Table 1.
Characteristics of dry-eye patients studied
| Group I: ophthalmology clinic cohort (n=23) | Group II: rheumatology clinic cohort (n=35) | t/U/χ2 | P-value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, years, mean (SD) | 44.2 (14.3) | 45.1 (9.9) | −0.263 | 0.794 |
|
Sex Male, n (%) Female, n (%) |
3 (13%) 20 (87%) |
3 (8.6%) 32 (91.4%) |
0.299b |
0.673 |
| Dry eye, n (%) | 23 (100%) | 35 (100%) | 0 | 0 |
|
Dry-eye duration, years, median/IQR |
1/(0.3–2) | 1/(0.3–3) | 388 | 0.816 |
| Dry mouth, n (%) | 20 (87%) | 29 (82.9%) | 0.178b | 1 |
|
Dry-mouth duration, years, median/IQR |
1/(0.2–2.8) | 1/(0.2–2) | 264 | 0.593 |
| Salivary-gland enlargement, n (%) | 2 (8.7%) | 3 (8.6%) | 0 (b) | 1 |
|
Schirmer test I <5 mm, n (%) 5–10 mm, n (%) |
3 (13%) 20 (87%) |
9 (25.7%) 26 (74.3%) |
1.358b |
0.329 |
|
TBUT <5 seconds, n (%) 5–10 seconds, n (%) |
9 (39.1%) 14 (60.9%) |
16 (45.7%) 19 (54.3%) |
0.245a |
0.620 |
|
OSS ≥3, n (%) <3, n (%) |
4 (17.4%) 19 (82.6%) |
4 (11.4%) 31 (88.6%) |
0.415b |
0.700 |
| ANAs, n (%) | 1 (4.3%) | 1 (2.9%) | 0.093b | 1 |
| RF, n (%) | 0 | 12 (34.3%) | 9.943b | 0.002* |
| Anti-SSA/Ro, n(%) | 1 (4.3%) | 0 | 1.548b | 0.397 |
| Anti-SSB/La, n (%) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Histopathology of LSGB FLS (focus score ≥1) FLS (focus score <1) Chronic nonspecific sialadenitis Normal |
n=3 2 (66.7%) 1 (33.3%) 0 0 |
n=4 0 2 (50%) 1 (25%) 1 (25%) |
4.273b | 0.486 |
Notes: Parametric quantitative data expressed as means (SD) and nonparametric quantitative data expressed as medians (IQR), while qualitative data are expressed as numbers and percentages. Independent-sample t-tests for parametric quantitative data between the two groups; Mann–Whitney U test for nonparametric quantitative data between the two groups. aχ2 test (if expected value within cell >5); bFisher’s exact test (if expected value within cell <5) for qualitative data between the two groups. *P<0.05.
Abbreviations: OSS, ocular staining score; TBUT, tear-film breakup time; ANAs, antinuclear antibodies; RF, rheumatoid factor; FLS, focal lymphocytic sialadenitis; LSGB, labial salivary–gland biopsy.