalmology clinics. Using a consecutive sampling strategy (a non-probability sampling), a total of 308 patients included in the study, keeping into thought the diverse makeup of the population. A structured questionnaire administered by the interviewer used to collect data, then cleaned and coded in (EPI-INFO) version 7.2 before being exported to SPSS version 28.0 for analysis. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was done to assess the association between quality of life and various independent variables. When determining a significant connection, a P-value of less than or equal to 0.05 and the 95% confidence interval are taken into account. The outcome displayed through the use of tables, graphs, and diagrams. Result: Age-related macular degeneration stage was the strongest independent predictor of poorer quality of life (QoL) and severely limited daily function. Lower educational attainment was significantly associated with more advanced AMD and poorer QoL. Wet AMD was linked to greater functional difficulty and more frequent pain than dry AMD. Older age independently predicted poorer QoL and No significant associations were found for QoL with sex, residence, income, or disease duration in the multivariate model. Conclusion: The study highlights a significant burden of advanced AMD and visual impairment in the study participants. AMD severity (stage) is the primary driver of reduced QoL and functional limitations. Lower educational attainment is a key sociodemographic factor linked to both more advanced disease and poorer outcomes. Findings underscore the need for stage targeted interventions and support, with particular attention to patients with advanced disease, wet AMD, and lower education levels Key words: Age related macular degeneration, Quality of life, Saint Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College