TY - JOUR
T1 - Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Dry Eye Diagnosis and Care
AU - Cui, David
AU - Mathews, Priya
AU - Li, Gavin
AU - Guo, Lee
AU - VanCourt, Shanna
AU - Saldanha, Ian J.
AU - Karamursel Akpek, Esen
N1 - Funding Information:
Financial support: This study was supported, in part, by an unrestricted research grant provided by the Clay and Dianne Querbes Charitable Gift Fund.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2023
Y1 - 2023
N2 - Purpose: To investigate health disparities in racial and ethnic minorities with dry eye. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for demographics, socioeconomic factors, treatments, and objective dry eye parameters. Race/ethnicity was self-reported as delineated by the U.S. Census. The reference group comprised of randomly selected White patients, with number equal to the largest minority group. Results: The study included 465 patients (157 Black, 157 White, 85 Asian, and 66 Hispanic). Compared to White (3.2%) patients, larger proportion of minorities used Medicaid or lacked health insurance (Black 8.3%, P = .054; Asian 10.6%, P = .019; Hispanic 18.2%, P < .001). Black and Hispanic patients had lower estimated median household income than Whites (White $98,472, Black $75,554, P < .001; Asian $105,503, P = .088; Hispanic $86,839, P = .030). Prior to presentation, fewer minority patients received prescription treatments or procedures (White 61.8%; Black 30.6%, P < .001; Asian 43.5%, P = .006; Hispanic 43.9%, P = .014). Although at baseline visit minorities had worse mean conjunctival (White, 1.7; Black 2.2, P = .136, Asian 2.4, P = .022; Hispanic 2.6, P = .005) and corneal staining scores (White, 1.6; Black 2.5, P < .001; Asian 2.3, P = .003; Hispanic 2.4, P = .001), no differences were noted at final visit. Conclusion: Minorities presented with worse objective dry eye parameters, and less prior dry eye care. Income and health care access may not fully explain the observed undertreatment at presentation. Differential management by eye care providers and patient attitudes warrant further investigation.
AB - Purpose: To investigate health disparities in racial and ethnic minorities with dry eye. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for demographics, socioeconomic factors, treatments, and objective dry eye parameters. Race/ethnicity was self-reported as delineated by the U.S. Census. The reference group comprised of randomly selected White patients, with number equal to the largest minority group. Results: The study included 465 patients (157 Black, 157 White, 85 Asian, and 66 Hispanic). Compared to White (3.2%) patients, larger proportion of minorities used Medicaid or lacked health insurance (Black 8.3%, P = .054; Asian 10.6%, P = .019; Hispanic 18.2%, P < .001). Black and Hispanic patients had lower estimated median household income than Whites (White $98,472, Black $75,554, P < .001; Asian $105,503, P = .088; Hispanic $86,839, P = .030). Prior to presentation, fewer minority patients received prescription treatments or procedures (White 61.8%; Black 30.6%, P < .001; Asian 43.5%, P = .006; Hispanic 43.9%, P = .014). Although at baseline visit minorities had worse mean conjunctival (White, 1.7; Black 2.2, P = .136, Asian 2.4, P = .022; Hispanic 2.6, P = .005) and corneal staining scores (White, 1.6; Black 2.5, P < .001; Asian 2.3, P = .003; Hispanic 2.4, P = .001), no differences were noted at final visit. Conclusion: Minorities presented with worse objective dry eye parameters, and less prior dry eye care. Income and health care access may not fully explain the observed undertreatment at presentation. Differential management by eye care providers and patient attitudes warrant further investigation.
KW - Dry eye
KW - minorities
KW - race
KW - socioeconomic status
KW - treatment
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U2 - 10.1080/09286586.2022.2131834
DO - 10.1080/09286586.2022.2131834
M3 - Article
C2 - 36200798
AN - SCOPUS:85139502734
SN - 0928-6586
VL - 30
SP - 484
EP - 491
JO - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
JF - Ophthalmic Epidemiology
IS - 5
ER -