Prevalence and Risk Factors of self-reported dry eye in Brazil using a short symptom questionnaire

• Published in: Scientific reports Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 2076 - 9
• Main Authors: Castro, Julia Silvestre de, Selegatto, Iara Borin, Castro, Rosane Silvestre de, Miranda, Eliana C. M., de Vasconcelos, José Paulo Cabral, de Carvalho, Keila Monteiro, Arieta, Carlos Eduardo Leite, Alves, Monica
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01-02-2018; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 692/1807/1482; 692/499; Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Allergies; Antidepressants; Brazil; Cancer; Dry Eye Syndromes - epidemiology; Eye; Eye lens; Female; Geopolitics; Humanities and Social Sciences; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; multidisciplinary; Population studies; Risk factors; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Self Report; Sex ratio; Surgery; Brazil
• ISSN: 2045-2322; 2045-2322
• DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20273-9

To evaluate dry eye prevalence and investigate associated risk factors in Brazil by applying a short questionnaire of symptoms and risk factors. A cross-sectional study of 3,107 participants from all the five different geopolitical regions of Brazil. Overall prevalence of dry eye in this study population was 12.8%. Dry eye previous diagnosis was reported by 10.2% and presence of severe symptoms in 4.9%. Logistic regression analysis confirmed some significantly risk factors, such as female sex (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.74; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.12–1.93), age ≥60 year-old (OR 2.00; 95%CI: 1.44–2.77), history of ocular surgery (OR 1.84; 95%CI: 1.30–2.60), contact lens wear (OR 1.93; 95%CI: 1.36–2.73), cancer treatment (OR 3.03; 95%CI: 1.36–6.59), computer use >6 hours per day (OR 1.77; 95%CI: 1.36–2.31), antidepressants (OR 1.61; 95%CI: 1.12–2.31) and anti-allergy (OR 2.11; 95%CI: 1.54–2.89) medications. Nevertheless, when stratified by regions, each one had its own significant factors and inherent characteristics. This is the first study about prevalence and risk factors of dry eye in a large population sample from all regions of Brazil. Dry eye is a common condition in the Brazilian population and prevalence rates varies substantially in the different geographic regions of the country, possibly reflecting climate and socioeconomic discrepancies.