Factors related to incidence of eye disorders in Korean patients at intensive care units.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence rate of eye disorders and further to identify factors related to incidence of eye disorders in intensive care unit patients.


BACKGROUND
Although the incidence of eye disorders in intensive care unit patients is very high, it is difficult to come to an accurate estimate of number of eye disorders in intensive care unit patients because eye disorders are often perceived to be minor problems.


METHODS
A retrospective, descriptive survey design was used.


METHODS
The medical records of a total 235 patients with eye disorders were identified through a review of the medical records of 2,500 patients hospitalised in the intensive care units of Yonsei University Hospital, Seoul, Korea from January to December, 2004. To examine factors related to eye disorders, 522 patients without eye disorders from the cohort of 2,265 patients were randomly selected. Factors related to incidence of eye disorder were included in a multiple logistic regression model, after screening by the chi-squared test.


RESULTS
The incidence rate for eye disorders in the intensive care unit patients was 8.6%. From the multiple regression model, the following odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of eye disorder were estimated; length of stay in intensive care unit of at least seven days: 2.8 (1.70-4.70); death: 2.5 (1.47-4.29); drowsy mental state: 2.2 (1.10-4.37); stupor mental state: 7.0 (3.20-15.45); coma mental state: 10.8 (3.47-33.74); no self-respiration: 1.9 (1.00-3.52); positive end expiratory pressure: 2.9 (1.66-4.92); sedatives: 4.2 (2.26-7.74); muscle relaxants: 2.3 (1.11-4.95).


CONCLUSIONS
Factors related to incidence of eye disorders in intensive care unit patients identified in this study support the need to pay attention to eye problems and eye care in intensive care unit patients.


CONCLUSIONS
An evidence-based eye care protocol should be provided as routine care to prevent eye complication, especially in critically ill patients with mechanical ventilators, positive end expiratory pressure, sedatives or muscle relaxants and for patients whose mental status is decreased.
Oh
Eui Geum
EG
Division of Clinical Nursing, Yonsei University College of Nursing, Seoul, Korea.
Lee
Won Hee
WH
Yoo
Ji Soo
JS
Kim
So Sun
SS
Ko
Il Sun
IS
Chu
Sang Hui
SH
Song
Eun Kyeung
EK
Kang
Se Won
SW
D000368:Aged; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies