Samuel Kyei1, Kofi Asiedu2,3, Richard K D Ephraim4, Madison Adanusa5. 1. Department of Optometry and Vision Science, College of Health and Allied Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. 2. School of Optometry & Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. 3. Eye Clinic, Cosmopolitan Medical Center, North-Dzorwulu, Accra, Ghana. 4. Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana. 5. Division of Family Medicine, Directorate of University Health Services, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
Abstract
Purpose: This study evaluates in a cross-section of pregnant women the frequency of posterior blepharitis, its predisposing factors and how lipid profile impacts the occurrence of posterior blepharitis in pregnancy. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study of pregnant women. Results: In this study, 201 pregnant women were recruited and included in the study's analysis. The participants' mean age was 29.96 (±4.74) years, with a median age of 30 and a range of 17 to 40 years. The frequency of posterior blepharitis among this cohort was 13.4% (95% confidence interval, 9.0% to 18.4%). The frequencies of MGD-associated posterior blepharitis and non-MGD associated posterior blepharitis were 6.0% and 7.4%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean fluorescein tear breakup time and SPEED scores between non-MGD associated posterior blepharitis and MGD-associated posterior blepharitis, however, the mean tear breakup time(t = 3.999, p < .001) and SPEED scores (t = 6.76, p < .0001) showed a statistically significant difference in posterior blepharitis pregnant women compared to non-posterior blepharitis pregnant women. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean corneal staining scores between non-MGD-associated posterior blepharitis and MGD-associated posterior blepharitis (t = 3.99, p = .001). There was no association between lipid profile and posterior blepharitis in binary logistic regression analysis Conclusion: The study showed that posterior blepharitis occurs in pregnancy, but it is not associated with cholesterol levels.
Purpose: This study evaluates in a cross-section of pregnant women the frequency of posterior blepharitis, its predisposing factors and how lipid profile impacts the occurrence of posterior blepharitis in pregnancy. Methods: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study of pregnant women. Results: In this study, 201 pregnant women were recruited and included in the study's analysis. The participants' mean age was 29.96 (±4.74) years, with a median age of 30 and a range of 17 to 40 years. The frequency of posterior blepharitis among this cohort was 13.4% (95% confidence interval, 9.0% to 18.4%). The frequencies of MGD-associated posterior blepharitis and non-MGD associated posterior blepharitis were 6.0% and 7.4%, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean fluorescein tear breakup time and SPEED scores between non-MGD associated posterior blepharitis and MGD-associated posterior blepharitis, however, the mean tear breakup time(t = 3.999, p < .001) and SPEED scores (t = 6.76, p < .0001) showed a statistically significant difference in posterior blepharitis pregnant women compared to non-posterior blepharitis pregnant women. There was a statistically significant difference in the mean corneal staining scores between non-MGD-associated posterior blepharitis and MGD-associated posterior blepharitis (t = 3.99, p = .001). There was no association between lipid profile and posterior blepharitis in binary logistic regression analysis Conclusion: The study showed that posterior blepharitis occurs in pregnancy, but it is not associated with cholesterol levels.
Entities:
Keywords:
Lid margin; inflammation; meibomian glands; ocular surface; telangiectasia