Rheumatoid Arthritis Associated with Dry Eye Disease and Corneal Surface Damage

A Nationwide Matched Cohort Study

Bibliographic Data

ID15499385
AuthorsShih‐Chung Lai (Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital), Shih-Chung Lai (Taipei Medical University), Chien-Wun Wang (Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital), Yu-Ming Wu (Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital), Ying‐Xiu Dai (0000-0002-3279-4509, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), Tzeng‐Ji Chen (0000-0002-8350-0232, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), Hsiang-Ling Wu (National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University), Yih‐Giun Cherng (0000-0002-0201-4380, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital), Ying‐Hsuan Tai (0000-0002-5210-6873, Taipei Medical University-Shuang Ho Hospital, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume20
Issue2
Pages1584-1584
Publication date2023-01-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph20021584
PMID36674338
OpenAlexW4316464963
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited35

Rheumatoid arthritis is potentially connected to ocular disorders, such as corneal inflammation and lacrimal gland destruction. This study aimed to evaluate the risk of dry eye disease (DED) and corneal surface damage among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In a nationwide cohort study, we utilized Taiwan’s National Health Insurance research database and conducted propensity score matching to compare the risks of DED and corneal surface damage between patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis. Proportional hazards regression analyses were used to calculate the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the outcomes of interest. The matching procedure generated 33,398 matched pairs with 501,377 person-years of follow-up for analyses. The incidence of DED was 23.14 and 10.25 per 1000 person-years in patients with and without rheumatoid arthritis, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, rheumatoid arthritis was significantly associated with DED (aHR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.93−2.13, p < 0.0001). The association was generally consistent across the subgroups of age, sex, use of systemic corticosteroids, and different comorbidity levels. In addition, patients with rheumatoid arthritis had a higher risk of corneal surface damage (aHR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.21−1.51, p < 0.0001) compared to control subjects. Other independent factors for corneal surface damage were age and sleeping disorders. Rheumatoid arthritis was associated with an increased risk of DED and corneal surface damage. Ophthalmological surveillance is required to prevent vision-threatening complications in this susceptible population

Arthritis · Cohort · Comorbidity · Confidence interval · Environmental health · Hazard ratio · Population · Propensity score matching · Proportional hazards model · Rheumatoid arthritis · Allergic Rhinitis and Sensitization · Medicine · Ocular Infections and Treatments · Ocular Surface and Contact Lens · Internal Medicine · Surgery

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