The association of stress level with the central serous chorioretinopathy development

Abstract

Background. The impact of stress on the central serous chorioretinopathy development has been studied in a small number of studies, and the results are conflicting.
 Aim. To assess the association of the level of individual stress with the central serous chorioretinopathy development.
 Material and methods. A cross-sectional study based on a survey of 110 patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (the main group) and 110 individuals without central serous chorioretinopathy was conducted. The stress level was assessed on the Perceived Stress Scale. Quantitative and categorical data between the groups were compared. Comparison of groups by quantitative indicator was performed using the MannWhitney U-test, and by categorical indicator using the odds ratio and its 95% confidence intervals.
 Results. The groups of respondents were comparable according to the main demographic indicators. The median total score for the Overstrain subscale in the central serous chorioretinopathy group was 12 points (Q25%Q75% 9.2514 points), in the control group 10 points (Q25%Q75% 712 points; p=0.0002). The median total score for the Stress Response subscale in the central serous chorioretinopathy group was 7 points (Q25%Q75% 58 points), in the control group it was 4 points (Q25%Q75% 37 points; p=0.000003). In the group with central serous chorioretinopathy, compared with the control group, the proportion of people with moderate stress level was higher (74.5% vs. 53.6%; odds ratio 2.53, 95% confidence interval 1.434.48) and the proportion of people with low stress level was lower (19.1% vs. 45.5%; odds ratio 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.150.52).
 Conclusion. The study demonstrated the association of stress with the development of central serous chorioretinopathy.