Multiple linear regression analysis of factors affecting better-eye visual acuity in retinitis pigmentosa patients: A cross-sectional study

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a progressive inherited retinal disorder that leads to severe visual impairment, even blindness. This condition significantly compromises quality of life and imposes substantial socioeconomic burdens. Currently, most cases of RP have no effective treatment, and therapies aimed at slowing the decline of patients' vision and improving their quality of life remain the main clinical tasks. Identifying key factors influencing visual outcomes is crucial for optimizing patient management. To bridge this gap, we conducted a study to explore these determinants. This study aimed to investigate the determinants of better-eye visual acuity in RP patients, focusing particularly on disease duration, age of onset, and a positive family history. In this cross-sectional study, 285 participants with clinically confirmed RP were enrolled. Comprehensive demographic and clinical data were collected, including a positive family history, age of onset, disease duration, and best-corrected visual acuity measuring in LogMAR units. Both simple and multiple linear regression analyses were employed to assess the associations between the clinical factors and visual outcomes. The study population had a mean age of onset of 13.61 ± 14.36 years and a mean disease duration of 26.36 ± 16.12 years, with 53.71% having a positive family history. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that disease duration was significantly associated with lower visual acuity (β = 0.012, P < .001), while age of onset showed no significant association (β = -0.005, P = .149) after adjustment for all potential confounding factors. Based on these findings, disease duration emerges as a significant predictor of visual acuity in RP patients, highlighting its value as a prognostic indicator for clinical assessment. These findings underscore the importance of considering disease duration when developing personalized management strategies for RP patients. Further investigations to explore the underlying mechanisms linking disease duration and visual deterioration are warranted.