Mental Health Status in Dry Eye Disease – a Case Control Study

Abstract To assess the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on dry-eye symptoms in a community-based population, a cross-sectional study was conducted during the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand. An online survey was distributed via social media between June and July 2020. The questionnaire elicited information on demographics, dry-eye symptoms, viewing habits, and mental health status. There were 535 respondents. Thirty-seven percent reported having been diagnosed with dry-eye disease (DED). During the lockdown, the mean dry-eye symptom score (DESS) of overall participants dropped significantly from 81.6±15.9 to 79.8±17.4 (P<0.001). The mean, daily, visual display terminal (VDT) usage increased from 10.55±5.16 hours to 13.08±5.65 hours (P<0.001). A negative correlation between age and VDT usage was observed in both the normal and lockdown situations. One-quarter of all participants had an abnormal mental health status. The female gender (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.14–3.04) and increased VDT usage during the lockdown (OR 5.68; 95% CI 3.49–9.23) were independently associated with worsening dry-eye symptoms. The lockdown measures abruptly altered the behaviors and lifestyles of the overall population. Excessive exposure to VDTs were associated with deteriorated dry-eye symptoms, and it possibly contributed to the increased DED incidence in the general population.

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Air Pollution Associated Dry Eye Disease May Be Increased by Qi Stagnation in Young: A Nested Case-Control Study in Liaoning, China

10.21203/rs.3.rs-153323/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Fei Yu ◽

Zhongjuan Ren ◽

Wei Song ◽

Chunhong Yan ◽

Jing Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Dry Eye ◽

Case Control Study ◽

Case Control ◽

Dry Eye Disease ◽

Eye Disease ◽

Young Population ◽

Qi Stagnation ◽

Nested Case Control ◽

Control Study

Abstract Background: Little information exists regarding the interaction of Qi stagnation and air pollution on young’s dry eye disease (DED) in fixed area with an epidemic threat. The aim of this study is to assess the modification by Qi stagnation on the associations of exposure with DED in Chinese young. Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted in Chinese young population aged 17-20 years, within a cohort of He Eye Health screening project. All cases newly diagnosed (n = 576) were matched to controls (n = 576) by age and sex. Logistic regression model was used to assess the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of DED for exposure to different air pollutants in terms of an interquartile range (IQR) increase in exposure level, adjusted for potential confounders. Results: In single-pollutant model, the DED ORs (95% CI) for the 20th to 40th percent of quintile (vs. lowest) were 2.64 (1.66, 4.18) for PM2.5, 1.70 (1.09, 2.66) for PM10, for the highest quintile (vs. lowest) were 1.74 (1.13, 2.66) for CO, and 1.57 (0.98, 2.51) NO2. In contrast, the odds ratios for the highest quintile (vs. lowest) were 0.23 (0.07, 0.78) for O3. Corresponding estimates were higher among Stagnant qi constitution [ORPM10 = 1.69 (1.08, 2.16), ORCO = 1.93 (1.19, 3.54)] than Balanced constitution [ORPM10 = 1.29 (0.79, 2.05), ORCO = 1.70 (1.09, 3.43)] for PM10 and CO2, respectively. In addition, O3 was inversely associated for Stagnant qi constitution [0.67 (0.23, 1.90)] and Balanced constitution [0.51 (0.08, 1.40)]. Conclusion: Exposure to ambient PM2.5, PM10, CO and NO2 was positively associated with DED in Chinese young population. Qi stagnation might amplify the association of exposures to PM10 and CO with DED.

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