Abstract
Purpose: :
To correlate the results of the DEQ-5 and OSDI questionnaires in Sjogren’s and non-Sjogren’s dry eye and normals and to test the ability of each score to discriminate across diagnosed groups.
Methods: :
Seventy-eight subjects (25 Sjogren’s (SS), 25 non-Sjogren’s keratoconjunctivitis (KCS), and 28 normals (N)) were enrolled in this study. After informed consent, participants were examined to determine their category. At a second visit they completed DEQ-5 and OSDI questionnaires, among others. Diagnosis of SS was determined by the AEC criteria, the KCS subjects had dry eye symptoms and Schirmer scores of ≤10mm in 5 minutes and the normals were age matched controls. Results were analyzed in SPSS using Spearman’s correlation, ANOVA, and post-hoc Bonferroni tests.
Results: :
A higher percentage (92%) of subjects completed all DEQ-5 questions compared to the 55% completing all OSDI items. Two (2) KCS subjects did not complete enough questions to score the OSDI. Scores for the DEQ-5 were 14.1(2.9) (mean/SD) for SS, 9.1(4.0) for KCS and 7.0(4.9) for N subjects (p<0.001 ANOVA). Scores for the OSDI Symptom Subscale were 52.3(17.9) for SS, 25.4(23.8) for KCS and 16.1(16.9) for N subjects (p<0.001). OSDI total scores were 46.6(13.7) for SS, 16.1(11.0) for KCS and 13.4(12.9) for N subjects (p=<0.001). The correlation between DEQ-5 Score and OSDI Total was r=0.73, DEQ-5 and OSDI Symptom Subscale r=0.70. All instruments correlated well to diagnostic group (range r=0.59 to 0.70).
Conclusions: :
The DEQ-5 correlated well with the validated OSDI total score and OSDI Symptoms Subscale, though both the DEQ-5 and OSDI Symptom Subscales yielded more complete responses than the OSDI Total Score. The OSDI Total Score correlated to diagnosis slightly better than the DEQ-5 and OSDI Symptom Subscale. Among the instruments tested, the DEQ-5 performed best at distinguishing between N and KCS subjects. The simplicity of administering and scoring the DEQ-5 may make it a useful clinical tool for screening dry eye patients.
Keywords: cornea: tears/tear film/dry eye • autoimmune disease