The relationship between sedentary behavior and dry eye disease.

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Sedentary behavior (SB) is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, a potential factor in dry eye disease (DED) development.
• Understanding the relationship between lifestyle factors and DED is crucial for public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between sedentary behavior (SB) and the risk of developing dry eye disease (DED).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study analyzed data from 48,418 participants in the Lifelines cohort.
• Dry eye disease (DED) was defined using the Women's Health Study (WHS) criteria.
• Sedentary behavior (SB) was measured using the Marshall Sitting Questionnaire, with logistic regression analyses adjusted for multiple confounders.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between greater SB and an increased risk of DED (OR 1.015 per hour/day).
• This association was significant only in individuals with physical activity (PA) levels below WHO recommendations.
• The link between SB and DED was not significant when computer-intensive sitting time was excluded, suggesting screen use as a potential confounder.

Conclusions:

• Greater sedentary time is associated with an increased risk of dry eye disease (DED), especially in those with insufficient physical activity.
• Screen use may be a significant confounder in the relationship between sedentary behavior and DED.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the role of screen time in DED pathogenesis.