The patient journey and burden of disease in Demodex blepharitis in the United States
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: AIM: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: = 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. LIMITATION: Medical records may be incomplete or inconsistently reported and subject to recall bias. CONCLUSIONS: 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.
Source: Journal of Medical Economics
Authors: Laura M. Periman, Walter O. Whitley, Sathi Maiti, James Mun, Anh N. Ho, Bhagyashree Oak, Amod Athavale, Elizabeth Yeu
Institution: Virginia Eye Consultants
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4410033489