Mathias Kaurstad Morthen1, Morten Schjerven Magno2, Tor Paaske Utheim3, Harold Snieder4, Nomdo Jansonius5, Christopher J Hammond6, Jelle Vehof7. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Postbus 30.001, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Postbus 30.001, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 3. Department of Medical Biochemistry, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 4. Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Postbus 30.001, Groningen, the Netherlands. 5. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Postbus 30.001, Groningen, the Netherlands. 6. Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, Waterloo, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, Westminster Bridge Road, Waterloo, London, SE1 7EH, London, United Kingdom. 7. Department of Ophthalmology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Postbus 30.001, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, Postbus 30.001, Groningen, the Netherlands; Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, King's College London, St Thomas' Hospital, Lambeth Palace Road, Waterloo, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom; Department of Ophthalmology, Vestfold Hospital Trust, Tønsberg, Norway. Electronic address: j.vehof@umcg.nl.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between dry eye disease (DED) and vision-related quality of life (VR-QoL) at population level. METHODS: DED and VR-QoL were assessed in 89,022 participants (18-96 years, 59% female) from the Dutch population-based Lifelines cohort using the Women's Health study (WHS) and Visual function 25 (VFQ25) questionnaires. The relationship between DED and compromised VR-QoL was assessed with logistic regression, corrected for age, sex, BMI, income, education, smoking, and 55 comorbidities. RESULTS: 9.1% of participants had DED. The participants with DED had higher risk of compromised average of ten domains of VR-QoL (OR 3.12 (95% CI 2.98-3.27) corrected for age, sex, BMI, income, smoking, and 55 comorbidities). Increasing symptom frequency was highly associated with decreasing VR-QoL (P < 0.0005). In all VR-QoL domains, including measures of daily visual function and emotional well-being, DED was clearly associated with compromised VR-QoL. Compared to macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and allergic conjunctivitis, DED presented similar or higher risks for compromised score on all VR-QoL domains. The population-attributable fraction of DED for compromised general vision exceeded that of other eye diseases investigated, especially in the younger age groups. CONCLUSION: DED is associated with reductions in all domains of VR-QoL, also after correction for associated comorbidities. We found that DED imposes an extensive population burden regarding compromised VR-QoL due to its high prevalence and substantial impact on VR-QoL, higher than that for other common vision-affecting eye disorders. Our results emphasize the importance of recognizing DED as a serious disorder from both patient and public health perspectives.
PURPOSE: To investigate the relationship between dry eye disease (DED) and vision-related quality of life (VR-QoL) at population level. METHODS: DED and VR-QoL were assessed in 89,022 participants (18-96 years, 59% female) from the Dutch population-based Lifelines cohort using the Women's Health study (WHS) and Visual function 25 (VFQ25) questionnaires. The relationship between DED and compromised VR-QoL was assessed with logistic regression, corrected for age, sex, BMI, income, education, smoking, and 55 comorbidities. RESULTS: 9.1% of participants had DED. The participants with DED had higher risk of compromised average of ten domains of VR-QoL (OR 3.12 (95% CI 2.98-3.27) corrected for age, sex, BMI, income, smoking, and 55 comorbidities). Increasing symptom frequency was highly associated with decreasing VR-QoL (P < 0.0005). In all VR-QoL domains, including measures of daily visual function and emotional well-being, DED was clearly associated with compromised VR-QoL. Compared to macular degeneration, glaucoma, retinal detachment, and allergic conjunctivitis, DED presented similar or higher risks for compromised score on all VR-QoL domains. The population-attributable fraction of DED for compromised general vision exceeded that of other eye diseases investigated, especially in the younger age groups. CONCLUSION: DED is associated with reductions in all domains of VR-QoL, also after correction for associated comorbidities. We found that DED imposes an extensive population burden regarding compromised VR-QoL due to its high prevalence and substantial impact on VR-QoL, higher than that for other common vision-affecting eye disorders. Our results emphasize the importance of recognizing DED as a serious disorder from both patient and public health perspectives.