Evaluation of dry eye disease symptomatology and mental health status among patients with different COVID-19 statuses
Authors:   Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing You&#x2019;an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Infectious Eye Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Beijing 100730, China, Ruan Fang , Fan Qian ,   Tianjin Eye Hospital, Tianjin Key Lab of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Tianjin Eye Institute, Nankai University Affiliated Eye Hospital, Nankai University Eye Institute, Nankai University, Clinical College of Ophthalmology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin 300020, China, Dong Hong-Wei ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing You&#x2019;an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Infectious Eye Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Beijing 100069, China, Zhang Wei ,   Department of Ophthalmology, Beijing You&#x2019;an Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Infectious Eye Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center, Beijing 100069, China; Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Beijing 100730, China, Wei Wen-Bin ,   Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Beijing 100730, China, Jie Ying ,   Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Lab, Beijing 100730, China
Published: April 2024

AIM: To evaluate dry eye disease (DED) symptomatology and mental health status in different COVID-19 patients.
METHODS: A cross-sectional observational design was used. Totally 123 eligible adults (46.34% of men, age range, 18-59y) with COVID-19 included in the study from August to November, 2022. Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Five-item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) were used in this study.
RESULTS: OSDI scores were 6.82 (1.25, 15.91) in asymptomatic carriers, 7.35 (2.50, 18.38) in mild cases, and 16.67 (4.43, 28.04) in recurrent cases, with 30.00%, 35.56%, and 57.89%, respectively evaluated as having DED symptoms (χ2=7.049, P=0.029). DEQ-5 score varied from 2.00 (0, 6.00) in asymptomatic carriers, 3.00 (0, 8.00) in mild cases, and 8.00 (5.00, 10.00) in recurrent cases, with 27.50%, 33.33%, and 55.26%, respectively assessed as having DED symptoms (χ2=8.532, P=0.014). The prevalence of clinical anxiety (50.00%) and depression (47.37%) symptoms were also significantly higher in patients with recurrent infection (χ2=24.541, P<0.001; χ2=30.871, P<0.001). Recurrent infection was a risk factor for high OSDI scores [odds ratio, 2.562; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.631-7.979; P=0.033] and DEQ-5 scores (odds ratio, 3.353; 95%CI, 1.038-8.834; P=0.043), whereas having a fixed occupation was a protective factor for OSDI scores (odds ratio, 0.088; 95%CI, 0.022-0.360; P=0.001) and DEQ-5 scores (odds ratio, 0.126; 95%CI, 0.039-0.405; P=0.001).
CONCLUSION: Patients with recurrent COVID-19 have more severe symptoms of DED, anxiety, and depression.