Periman Laura M, Whitley Walter O, Maiti Sathi, Mun James, Ho Anh N, Oak Bhagyashree, Athavale Amod, Yeu Elizabeth
Periman Eye Institute, Seattle, WA, USA.
Virginia Eye Consultants, Norfolk, VA, USA.
J Med Econ. 2025 Dec;28(1):734-742. doi: 10.1080/13696998.2025.2500224. Epub 2025 May 21.
blepharitis (DB) is a chronic eyelid disease caused by an infestation of mites. The objective of this chart audit study was to characterize the patient journey and burden of illness associated with DB from an eye-care provider's perspective.
Retrospective medical data for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of DB were anonymously collected ophthalmologists and optometrists in the US (collectively eye-care providers [ECPs]), in June-July 2022. Each eligible ECP completed a questionnaire and provided chart abstractions of 1-5 medical charts of patients with DB in an electronic case report form.
All ECPs ( = 61) were ophthalmologists or optometrists who worked primarily in office-based private practices (97%). Data from 192 medical charts of patients with an ECP-confirmed diagnosis of DB were abstracted and their demographics included 54% males and 71% Caucasians. The mean time (±SD) since diagnosis was 11 (±9.0) years. Over 40% of patients were not examined for DB at initial presentation, and the average time from initial presentation to a definitive diagnosis for DB was 6.5 months. After DB diagnosis and across the period of observation until the time of the study, patients had a mean (±SD) of 3.2 (±2.8) follow-up visits due to DB and continued to use multiple off-label prescription and over-the-counter therapies for symptom management.
Medical records may be incomplete or inconsistently reported and subject to recall bias.
The patient journey is lengthy with multiple challenges, including delay in DB diagnosis and recurring DB symptoms, underlining an urgent need for action to improve diagnosis and treatment of DB.
睑缘炎（DB）是一种由螨虫感染引起的慢性眼睑疾病。本图表审核研究的目的是从眼科护理提供者的角度描述与DB相关的患者病程和疾病负担。
2022年6月至7月，在美国，眼科医生和验光师（统称为眼科护理提供者[ECP]）匿名收集了确诊为DB的患者的回顾性医疗数据。每位符合条件的ECP填写一份问卷，并以电子病例报告表的形式提供1至5例DB患者的病历摘要。
所有ECP（n = 61）均为主要在门诊私人诊所工作的眼科医生或验光师（97%）。提取了192例经ECP确诊为DB的患者的病历数据，其人口统计学特征包括54%为男性，71%为白种人。自诊断以来的平均时间（±标准差）为11（±9.0）年。超过40%的患者在初次就诊时未接受DB检查，从初次就诊到DB确诊的平均时间为6.5个月。在DB诊断后以及直至研究时的观察期内，患者因DB平均（±标准差）进行了3.2（±2.8）次随访，并继续使用多种非标签处方和非处方疗法来管理症状。
医疗记录可能不完整或报告不一致，且存在回忆偏倚。
患者病程漫长且面临多重挑战，包括DB诊断延迟和DB症状反复出现，这凸显了迫切需要采取行动改善DB的诊断和治疗。
