A multi-center study evaluating the correlation between meibomian gland dysfunction and depressive symptoms

Zhenyu Wei,Antoine Labbé,Qingfeng Liang,Leying Wang,Junqi Liang,Christophe Baudouin,Kai Cao

doi:10.1038/s41598-021-04167-x

Abstract

Increased prevalence of depression has been found in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD); however, specific conditions of patients suffered from MGD and depression remains unclear. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of depression in patients with MGD and analyze the risk factors of depression in MGD patients. In this multi-center cross-sectional study, we enrolled 830 MGD patients and 114 normal controls. Demographic information was collected by designed questionnaires about lifestyle habits, systemic and ocular medical history. Ophthalmic examinations were performed in a formal order. Depression symptoms were evaluated with a questionnaire survey using a modified self-rating depression scale (M-SDS). The correlations between the M-SDS score and demographic and clinical information were analyzed. The prevalence of hyperlipidemia and obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) was higher in the MGD group. There were 78 cases (9.4%) with depressive symptoms in the MGD group whereas there were 4 cases (3.5%) in controls. Similarly, M-SDS was higher in the MGD group. The characteristics of depression in the MGD group included: crying spells, sleep disturbance and depressed appetite. Some systemic diseases (OSAHS, allergy, skin disease) and the use of contact lenses was correlated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms in MGD patients.

Highlights

Increased prevalence of depression has been found in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD); specific conditions of patients suffered from MGD and depression remains unclear
The survey of systemic diseases showed that the MGD group had higher prevalence of hyperlipidemia (8.8% vs. 0.8%, P = 0.003) and obstructive sleep apnea–hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) (15.9% vs. 7.9%, P = 0.024) compared with controls
There was no significant difference for other disease prevalence within the two groups

Summary

Introduction

Increased prevalence of depression has been found in patients with meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD); specific conditions of patients suffered from MGD and depression remains unclear. Persistent ocular surface discomfort from MGD, including ocular irritation, dryness, burning sensation, and blurring of vision, could always produce a negative impact on life quality These symptoms from MGD may be overlap or very similar to those reported in DED patients[7]. Inomata et al.[5] used Dry Eye Rhythm to collect real-world data and found that severe DE symptoms were correlated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms This relationship was confirmed by a meta-analysis[8], which found a higher depression prevalence in DED patients (29%) than that in controls. It is important to undertake a large-sample study to investigate the MGD patients’ mental alteration to make clear the relationship between MGD and depression With this multi-center epidemic research, we hope to find the risk factors of depressive symptoms in MGD cases and achieve the purpose of early detection and intervention of depression in patients with MGD

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion