Posters

Longer healing time for persistent corneal epithelial defects in female patients

Poster Details

First Author: G.Coco UK

Co Author(s):    K. Hamill   L. Troughton   S. Kaye   V. Romano           

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Persistent corneal epithelial defect (PCED) represents a clinical burden with substantial healthcare expenses. Being able to identify patients at higher risk of longer disease duration might help clinicians in selecting those who require more aggressive treatments at an early stage, with potential impact on costs and clinical implications. Purpose of the study was to determine if the gender influences the healing time of PCEDs and to report cost estimates of the disease.

Setting:

St. Paul's Eye Unit, The Royal Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK

Methods:

Retrospective study on patients with PCED from November 2014 to January 2019. Records of 127 patients with diagnosis of PCED were reviewed. Patients with an epithelial defect that lasted more than two weeks in the absence of an active corneal infection were included. Main outcomes and measures were healing times and cost estimates for the disease treatment.

Results:

55 patients with a mean age of 65.3 ± 16.5 years of whom 29 were males (53%) were included. Median duration of the PCED was 51 days (IQR 32-130), with median number of 5 out-patient visits. Female patients had significantly longer healing times (regression coefficient of 0.617, p = 0.020). Kaplan Meier analysis confirmed this difference (p = 0.027; Mantel-Cox test). The number of out-patient consultations was 6.3 ± 3.3 per patient with a median cost per visit of 459.4/month and £4544.2/year for outpatients visits only.

Conclusions:

Female patients with PCED have a longer healing time and may benefit from more aggressive treatment regimens at early stages of the disease in order to improve clinical outcomes and reduce costs.

Financial Disclosure:

None