Prevalence of Ophthalmic Manifestations Related to Tourette Syndrome Based on Big Data

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of ophthalmic manifestations in patients with Tourette syndrome using big data based on samples extracted from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Methods: The study participants included Korean patients under the age of 18 years who had received a Tourette syndrome diagnostic code (F95.2) between January 1, 2012, and December 31, 2016. Ophthalmic manifestations reported to be related to Tourette syndrome such as tic disorder, blepharospasm, involuntary gaze abnormality, and strabismus were selected as ophthalmic clinical diagnostic codes; amblyopia and refractive errors that had never been investigated in conjunction with Tourette syndrome were also selected. Prevalence was investigated using big data. Results: A total of 3,643 Tourette syndrome patients (2,777 men and 866 women) were included in the study. The number of patients receiving a tic disorder diagnostic code was 3,643 (100%); blepharospasm, 48 (1.3%); involuntary gaze abnormalities, 9 (0.2%); and strabismus, 109 (3%). In addition, the number of patients receiving an amblyopia diagnostic code was 29 (0.8%), and the number of patients with a refractive errors code was 1,306 (35.8%). Conclusions: Tourette syndrome can be accompanied by several ophthalmic manifestations. Thus, cooperation between a neuropsychiatrist and an ophthalmologist, and regular ophthalmological examinations, are considered necessary.