Prevalence of social isolation among patients with age-related macular degeneration

Introduction. Social isolation is usually studied in common somatic diseases: arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, obesity, but is rarely considered among patients with age-related visual impairment and, in particular, with age-related macular degeneration.

The purpose of the research. To study the prevalence of social isolation among patients with age-related macular degeneration.

Materials and methods. The study included five hundred forty eight patients suffered from age-related macular degeneration with a disease duration from 2 to 4 years. For a comparative assessment of social isolation, there was formed a control group included 205 patients without this ophthalmopathology. A modified version of the social exclusion index was used to identify the social exclusion syndrome.

Results. The prevalence of social isolation in general was 12.34 cases per 100 surveyed patients. At the same time, in the age group of 18–39 years, the prevalence of social isolation was 5.21 cases per 100 surveyed and was the lowest, and in 70–79 years the highest — 22.35 cases per 100 surveyed patients. When calculating the social isolation index, it was found that the social isolation syndrome among patients with age-related macular degeneration proceeds less favorably than without it and visual impairment significantly reduces the communicative actions of patients.

Limitations. To study the prevalence of social isolation in patients with age-related macular degeneration only, to conduct a study in one regional region without comparison with other territories.

Conclusion. The prevalence of social isolation among patients with age-related macular degeneration has a pronounced dependence on the age of the examined and proceeds less favorably in patients with this ophthalmology than in its absence, which indicates the importance of correcting visual deficits due to age-related macular degeneration and expanding social contacts of such patients.

Compliance with ethical standards. The study was approved by the committee on Biomedical Ethics of the S.N. Fedorov National Medical Research Center "Eye Microsurgery", Tambov protocol no. 148-э, dated 09.02.2022. All participants gave informed voluntary written consent to participate in the study.

Contribution of the authors:
Agarkov N.M. — design development, article editing;
Popova N.V. — collection of data, data processing, preparation of an article.
All authors are responsible for the integrity of all parts of the manuscript and approval of the manuscript final version.

Funding. The study had no sponsorship.

Conflict of interest. The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Received: October 12, 2024 / Accepted: February 19, 2025 / Published: September 12, 2025

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