Psychological distress and its associated factors among people with glaucoma attending university of Gondar comprehensive and specialized hospital, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Glaucoma affected approximately 64.3 million people globally in 2013, with projections estimating an increase to 111.8 million by 2040. As a chronic, progressive eye disease with the potential to cause irreversible blindness, glaucoma necessitates lifelong management and follow-up. Like other chronic conditions, glaucoma can impose a significant psychological burden on patients, potentially leading to stress, anxiety, and depression. Understanding the mental health implications of glaucoma is essential for comprehensive patient care. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of psychological distress among individuals with glaucoma and to identify associated socio-demographic, clinical, and behavioral factors contributing to psychological distress in Gondar, Ethiopia. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to August, 2022, at the Tertiary Eye Care and Training Center of the University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital. The sample size was determined using a single population proportion formula, and participants were selected through a systematic random sampling technique. Psychological distress was measured using the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). To identify factors associated with psychological distress, both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. Bivariate logistic regression was first used to assess the association between each independent variable and psychological distress. Variables with a p-value < 0.2 in the bivariate analysis were included in the multivariable model. In the multivariable analysis, a p-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Ethical approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the University of Gondar, and written informed consent was secured from all participants prior to data collection. A total of 422 glaucoma patients participated in the study, with a mean age of 59.77 ± 12.38 years. The overall prevalence of psychological distress was 27.0% (95% CI: 22.8%–31.5%). Psychological distress was significantly associated with being widowed (AOR = 3.06, 95% CI: 1.55–6.05), poor (AOR = 3.27, 95% CI: 1.54–6.92) or moderate social support (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.72–6.83), treatment duration longer than two years (AOR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.51–4.47), and current substance use (AOR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.19–4.01). The relatively high prevalence of psychological distress among glaucoma patients highlights the need to integrate routine mental health screening and psychosocial support into glaucoma care services, particularly for patients with prolonged treatment duration, poor social support, and substance use.