Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic
(1) Purpose: In 2020, wearing of face masks was mandated in the United States in an effort to lessen transmission of the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic; however, long-term mask wearing may present with unintended side-effects in both ophthalmic and otolaryngologic clinical practi...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Clinics and Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/12/4/65 |
| _version_ | 1797410770157305856 |
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| author | Victoria A. Koshevarova Zack K. Westenhaver Mary Schmitz-Brown Brian J. McKinnon Kevin H. Merkley Praveena K. Gupta |
| author_facet | Victoria A. Koshevarova Zack K. Westenhaver Mary Schmitz-Brown Brian J. McKinnon Kevin H. Merkley Praveena K. Gupta |
| author_sort | Victoria A. Koshevarova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Purpose: In 2020, wearing of face masks was mandated in the United States in an effort to lessen transmission of the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic; however, long-term mask wearing may present with unintended side-effects in both ophthalmic and otolaryngologic clinical practice. This study aims to examine if mask wearing increased the incidence of primarily chalazion, blepharoconjunctivitis, and rhinitis occurrence during the mask-mandated COVID-19 pandemic period. (2) Methods: Medical records from tertiary academic center clinics were analyzed for incidence of ophthalmic and otolaryngologic diagnoses of interest (blepharoconjunctivitis- and rhinitis-related disorders). Data were collected from a pre-pandemic (March 2019–February 2020) and a mid-pandemic window (March 2020–February 2021) during which widespread mask mandates were implemented in Texas. Comparison was performed using a t-test analysis between incidence of chosen diagnoses during the described time periods. (3) Results: Incidence of ophthalmic disorders (primarily blepharoconjunctivitis and chalazion) in the pre-pandemic versus mid-pandemic windows did show a significant difference (<i>p</i>-value of 0.048). Similarly, comparison of otolaryngologic diagnoses (primarily rhinitis and related conditions) between the two time periods showed a significant difference (<i>p</i>-value of 0.044) as well. (4) Conclusion: Incidence of the chosen ophthalmic and otolaryngologic disorders did increase during periods of mask mandates. While these findings are preliminary, further studies are warranted to understand other factors that may have played a role in eye and nose pathology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:35:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8a5309a66afd4a7b9eb0b53199e9e19c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2039-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T04:35:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Clinics and Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-8a5309a66afd4a7b9eb0b53199e9e19c2023-12-03T13:29:21ZengMDPI AGClinics and Practice2039-72832022-08-0112461962710.3390/clinpract12040065Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 PandemicVictoria A. Koshevarova0Zack K. Westenhaver1Mary Schmitz-Brown2Brian J. McKinnon3Kevin H. Merkley4Praveena K. Gupta5School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USASchool of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USADepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USADepartment of Otolaryngology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USADepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USADepartment of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA(1) Purpose: In 2020, wearing of face masks was mandated in the United States in an effort to lessen transmission of the novel 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic; however, long-term mask wearing may present with unintended side-effects in both ophthalmic and otolaryngologic clinical practice. This study aims to examine if mask wearing increased the incidence of primarily chalazion, blepharoconjunctivitis, and rhinitis occurrence during the mask-mandated COVID-19 pandemic period. (2) Methods: Medical records from tertiary academic center clinics were analyzed for incidence of ophthalmic and otolaryngologic diagnoses of interest (blepharoconjunctivitis- and rhinitis-related disorders). Data were collected from a pre-pandemic (March 2019–February 2020) and a mid-pandemic window (March 2020–February 2021) during which widespread mask mandates were implemented in Texas. Comparison was performed using a t-test analysis between incidence of chosen diagnoses during the described time periods. (3) Results: Incidence of ophthalmic disorders (primarily blepharoconjunctivitis and chalazion) in the pre-pandemic versus mid-pandemic windows did show a significant difference (<i>p</i>-value of 0.048). Similarly, comparison of otolaryngologic diagnoses (primarily rhinitis and related conditions) between the two time periods showed a significant difference (<i>p</i>-value of 0.044) as well. (4) Conclusion: Incidence of the chosen ophthalmic and otolaryngologic disorders did increase during periods of mask mandates. While these findings are preliminary, further studies are warranted to understand other factors that may have played a role in eye and nose pathology.https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/12/4/65COVID-19maskrhinitischalazionblepharitis |
| spellingShingle | Victoria A. Koshevarova Zack K. Westenhaver Mary Schmitz-Brown Brian J. McKinnon Kevin H. Merkley Praveena K. Gupta Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic Clinics and Practice COVID-19 mask rhinitis chalazion blepharitis |
| title | Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full | Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_short | Blepharoconjunctivitis and Otolaryngological Disease Trends in the Context of Mask Wearing during the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| title_sort | blepharoconjunctivitis and otolaryngological disease trends in the context of mask wearing during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | COVID-19 mask rhinitis chalazion blepharitis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2039-7283/12/4/65 |
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