Dry eye symptoms and associated risk factors among adults aged 50 or more years in Central Mexico

Abstract

Objective. To determine the prevalence of dry eye symptoms (DES) and associated risk factors among adults in Tlaxcala, Mexico. Materials and methods. A cross-sectional population-based study that included 1 508 individuals aged ≥50 years who answered the Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ- 5), with a score ranging between 0 and 22; the following categories were defined: no DES ( < 6); mild-moderate DES (6 to 11) and severe DES (≥12). Results. The prevalence of DES was 41.1% (95%CI 38.6-43.6), and was higher in women (OR=2.26, 95%IC 1.70-3.00), in individuals with smoking index of < 10 (OR=1.40, 95%CI 1.05-1.87) and ≥10 pack-years (OR=2.29, 95%CI 1.44-3.63), compared to never-smokers, subjects with history of ever consuming alcohol (OR=1.31, 95%CI 1.02-1.70), and those receiving antihypertensive treatment (OR=1.29, 95%CI 1.00-1.65). Conclusion. Dry eye symptoms were highly prevalent in the study population and were associated with sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, and antihypertensive medications.