Prevalence and risk factors of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis among a Ghanaian clinical cohort: A case‐control study
Abstract Background Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) has been determined to be highly prevalent in countries within the tropical climate region. However, little evidence from studies conducted within this region has been put forward to support this claim. Aim To determine the prevalence and risk fa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Health Science Reports |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1957 |
| _version_ | 1797237001025486848 |
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| author | Samuel Kyei Mary Nkansah Kofi Asiedu Randy Asiamah Ebenezer Zaabaar Ebenezer Afrifa‐Yamoah |
| author_facet | Samuel Kyei Mary Nkansah Kofi Asiedu Randy Asiamah Ebenezer Zaabaar Ebenezer Afrifa‐Yamoah |
| author_sort | Samuel Kyei |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) has been determined to be highly prevalent in countries within the tropical climate region. However, little evidence from studies conducted within this region has been put forward to support this claim. Aim To determine the prevalence and risk factors of VKC among a Ghanaian clinical cohort. Methods A 3‐year case‐control study was conducted in a tertiary eye care institution, and medical records of patients who had been diagnosed of VKC between 2018 and 2021 were reviewed. Results Medical records of 3800 patients were reviewed. Some 359 cases of VKC were identified, with a population prevalence rate of 9.45 %. Males comprised 57.1 % of the population with VKC, with a male‐to‐female ratio of 1.33 : 1. The disease was more prevalent (40.8%) in children (≤17 years), and the overall odds of incidence decreased by 10% for a unit increase in age. Age and sex‐adjusted models revealed significant positive associations between Keratoconus [aOR = 40.760, 95% CI –5.948 to 339.937], Rhinitis [cOR = 5.183, 95% CI –2.074 to 12.022] and VKC. However, the incidence of VKC was relatively less expressive among pterygium cases [cOR = 0.315, 95% CI –0.077 to 0.846]. Conclusion VKC is highly prevalent among children and is often associated with comorbidities of atopic origin that exacerbate the impact of the disease among this vulnerable population. It is imperative that clinicians provide holistic care for children with VKC. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:12:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6faf2dea93674bc18c11b5989b47a6f1 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2398-8835 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:12:48Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Health Science Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-6faf2dea93674bc18c11b5989b47a6f12024-03-28T08:36:41ZengWileyHealth Science Reports2398-88352024-03-0173n/an/a10.1002/hsr2.1957Prevalence and risk factors of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis among a Ghanaian clinical cohort: A case‐control studySamuel Kyei0Mary Nkansah1Kofi Asiedu2Randy Asiamah3Ebenezer Zaabaar4Ebenezer Afrifa‐Yamoah5Department of Optometry and Vision Science, College of Health and Allied Sciences University of Cape Coast Cape Coast GhanaDepartment of Optometry and Vision Science, College of Health and Allied Sciences University of Cape Coast Cape Coast GhanaSchool of Optometry and vision science, Faculty of Medicine and Health University of New South Wales Sydney AustraliaDepartment of Optometry and Vision Science, College of Health and Allied Sciences University of Cape Coast Cape Coast GhanaDepartment of Optometry and Vision Science, College of Health and Allied Sciences University of Cape Coast Cape Coast GhanaSchool of Science Edith Cowan University Joondalup AustraliaAbstract Background Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis (VKC) has been determined to be highly prevalent in countries within the tropical climate region. However, little evidence from studies conducted within this region has been put forward to support this claim. Aim To determine the prevalence and risk factors of VKC among a Ghanaian clinical cohort. Methods A 3‐year case‐control study was conducted in a tertiary eye care institution, and medical records of patients who had been diagnosed of VKC between 2018 and 2021 were reviewed. Results Medical records of 3800 patients were reviewed. Some 359 cases of VKC were identified, with a population prevalence rate of 9.45 %. Males comprised 57.1 % of the population with VKC, with a male‐to‐female ratio of 1.33 : 1. The disease was more prevalent (40.8%) in children (≤17 years), and the overall odds of incidence decreased by 10% for a unit increase in age. Age and sex‐adjusted models revealed significant positive associations between Keratoconus [aOR = 40.760, 95% CI –5.948 to 339.937], Rhinitis [cOR = 5.183, 95% CI –2.074 to 12.022] and VKC. However, the incidence of VKC was relatively less expressive among pterygium cases [cOR = 0.315, 95% CI –0.077 to 0.846]. Conclusion VKC is highly prevalent among children and is often associated with comorbidities of atopic origin that exacerbate the impact of the disease among this vulnerable population. It is imperative that clinicians provide holistic care for children with VKC.https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1957pterygiumrhinitisrisk factorsickle cellVernal Keratoconjunctivitis |
| spellingShingle | Samuel Kyei Mary Nkansah Kofi Asiedu Randy Asiamah Ebenezer Zaabaar Ebenezer Afrifa‐Yamoah Prevalence and risk factors of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis among a Ghanaian clinical cohort: A case‐control study Health Science Reports pterygium rhinitis risk factor sickle cell Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis |
| title | Prevalence and risk factors of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis among a Ghanaian clinical cohort: A case‐control study |
| title_full | Prevalence and risk factors of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis among a Ghanaian clinical cohort: A case‐control study |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and risk factors of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis among a Ghanaian clinical cohort: A case‐control study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and risk factors of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis among a Ghanaian clinical cohort: A case‐control study |
| title_short | Prevalence and risk factors of Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis among a Ghanaian clinical cohort: A case‐control study |
| title_sort | prevalence and risk factors of vernal keratoconjunctivitis among a ghanaian clinical cohort a case control study |
| topic | pterygium rhinitis risk factor sickle cell Vernal Keratoconjunctivitis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.1957 |
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