Effect of Uveitis on the Development of Keratopathy: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of uveitis on the development of various keratopathies via the use of the National Health Insurance Research Database (NHIRD) in Taiwan. METHODS. Approximately 1 million patients were randomly sampled from the registry of the NHIRD. Patients diagnosed with uveitis by ophthalmologists were enrolled in the study group after exclusion. Each individual in the study group was age and sex matched to four nonuveitis individuals who serve as the control group. In addition to keratopathy, other possible risk factors and medications were included in the multivariate model, and the effects of different subtypes of uveitis for developing keratopathies were also analyzed. RESULTS. A total of 4773 uveitis patients (2662 male and 2111 female) and 19,092 non-uveitis patients (10,648 male and 8444 female) were enrolled. There were 406 events of keratopathy in the study group, and another 764 events occurred in the control group. A higher incidence rate was found in the study group after adjustment (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 1.772), with a greater cumulative probability (P < 0.0001). For the subgroup analysis, anterior uveitis (aHR ¼ 1.765) and panuveitis (aHR ¼ 3.386) increased the risk of developing keratopathies. Moreover, male sex was associated with a higher aHR than female sex for developing keratopathies in the study group. CONCLUSIONS. The presence of uveitis significantly elevates the risk for developing keratopathy.

The risk of psoriasis in patients with uveitis: A nationwide population-based cohort study

“…The mean age and sex of patients with uveitis in this study are compatible with those in another population-based study conducted in Taiwan [ 26 ]. In addition, we found that hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and obesity were significantly more prevalent in patients with uveitis than in the non-uveitis group.…”

“…In addition, we found that hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and obesity were significantly more prevalent in patients with uveitis than in the non-uveitis group. Previous studies also have revealed associations between uveitis and these comorbidities [26,27]. Since hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and obesity are also risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, uveitis patients may have a higher possibility for developing cardiovascular diseases.…”

In vivo confocal microscopy for eyes with Behçet’s disease: a missing piece of the puzzle

“…Ocular surface disease is an important yet mostly neglected perspective in taking care of BD patients with ocular involvement [8]. Population-based study found an increasing risk of keratopathy in uveitic patients [9]. Studies revealed that a significant decrease of tear break-up time and goblet cell counts, as well as increased squamous conjunctival metaplasia in ocular BD [10,11].…”