BACKGROUND/AIM: To evaluate the economic burden of intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medications on Egyptian patients with glaucoma, in addition to studying the social grounds of glaucoma education. METHODS: In a cross-sectional observational study, the clinical and socioeconomic data were collected from 68 glaucomatous patients who were attending the outpatient clinics of Cairo University Hospital, through interviews, questionnaires, and clinical examinations. RESULTS: Patients had a mean IOP of 22.9 mm Hg (SD 11.5). Just under half the patients had an IOP of over 30 mmHg although 88% were on medical treatment; average of 2.1 medications (SD 0.8). Patients had been spending 79.5 LE (SD 95.3) on glaucoma medications a month, which equals 30.1% of their monthly income. Forty per cent of patients did not know that glaucoma causes blindness. The primary source of knowledge about glaucoma for 79.4% of patients was the ophthalmologist. CONCLUSION: The lack of control of IOP is probably related to the economic burden associated with glaucoma medications. 'Glaucoma education' is an important issue to both the treating ophthalmologist and the patient.
展开▼
机译:背景/目的:除了研究青光眼教育的社会基础之外,评估降低眼压(IOP)的药物对埃及青光眼患者的经济负担。方法:在一项横断面观察研究中,通过访谈,问卷调查和临床检查从开罗大学医院门诊就诊的68例青光眼患者中收集了临床和社会经济数据。结果:患者的平均眼压为22.9 mm Hg(SD 11.5)。约有一半的患者眼压超过30毫米汞柱,尽管88%的患者接受药物治疗;平均2.1种药物(SD 0.8)。患者每月在青光眼药物上的花费为79.5 LE(SD 95.3),相当于他们月收入的30.1%。 40%的患者不知道青光眼会导致失明。占79.4%患者青光眼的主要知识来源是眼科医生。结论:缺乏对眼压的控制可能与青光眼药物的经济负担有关。 “青光眼教育”对于眼科主治医师和患者都是重要的问题。
展开▼