Abstract
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.
Highlights
To evaluate dry eye prevalence and investigate associated risk factors in Brazil by applying a short questionnaire of symptoms and risk factors
Considerable progress has been achieved in the description of dry eye epidemiology since this report, it should be noted that these new studies comprise data from Europe and other Asian countries, as well as updated information about previously described populations[14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24], with large areas of the globe such as Africa, Middle East and Latin America remaining with no data about dry eye prevalence, as recently pointed by the Dry Eye Workshop (DEWS) II epidemiology report[25]
The present study enrolled 3,107 participants from the five geopolitical regions of Brazil, with a mean age of 40.5 (±17.1) years old and female: male ratio of 1.9:1.0. 4,000 questionnaires were distributed by regular mail, from capitals to small size cities and 3,107 of which returned, yielding a 77.7% rate of participation
Summary
To evaluate dry eye prevalence and investigate associated risk factors in Brazil by applying a short questionnaire of symptoms and risk factors. 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. Brazilian population has been made up of a confluence of people mixed with native indigenous groups with Portuguese colonizers, black African slaves and lately European, Asian and Arabic emigrates It is, characterized by deep miscegenation and is asymmetrically distributed among the main 5 geopolitical regions of the country which present diverse climate particularities ranging from humid equatorial to semi-arid areas, which may potentially influence diseases prevalence and risk factors impacts. Variable Overall Sex Male Female Age category 18–39 40–60 60+ Dryness symptom Never Sometimes Often Constantly Irritation symptom Never Sometimes Often Constantly Frequency of risk factors +60 years ≥40 years Diabetes Menopause Rheumatologic diseases Cancer treatment Smoking Computer use >6 h per day Ocular surgery Contact lens wear Antidepressants Anti-Allergy medications
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