Association Between Dry Eye Syndrome and Osteoarthritis Severity: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study (KNHANES V)

Recently, several researchers reported an association between osteoarthritis and dry eye syndrome (DES) and suggested that they may be related to central sensitization. We investigated the association between DES, osteoarthritis pain, and radiographic severity.

A nationwide, cross-sectional study.

The Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

8,664 participants in this survey.

Osteoarthritis-associated radiographic changes were evaluated by trained radiologists. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the relationship between osteoarthritis pain, radiographic severity, and DES. The odds ratios (ORs) of DES were analyzed in accordance with the presence of osteoarthritis-associated factors.

Radiographic knee osteoarthritis was significantly associated with lower ORs for DES (OR = 0.80, P = 0.046, for diagnosed/self-reported DES; OR = 0.84, P = 0.034, for symptoms of DES). Knee pain or stiffness was significantly associated with higher ORs for DES (OR = 1.28, P = 0.020, for diagnosed/self-reported DES; OR = 1.29, P = 0.003, for symptoms of DES). In patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis, DES was not significantly associated with radiographic severity of osteoarthritis. In patients with nonsymptomatic radiographic osteoarthritis, DES was inversely related with radiographic severity (Ptrend = 0.012 for diagnosed/self-reported DES; Ptrend < 0.001 for symptoms of DES).

Radiographic osteoarthritis showed a significant association with decreased DES. Patients with less pain and severe radiographic OA were more likely to have less DES. Our results suggest that the degree of pain caused by osteoarthritis and central sensitization may be closely associated with DES.