Zoran, Velkovski and Maja, Belevska and Emilija, Gjosevska Dastevska (2021) ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIAL BURDEN ON PATIENTS WITH PRIMARY OPEN-ANGLE GLAUCOMA. Acta medica medianae, 60 (4). pp. 30-38. ISSN DOI: 10.5633/amm.2017.0303
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Abstract
Glaucoma is a chronic ophthalmic disease characterized by progressive, irreversible
loss of visual acuity, long-term progression and lifelong treatment, declining work ability and
self-sufficiency, which can generate social burden in patients. The study is designed to
understand the social, clinical and pharmacological aspects of assessing the social burden of
primary open-angle glaucoma. It is a cross-sectional study with a quantitative analytical
approach, which includes 182 male and female patients with primary open-angle glaucoma,
aged 20-67, with preserved visual acuity > 6/18 (0.33), according to the ICD-10 classification,
conducted in the period August-November 2020 on the territory of North Macedonia. Fifty-three
point three percent of the respondents were female and 46.7% male, of whom 79.12% were
treated with prescribed medications, 8.8% with laser and 12.08% underwent a surgical
procedure. Fifty-seven point sixty-nine percent of the respondents received treatment regularly,
which in 43.96% had a negative outcome, partial success in 30.22%, and in 25.82%, the
treatment prevented further vision loss. Fourteen point twenty-eight percent of the respondents
experienced a social family burden and 34.07% discomfort, depression, anxiety, hopelessness
and other psychosocial disorders. Primary open-angle glaucoma generates a significant socio
economic burden as a result of irreversible visual impairment, reduced work ability and
productivity, and high treatment costs of patients. The degree of the social burden depends on
the evolvement and clinical stage of the disease, the percentage of preserved vision,
availability, manner and regularity of treatment and socio-demographic parameters such as
gender, age, occupation, genetic predisposition, comorbid conditions, family history, etc. which
in glaucoma play the role of predisposing risk factors.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Scientific Fields (Frascati) > Medical and Health Sciences > Health sciences |
| Divisions: | Higher Medical School |
| Depositing User: | MSc Daniela Petkovska |
| Date Deposited: | 07 Oct 2026 10:53 |
| Last Modified: | 07 Oct 2026 10:53 |
| URI: | https://eprints.uklo.edu.mk/id/eprint/11883 |
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