Clinical analysis of 3324 cases of blepharitis

GAO Min; SUN Xuguang; WANG Zhiqun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1002-7386.2024.22.007

Abstract：Objective To report the clinical characteristics of blepharitis,thus guiding the treatment.Methods This was a retrospective case series study that analyzed the baseline characteristics,medical history,and ophthalmic manifestations of 3,324 patients diagnosed with blepharitis in the ophthalmology outpatient clinic of Beijing Tongren Hospital from July 2010 to November 2019.Clinical characteristics of blepharitis were summarized.The primary outcomes included the sex,age,systemic diseases,xerophthalmia and corneal lesions.Distributions of blepharitis,concurrent corneal and conjunctival lesions,and xerophthalmia were explored by Chi-square test.Results In total,3,324 patients diagnosed as blepharitis were included,with a mean age of 43±18(1-93)years.Among these patients,1249(37.6％)were males and 2075(62.4％)were females.The proportion of female patients was significantly higher than that of male patients(x2=204,P＜0.01).Divided by age groups,there were 246(7.4％)children of 0-14 years,576(17.3％)young people of 15-30 years,1,906(57.3％)middle-aged adults of 31-60 years,and 596(17.9％)elderly people of 61 years or older.The incidence of blepharitis was significantly higher in the middle-aged group than other age groups,and lowest in the children group(x2=1945,P＜0.01).Among all age groups,the proportion of female patients was significantly higher than that of male patients(x2=9.746,P＜0.05).There was a significant difference in the incidence of xerophthalmia among patients with blepharitis of all ages(x2=1130,P＜0.01),with the highest in the middle-aged group.There was a significant difference in the incidence of xerophthalmia between males and females in all age groups(x2=19.209,P=0.000).Older than middle-aged,the incidence of xerophthalmia was significantly elevated in female patients.There was no significant difference in the incidence of corneal lesions between males and females(x2=2.631,P=0.452),and females were more likely to develop corneal lesions(x2=34.12,P＜0.01).There were 353 cases(10.62％)with systemic diseases,mainly cardiovascular diseases,skin and mucosal diseases,endocrine and metabolic diseases.There was no significant difference in the incidence of systemic diseases among patients with blepharitis in different age groups and genders(x2=0.064,P＞0.05),with a higher proportion of women(P＜0.01).Blepharitis patients with systemic diseases had a significantly higher rate of xerophthalmia and corneal lesions than blepharitis patients without systemic diseases(corneal lesions:x2=318.6,xerophthalmia:x2=639.4,both P＜0.01).There was a significant difference in the incidence of corneal lesions in patients with different types of systemic diseases(x2=15.676,P＜0.01).The incidence of corneal lesions in patients combined with skin and mucosa lesions was significantly higher than those combined with cardiovascular diseases(P＜0.05).There was a significant difference in the incidence of xerophthalmia in patients with different types of systemic diseases(x2=9.040,P＜0.05).Pairwise comparison showed that the incidence of xerophthalmia in patients combined with autoimmune disorder was significantly higher than those combined with skin and mucosa lesions(P＜0.05).Conclusion Blepharitis mainly occurs in middle-aged people,with the highest incidence of xerophthalmia.Women are more affected by blepharitis at all ages,as well as the comorbidity of xerophthalmia.Women in all age groups of blepharitis are more affected by corneal lesions.Blepharitis patients with systemic diseases have a higher overall rate of xerophthalmia and corneal disease than patients without systemic diseases,and those combined with skin and mucosal lesions have a higher rate of corneal lesions.Blepharitis patients combined with autoimmune disorders have a higher rate of xerophthalmia.