Table 1.
Demographics of participants.
| MMP (n=49) | HC (n=40) | p-Value | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age (years) | 70 ± 11 | 71 ± 9 | 0.820 |
| Gender (female, %) | 31 (63%) | 20 (50%) | 0.282 |
| Ethnicity (White, %) | 47 (96%) | 39 (98%) | 1.000 |
| BMI (kg/m2)§ | 28.7 (25.5-32.5) | 23.6 (22.0-25.9) | 0.001 |
| Proton pump inhibitor use | 5 (10%) | 4 (10%) | 1.000 |
| Diet (standard diet, %)‡ | 43 (93%) | 32 (82%) | 0.175 |
| Duration of disease from diagnosis (months) | 33 (13-98) | N/A | – |
| Positive immunofluorescence status | 34 (69%) | N/A | – |
| Bulbar conjunctival hyperaemia score ≥25%† | 14 (29%) | N/A | – |
| Tetracycline use | 24 (50%) | – | |
| Never | 25 (50%) | N/A | |
| Previously, Now Stopped | 6 (14%) | N/A | |
| Currently | 18 (36%) | N/A | |
| Systemic immunotherapy use | 38 (78%) | – | |
| Never | 11 (22%) | N/A | |
| Previously, Now Stopped | 10 (20%) | N/A | |
| Currently | 28 (57%) | N/A | |
| Observed number of OTUs | 225 ± 80 | 323 ± 87 | <0.001 |
| Shannon Diversity Index | 2.92 ± 0.67 | 3.48 ± 0.69 | <0.001 |
Data reported as median and interquartile range or mean and standard deviation, with p-values from Mann-Whitney U tests, or as n (%), with p-values from Fisher’s exact tests. BMI, body mass index; DIF, direct immunofluorescence. Bold p-values are significant at p<0.05.
§Data available for 83 participants.
‡Data available for 85 participants.
†Bulbar conjunctival inflammation score (in the worse eye) was assessed using the Cicatrising Conjunctivitis Clinical Assessment Tool.
N/A, Non-applicable.