Dry eye disease symptoms and quality of life in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women

Abstract

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate dry eye disease (DED) symptoms and quality of life (QoL) in a group of perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, based on the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire.

Methods

An observational study was performed in a group of 1947 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women, aged between 45 and 79 years. The personal data collected were age, menopause status, age at menopause, and OSDI score.

Results

The mean age of the group was 54.18 ± 6.84 years, with a mean age at menopause of 49.45 ± 4.02 years. The average OSDI score was 29.20 ± 19.4. The overall prevalence of DED symptoms was 79%, increasing significantly in postmenopausal women, 76.4% vs. 80.5% (p = 0.029). In our group, 37.7% had severe DED symptoms. Ocular symptoms, vision-related functions, and environmental trigger scores were higher in postmenopausal women, leading to a lower QoL. The severity of OSDI score increases with age (β coefficient: 0.15 [95% confidence interval: 0.02; −0.28]), while the severity of OSDI score decreases with a later onset age of menopause (β coefficient: −0.27 [95% confidence interval: −0.55; −0.01]).

Conclusions

DED symptoms are highly prevalent in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women had a higher prevalence of symptoms and higher OSDI scores than perimenopausal women. The severity of DED symptoms and vision-related functions leads to poorer QoL.

摘要

目的：本研究旨在根据眼表疾病指数(OSDI)问卷评估一组围绝经和绝经后妇女的干眼病(DED)症状和生活质量(QoL)。

方法：对1947名45∼79岁的围绝经期和绝经后妇女进行观察性研究。收集的个人数据包括年龄、更年期状况、绝经年龄和OSDI评分。

结果：本组患者平均年龄54.18±6.84岁, 平均绝经年龄49.45±4.02岁。平均OSDI评分为(29.20±19.4)分。DED症状的总体患病率为79%, 在绝经后妇女中显著增加, 分别为76.4%和80.5%(p＝0.029)。在我们组中, 37.7%的患者有严重的DED症状。绝经后妇女的眼部症状、视觉相关功能和环境触发评分较高, 从而导致QoL较低。OSDI评分的严重程度随着年龄的增长而增加(β系数：0.15[95%可信区间：0.02；—0.28]), 而OSDI评分的严重程度随着绝经年龄的增加而降低(β系数：0.27[95%可信区间：0.55；—0.01])。

结论：DED症状在围绝经和绝经后妇女中非常普遍。绝经后妇女DED症状患病率和OSDI评分均高于围绝经期妇女。DED症状越严重, 视力相关功能越差, 生活质量越差。

Keywords:

• Dry eye disease symptoms
• quality of life
• Ocular Surface Disease Index
• perimenopause
• postmenopause

Acknowledgements

This study has been done under the auspices of the Professorship in Obstetrics and Gynaecological Research of Hospital Universitario Dexeus, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona.

Potential conflict of interest

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Source of funding

This research was not funded by any commercial or non-profit organization or public agency.