VISION-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE AND DEPRESSION IN IN BRAZILIAN PATIENTS WITH TOXOPLASMIC RETINOCHOROIDITIS.

PURPOSE To investigate visual-related quality of life (VRQL) and prevalence and severity of depressive symptoms in Brazilian individuals with toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (TRC). DESIGN Comparative observational cross-sectional study. National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire-25 (NEI-VFQ-25) and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI- II) were applied to respectively assess VRQL and depression in individuals consecutively seen at a uveitis referral center. Clinical/demographical data were collected. Descriptive/analytic statistics were employed, with P<0.05. RESULTS Patients and controls were comparable concerning age, sex and socioeconomic level. VRQL scores for all subscales were significantly lower in TRC when compared to controls, particularly associated (P < 0.05) with female sex, history of ≥2 prior TRC recurrences, concomitant use of systemic corticosteroids, monocular vision and blindness. Depressive symptoms were more prevalent in TRC (55/188; 29.2%) than in controls (34/182; 18.7%) P=0.023, also being associated with lower VRQL scores (P<0.001). Seropositive and seronegative controls for toxoplasmosis had similar VRQL scores and comparable rates of depressive symptoms. CONCLUSION TRC affects VRQL in Brazilian individuals, particularly women, using systemic corticosteroids, with visual impairment and presenting recurrences of TRC. One third of patients with TRC had evidence of depression, which was also associated with lower VRQL scores. Mental health issues in subjects with TRC should not be overlooked.