title: Dry eye disease and allergic conditions: A Korean nationwide population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dry eye disease (DED) is a multifactorial disease of the tears and ocular surface. No epidemiologic reports have yet been published about the relationship between DED and allergic rhinitis or sensitization to allergens.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the association between DED and allergic conditions in the general adult Korean population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This population-based cross-sectional study included 17,542 individuals (ages ≥ 19 years) who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2010 to 2012. Data for total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) and allergen-specific IgE levels were available for 1857 subjects. Data were analyzed by using logistic regression to determine the association of DED with allergy or allergic conditions, including allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, asthma, increased total serum IgE, and sensitization to house-dust mite (Dermatophagoides farinae), dog, and cockroach allergens.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of DED, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, and asthma was 10.4, 13.1, 2.2, and 3.3%, respectively. The prevalence of the increased total serum IgE level and sensitization to D. farinae, dog, and cockroach allergens was 34.6, 15.7, 1.0, and 2.8%, respectively. After adjusting for general characteristics, DED was significantly associated with allergic rhinitis (odds ratio 1.58 [95% confidence interval, 1.38-1.81]) and D. farinae sensitization (odds ratio 1.80 [95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.79]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated a close association between DED and both allergic rhinitis and D. farinae sensitization in Korean adults. Further studies are warranted to establish temporal relationships between DED and allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Minkyeong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jong-Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Choul Yong
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Sang Wha
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003058:Cockroaches / Q000276:immunology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003876:Dermatitis, Atopic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D040001:Dermatophagoides farinae / Q000276:immunology; D004285:Dogs / Q000276:immunology; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D044382:Population Groups; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens