Spectrum of and Factors Associated with Eye Disorders among Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients Attending Tertiary Hospital in Uganda

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic characteristics of study participants (n=105)

	n (%)
Age (years)
18–35	35 (33.3)
36–55	40 (38.1)
>55	30 (28.6)
Sex
Male	8 (7.6)
Female	97 (92.4)
Marital status
Single	36 (34.3)
Married	63 (60.0)
Separated	6 (5.7)
Education
None	2 (1.9)
Primary	25 (23.8)
Secondary	35 (33.3)
Tertiary	43 (41.0)
Employment status
Employed	47 (44.8)
Unemployed	58 (55.2)
Chronic illness
No	83 (79.1)
Diabetes	3 (2.9)
Hypertension	17 (16.2)
Both diabetes and hypertension	2 (1.9)
Duration of RA
<5 years	66 (62.9)
≥5 years	39 (37.1)

Table 2 Characteristics of patients with eye disorders (n=53)

	n (%)
Age (years)
18–35	12 (22.6)
36–55	25 (47.2)
>55	16 (30.2)
Sex
Male	2 (3.8)
Female	51 (96.2)
History of chronic illness
None	38 (71.7)
Diabetes	3 (5.7)
Hypertension	10 (18.9)
Both diabetes and hypertension	2 (3.8)
Duration of RA
<5 years	25 (47.2)
≥5 years	28 (52.8)
Use of hydroxychloroquine
No	41 (77.4)
Yes	12 (22.6)
Use of oral steroid (prednisolone)
No	18 (34)
Yes	35 (66)

Table 3 Patterns of eye disorders (n=53)

Ocular manifestation	n (%)
Dry-eye syndrome	29 (54.7)
Cataract	7(13.2)
Episcleritis	3 (5.7)
Raised IOP	2 (3.8)
Scleritis	1 (1.9)
Allergic conjunctivitis	5 (9.4)
Pinguecula	2 (3.8)
Conjunctival growth	1 (1.9)
Hypertension retinopathy	1 (1.9)
Pterygium	2 (3.8)

Table 4 Factors associated with ocular manifestations

	Eye disorder, n (%)	cPR (95% CI)	p	aPR (95% CI)	p
Age (years)
18–35	12 (34.3)	1		1
36–55	25 (62.5)	1.82 (1.08–3.07)	0.024	1.56 (1.09–2.24)	0.015*
>55	16 (53.3)	1.56 (0.88–2.75)	0.129	1.46 (0.79–2.70)	0.226
Sex
Male	2 (25.0)	1		1
Female	51 (52.6)	2.10 (0.62–7.13)	0.233	2.16 (0.66–7.06)	0.202
History of chronic illness
None	38 (45.8)	1		1
Diabetes only	3 (100.0)	2.18 (1.73–2.76)	<0.001	1.73 (0.90–3.32)	0.098
Hypertension only	10 (58.8)	1.28 (0.81–2.04)	0.289	0.99 (0.63–1.55)	0.972
Diabetes and hypertension comorbidity	2 (100.0)	2.18 (1.73–2.76)	<0.001	1.87 (1.13–3.10)	0.014*
Duration of RA
<5 years	25 (37.9)	1		1
≥5 years	28 (71.8)	1.90 (1.31–2.74)	0.001	1.81 (1.27–2.58)	0.001*
Duration of hydroxychloroquine use
Non users	41 (51.3)	1		1
≤5 years	7 (35.0)	0.68 (0.36–1.29)	0.241	1.22 (0.41–3.64)	0.720
>5 years	5 (100.0)	1.95 (1.57–2.42)	<0.001	1.77 (1.02–3.05)	0.041*
Dosage of hydroxychloroquine
Non users	41(51.3)	1
≤5 mg/kg	8 (40.0)	0.78 (0.44–1.39)	0.403	1
>5 mg/kg	4 (80.0)	1.56 (0.96–2.55)	0.075	0.89 (0.35–2.29)	0.814
Duration of steroid use
Nonusers	18 (47.4)	1		1
≤2 years	33 (53.2)	1.12 (0.75–1.69)	0.578	1.29 (0.84–1.98)	0.247
>2 years	2 (40.0)	0.84 (0.27–2.61)	0.769	1.03 (0.35–3.03)	0.964
Daily dose of steroid
Nonusers	18 (47.4)	1		1
≤10 mg	5 (29.4)	0.62 (0.28–1.40)	0.251	0.54 (0.26–1.16)	0.115
>10 mg	30 (60.0)	1.27 (0.84–1.9)	0.254	1.49 (1.03–2.15)	0.034*

Notes: cPR, crude prevalence ratio; aPR, adjusted prevalence ratio. *p<0.05.