PSYCHIATRIC MORBIDITY AMONG INDIVIDUALS WITH INHERITED RETINAL DISEASE- A NATIONWIDE SWEDISH RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY
Author(s)
Muwada Bashir awad Bashir, MPH, PhD1, Henrike Häbel, Ph.D2, Azadeh Chizarifard, Ph.D3, Adina L. Feldman, Ph.D4, Stefan Löfgren, MD5;
1Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2karolinska institute, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Stockholm, Sweden, 3Karolinska Insitutet, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Stockholm, Sweden, 4Karolinska institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Intervention and Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, 5Karolinska university hospital, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
1Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden, 2karolinska institute, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Stockholm, Sweden, 3Karolinska Insitutet, Department of Learning, Informatics, Management and Ethics, Stockholm, Sweden, 4Karolinska institute, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Intervention and Technology, Stockholm, Sweden, 5Karolinska university hospital, St. Erik Eye Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
OBJECTIVES: Inherited retinal diseases (IRD) aften cause progressive, irreversible vision loss and may increase psychiatric vulnerability through reduced independence and greater healthcare engagement. Population-based evidence on psychiatric outcomes in IRD is limited. We assessed the association between IRD and subsequent psychiatric morbidity in a nationwide cohort.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study using Swedish registers, including 6,058 IRD cases and 60,506 population controls matched by birth year, sex, and region. IRD cases were identified from the National Patient Register. Outcomes included psychiatric diagnoses (ICD-10 F00-F99), depression (F32-F33), anxiety disorders (F40-F41), anxiolytics and stress-related medications (ATC n05b), mood disorders medication (ATC n06a). Follow-up continued until first psychiatric outcome, death, emigration, or end of study. Cox proportional hazards models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS: Fully adjusted models (adjusted for age, sex, index year, region of residence, disability status, and baseline Charlson Comorbidity Index category) showed individuals with IRD had higher risk of any psychiatric outcome compared to controls (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10-1.34; P < 0.001). IRD was associated with increased risk of depression (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.11; P = 0.040) and anxiety disorders (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15; P = 0.002). Risk of any psychiatric diagnosis or medication use was also elevated (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.11; P = 0.010). Anxiolytic and stress-related medication use was increased (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04-1.15; P = 0.001), while antidepressant use showed an elevated, although non-significant, trend (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.10; P = 0.054).
CONCLUSIONS: IRD was independently associated with modest but consistent increases in psychiatric morbidity, supporting integration of mental health assessment into long-term IRD care.
METHODS: We conducted a retrospective matched cohort study using Swedish registers, including 6,058 IRD cases and 60,506 population controls matched by birth year, sex, and region. IRD cases were identified from the National Patient Register. Outcomes included psychiatric diagnoses (ICD-10 F00-F99), depression (F32-F33), anxiety disorders (F40-F41), anxiolytics and stress-related medications (ATC n05b), mood disorders medication (ATC n06a). Follow-up continued until first psychiatric outcome, death, emigration, or end of study. Cox proportional hazards models estimated adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
RESULTS: Fully adjusted models (adjusted for age, sex, index year, region of residence, disability status, and baseline Charlson Comorbidity Index category) showed individuals with IRD had higher risk of any psychiatric outcome compared to controls (HR 1.24, 95% CI 1.10-1.34; P < 0.001). IRD was associated with increased risk of depression (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.11; P = 0.040) and anxiety disorders (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.03-1.15; P = 0.002). Risk of any psychiatric diagnosis or medication use was also elevated (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.11; P = 0.010). Anxiolytic and stress-related medication use was increased (HR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04-1.15; P = 0.001), while antidepressant use showed an elevated, although non-significant, trend (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.10; P = 0.054).
CONCLUSIONS: IRD was independently associated with modest but consistent increases in psychiatric morbidity, supporting integration of mental health assessment into long-term IRD care.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-05, ISPOR 2026, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue S6
Code
EPH166
Topic
Epidemiology & Public Health
Topic Subcategory
Public Health
Disease
SDC: Rare & Orphan Diseases, STA: Genetic, Regenerative & Curative Therapies