title: Socioeconomic Disparities in the Prevalence of Blepharoptosis in the South Korean Adult Population Based on a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated the association between socioeconomic status (SES) and the prevalence of blepharoptosis in a representative South Korean population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was based on data obtained in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2010 to 2012. In total, 17,178 Korean adults (7,261 men and 9,917 women) aged 19 years or older were enrolled. Blepharoptosis was defined as a marginal reflex distance 1 (MDR 1) lower than 2 mm. Household income and education level were used as indicators of SES. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the relationship between SES and the prevalence of blepharoptosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Household income was inversely associated with the prevalence of blepharoptosis in women [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was 1.894 (1.336, 2.685)], and educational level was inversely associated with blepharoptosis in both men and women [aORs and 95% CIs were 1.572 (1.113, 2.219) and 1.973 (1.153, 3.376), respectively]. After adjusting for household income and educational level, low SES was associated with a high prevalence of blepharoptosis in women only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Socioeconomic disparities in the prevalence of blepharoptosis were found among women. Indeed, future research using a prospective design to determine the causal relationship between SES and blepharoptosis may identify SES as a risk factor for this condition.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Incheon St. Mary's hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyungdo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yongkyu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Yeouido St. Mary's hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Gyeol
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001763:Blepharoptosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class