Spatial epidemiology of dry eye disease: findings from South Korea.

ABSTRACT:

Background

DED rate maps from diverse regions may allow us to understand world-wide spreading pattern of the disease. Only few studies compared the prevalence of DED between geographical regions in non-spatial context. Therefore, we examined the spatial epidemiological pattern of DED prevalence in South Korea using a nationally representative sample.

Methods

We analyzed 16,431 Korean adults aged 30 years or older of the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. DED was defined as previously diagnosed by an ophthalmologist as well as symptoms experienced. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the spatial pattern in the prevalence of DED, and effects of environmental factors.

Results

Among seven metropolitan cities and nine provinces

SUBMITTER: Um SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4139141 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature