US Physician Survey Illustrates the Impact of Thyroid Eye Disease on Patient Quality of Life
Horizon Therapeutics announced results of a US physician survey showing that endocrinologists and ophthalmologists perceive thyroid eye disease (TED) to have a significant burden on their patients’ quality of life. The analysis was accepted as a poster presentation at the AACE 29th Annual Scientific & Clinical Congress and was published in a special supplement of Endocrine Practice.
“This analysis shows that physicians are acutely aware of the significant burden TED has on their patients, including not only the painful eye symptoms, but also the major impact on mental health, social interactions, driving and employment,” Yao Wang, MD, neuro-ophthalmology and oculoplastics specialist, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, said in a company news release. “With new therapeutic options becoming available, this evaluation reinforces the urgent need to manage the serious effects of TED and preserve quality of life as much as possible to protect patients’ well-being.”
The evaluation was conducted to better understand how U.S. endocrinologists and ophthalmologists perceive the quality of life of their TED patients. A total of 181 physicians (73 endocrinologists and 108 ophthalmologists) responded to the online survey, reporting insights from 714 total patients with moderate to severe TED, whose names were removed to maintain privacy. The evaluation addressed topics including overall quality of life, ability to attend work/school, ability to function in social situations, ability to participate and enjoy day-to-day activities, ability to drive and psychological well-being. A 7-point Likert scale was used to rate impact (1 representing not at all impaired to 7 representing extremely impaired).
The study participants reported considerable overall quality of life impact on TED patients (overall rating of 4.1 of 7). Importantly, TED patients had nearly double the rates of anxiety and depression than the general U.S. adult population (36.4 percent vs. 18.9 percent).2 Vision problems caused by TED, including strabismus (misaligned eyes), diplopia (double vision) and ocular pain, were some of the factors that had the highest impact on quality of life. These factors are also often drivers of mobility restrictions or occupational disability.
“These data reinforce that physicians understand the onerous burden of this challenging disease and the urgent need to help improve patients’ daily lives,” Jeffrey W. Sherman, MD, FACP, executive vice president, chief medical officer, Horizon, said in the news release. “This is why we are so focused on urgently supporting people living with TED, not only with new therapies, but also by providing their physicians with tools and resources to help improve patient quality of life.”
- Barrio-Barrio J, et al. Graves’ Ophthalmopathy: VISA versus EUGOGO Classification, Assessment, and Management. Journal of Ophthalmopathy. 2015;2015:1-16.
- NIH National Institute of Mental Health. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml. Accessed 18 February 2020.