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PREVALENCE OF ALLERGIC CONJUNCTIVITIS AND COMORBIDITIES AMONG SAUDI ADULTS IN THE WESTERN REGION; A CROSS SECTIONAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

Khaled Abdullah Alqurashi1 , Ashjan Yousef Bamahfouz2, 3 , Bayan Mutlaq Almasoudi4

Purpose: Allergic conjunctivitis is one of the common conditions encountered by ophthalmologists. It affects up to 40% of the general population. Symptoms may vary from mild to severe and can negatively affect the quality of life. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis and comorbidities such as bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis among Saudi adults in the western region.Methods: Adult male and female subjects, who provided verbal consent to participate, were included in this cross-sectional study. The study was conducted between April 2017 and June 2018 in the three main cities of the western region in Saudi Arabia; Taif, Makkah, and Jeddah. A pilot survey was carried out before conducting this study in order to test the applicability of the questionnaire used. Results:Prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis among the studied population was found to be 18.3% (95% CI= 16.7% to 20%). Data showed a higher prevalence of allergic conjunctivitis among patients with bronchial asthma (p< 0.001), patients with allergic rhinitis (p < 0.001), elderly patient (p< 0.001), and residents of Jeddah compared to Makkah and Taif (p< 0.001) while there was no difference between the prevalence among males and that among females.Conclusion:Results of the current study suggest that allergic conjunctivitis affects a considerable proportion of Saudi adults in the western region and it is associated with allergic rhinitis and bronchial asthma. Adequate recognition of these associations can allow earlier diagnosis and more efficient management of these conditions. Keywords: Allergic conjunctivitis, allergic rhinitis, bronchial asthma, prevalence, comorbidities, Saudi Arabia

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