Quality of Lifein Patients with Thyroid Eye Disease

Purpose: To evaluate quality of life (QOL) before and after corticosteroid therapy forthyroid eye disease (TED) and to determine the impact of the disease on QOL.Methods: A modified TED-QOL questionnaire was completed by consecutive patients before and at least 6 months after steroid therapy. All patients were clinically andbiochemically euthyroid during the course of the study. QOL was assessed in subscales of visual function, psychosocial, and educational/counseling; TED was classified byseverity score (NOSPECS) and Mourits’ clinical activity score.Results: Overall, 61 patients including 18 (29.5%) male and 43 (70.5%) female subjects with mean age of 37.3±13.7 (range, 18-33) years were enrolled. Mean duration of thyroiddys function and TED were 40.1±44.8 and 26.5±38.2 months, respectively. Mean diseasese verity and activity significantly decreased, and visual and psychosocial function scores significantly improved following corticosteroid therapy for TED. Psychosocial score was significantly worse than visual function score before but not after steroidtreatment. Linear regression analysis and Spearman correlation test showed no significant correlation between duration of thyroid dysfunction, duration of TED,disease severity and activity on one hand, and QOL scores on the other hand, before orafter treatment.Conclusion: TED seems to adversely affect psychosocial activity more than visual function. Corticosteroid therapy significantly improves QOL. No significant correlationseems to exist between QOL scores and the severity or activity of TED.