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Gleber-Netto FO, Nagarajan P, Sagiv O, Pickering CR, Gross N, Ning J, Yeshi MM, Mitku Y, Tetzlaff MT, Esmaeli B. Histologic and Genomic Analysis of Conjunctival SCC in African and American Cohorts Reveal UV Light and HPV Signatures and High Tumor Mutation Burden. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2024; 65:24. [PMID: 38597722 PMCID: PMC11008748 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.65.4.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Conjunctival squamous cell carcinoma (conjSCC) is more prevalent and aggressive in sub-Saharan African countries compared with the rest of the world. This study aims to compare the genomic, immunophenotypic, and histologic features between patients from the United States and Ethiopia, to identify etiopathogenic mechanisms and unveil potential treatment strategies. Methods We compared histologic features and mutational profiles using whole exome sequencing, high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) status, PD-L1 expression, and tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes in conjSCC tumors of patients from Ethiopia (ETH; n = 25) and the United States (from MD Anderson [the MDA cohort]; n = 29). Genomic alterations were compared with SCCs from other anatomic sites using data from The Cancer Genome Atlas. Results Solar elastosis was seen in 78% of ETH and 10% of MDA samples. Thicker tumors had higher density of CD8+ and CD3+ cells. HPV status was similar between the cohorts (ETH = 21% and MDA = 28%). The mean tumor mutation burden (TMB) was significantly higher in conjSCC (3.01/Mb, log10) and cutaneous SCC compared other SCC subtypes. ETH samples had higher TMB compared to the MDA cohort (3.34 vs. 2.73). Mutations in genes associated with ultraviolet light (UV) signature were most frequently encountered (SBS7b = 74% and SBS7a = 72%), with higher prevalence in the ETH cohort, whereas SBS2 and SBS13 signatures were more common among MDA HPV+ conjSCCs. Conclusions Our findings suggest that UV exposure may play a major role in conjSCC, with a higher prevalence in the ETH cohort compared with the MDA cohort, where HPV also contributes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frederico O. Gleber-Netto
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Priyadharsini Nagarajan
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Oded Sagiv
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
- The Goldschleger Eye Institute, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Curtis R. Pickering
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Neil Gross
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Jing Ning
- Department of Biostatistics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
| | | | - Yonas Mitku
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia
| | - Michael T. Tetzlaff
- Department of Pathology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
| | - Bita Esmaeli
- Orbital Oncology and Ophthalmic Plastic Surgery, Department of Plastic Surgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, United States
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Julius P, Siyumbwa SN, Moonga P, Maate F, Kaile T, Haynatski G, Minhas V, Snow J, Peterson K, Gihozo P, Streeter S, Kaur S, Evans A, Gonzalez D, Samwel K, Kang G, West JT, Wood C, Angeletti PC. Epstein–Barr Virus, But Not Human Papillomavirus, Is Associated With Preinvasive and Invasive Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasias in Zambian Patients. Front Oncol 2022; 12:864066. [PMID: 35494029 PMCID: PMC9047892 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.864066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe etiopathogenesis of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) is not fully understood. We assessed the frequency of oncogenic viruses in OSSN by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for human papillomavirus (HPV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV), Kaposi sarcoma virus, and adenovirus. Cases from Zambia were prospectively enrolled using a cross-sectional study design between November 2017 and March 2020.MethodsDemographic and clinical data [age, sex, HIV status, antiretroviral therapy (ART) history, CD4 count, plasma viral load] and tumor biopsies were collected from 243 consenting patients. Tumor samples were bisected, and half was used for DNA isolation, while the other half was formalin fixed and paraffin embedded (FFPE) for histopathology analysis. The expressions of latent EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA1), CDKN2A/p16INK4A (p16), and MCPyV large T-antigen (LT) were tested by IHC. Multiplex PCR was used to detect 16 HPV genotypes and four other DNA tumor viruses [Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), EBV, MCPyV, and adenovirus]. Relationships between HIV status, viral DNA and protein expression, and tumor grades were determined by statistical analysis.ResultsOSSN tumors from patients were 29.6% preinvasive and 70.4% invasive. Patients presented with unilateral tumors that were 70.4% late stage (T3/T4). OSSN patients were HIV positive (72.8%). IHC on 243 FFPE biopsies resulted in the detection of EBNA1 (EBV), p16 high-risk HPV (HR-HPV), and MCPyV LT expression in 89.0%, 4.9%, and 0.0%, respectively. EBNA1 was expressed in all grades of preinvasive [cornea–conjunctiva intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)1, 100%; CIN2, 85.7%; CIN3, 95.8%; and carcinoma in situ (CIS), 83.8%] and in invasive (89.2%) OSSN. PCR on 178 samples detected EBV, HR-HPV, and MCPyV in 80.3%, 9.0%, and 13.5% of tumors, respectively. EBV was detected in all grades of preinvasive and invasive OSSN. EBV detection was associated with high HIV viral loads (p = 0.022). HR-HPV was detected in 0.0% CIN1, 0.0% CIN2, 5.6% CIN3, 13.0% CIS, and 7.0% invasive OSSN.ConclusionsOur findings of EBV DNA and EBNA1 protein in all the grades of preinvasive and especially invasive OSSN are consistent with a potential causal role for EBV in OSSN. A role of HPV in OSSN was not clearly established in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Julius
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | | | - Phyllis Moonga
- University Teaching Hospital, Eye Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Fred Maate
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Trevor Kaile
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, Lusaka, Zambia
| | - Gleb Haynatski
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Veenu Minhas
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Jazmine Snow
- Nebraska Center for Virology and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Kerstin Peterson
- Nebraska Center for Virology and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Patience Gihozo
- Nebraska Center for Virology and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Sam Streeter
- Nebraska Center for Virology and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Salan Kaur
- Nebraska Center for Virology and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Annika Evans
- Nebraska Center for Virology and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | - Daniela Gonzalez
- Nebraska Center for Virology and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
| | | | - Guobin Kang
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - John T. West
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Charles Wood
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Science Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - Peter C. Angeletti
- Nebraska Center for Virology and the School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, United States
- *Correspondence: Peter C. Angeletti,
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5
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Hoffman JJ, Yadav R, Das Sanyam S, Chaudhary P, Roshan A, Singh SK, Mishra SK, Arunga S, Hu VH, Macleod D, Leck A, Burton MJ. Delay in accessing definitive care for patients with microbial keratitis in Nepal. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:915293. [PMID: 35935768 PMCID: PMC9354956 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.915293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The aim of this study was to describe the health-seeking journey for patients with microbial keratitis (MK) in Nepal and identify factors associated with delay. Methods Prospective cohort study where MK patients attending a large, tertiary-referral eye hospital in south-eastern Nepal between June 2019 and November 2020 were recruited. We collected demographic details, clinical history, and examination findings. Care-seeking journey details were captured including places attended, number of journeys, time from symptom onset, and costs. We compared "direct" with "indirect" presenters, analyzing for predictors of delay. Results We enrolled 643 patients with MK. The majority (96%) self-referred. "Direct" attenders accounted for only 23.6% (152/643) of patients, the majority of "indirect" patients initially presented to a pharmacy (255/491). Over half (328/643) of all cases presented after at least 7 days. The total cost of care increased with increasing numbers of facilities visited (p < 0.001). Those living furthest away were least likely to present directly (p < 0.001). Factors independently associated with delayed presentation included distance >50 km from the eye hospital [aOR 5.760 (95% CI 1.829-18.14, p = 0.003)], previous antifungal use [aOR 4.706 (95% CI 3.139-5.360)], and two or more previous journeys [aOR 1.442 (95% CI 1.111-3.255)]. Conclusions Most patients visited at least one facility prior to our institution, with time to presentation and costs increasing with the number of prior journeys. Distance to the eye hospital is a significant barrier to prompt, direct presentation. Based on these findings, improving access to eye care services, strengthening referral networks and encouraging early appropriate treatment are recommended to reduce delay, ultimately improving clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy J Hoffman
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,Sagarmatha Choudhary Eye Hospital, Lahan, Nepal
| | - Reena Yadav
- Sagarmatha Choudhary Eye Hospital, Lahan, Nepal
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Simon Arunga
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Ophthalmology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Victor H Hu
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Macleod
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Astrid Leck
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J Burton
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.,National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
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Burton MJ, Ramke J, Marques AP, Bourne RRA, Congdon N, Jones I, Ah Tong BAM, Arunga S, Bachani D, Bascaran C, Bastawrous A, Blanchet K, Braithwaite T, Buchan JC, Cairns J, Cama A, Chagunda M, Chuluunkhuu C, Cooper A, Crofts-Lawrence J, Dean WH, Denniston AK, Ehrlich JR, Emerson PM, Evans JR, Frick KD, Friedman DS, Furtado JM, Gichangi MM, Gichuhi S, Gilbert SS, Gurung R, Habtamu E, Holland P, Jonas JB, Keane PA, Keay L, Khanna RC, Khaw PT, Kuper H, Kyari F, Lansingh VC, Mactaggart I, Mafwiri MM, Mathenge W, McCormick I, Morjaria P, Mowatt L, Muirhead D, Murthy GVS, Mwangi N, Patel DB, Peto T, Qureshi BM, Salomão SR, Sarah V, Shilio BR, Solomon AW, Swenor BK, Taylor HR, Wang N, Webson A, West SK, Wong TY, Wormald R, Yasmin S, Yusufu M, Silva JC, Resnikoff S, Ravilla T, Gilbert CE, Foster A, Faal HB. The Lancet Global Health Commission on Global Eye Health: vision beyond 2020. Lancet Glob Health 2021; 9:e489-e551. [PMID: 33607016 PMCID: PMC7966694 DOI: 10.1016/s2214-109x(20)30488-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 500] [Impact Index Per Article: 166.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Burton
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.
| | - Jacqueline Ramke
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Ana Patricia Marques
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Rupert R A Bourne
- Vision and Eye Research Institute, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, Cambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nathan Congdon
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK; Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | | | | | - Simon Arunga
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Department of Ophthalmology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
| | - Damodar Bachani
- John Snow India, New Delhi, India; Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India
| | - Covadonga Bascaran
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Andrew Bastawrous
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Peek Vision, London, UK
| | - Karl Blanchet
- Geneva Centre of Humanitarian Studies, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Tasanee Braithwaite
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; The Medical Eye Unit, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK
| | - John C Buchan
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK
| | - John Cairns
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | | | | | - Chimgee Chuluunkhuu
- Orbis International, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Mongolian Ophthalmology Society, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
| | | | | | - William H Dean
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Division of Ophthalmology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Alastair K Denniston
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK; Ophthalmology Department, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Birmingham, UK; Health Data Research UK, London, UK
| | - Joshua R Ehrlich
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Paul M Emerson
- International Trachoma Initiative and Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jennifer R Evans
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kevin D Frick
- Carey Business School, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David S Friedman
- Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Harvard Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - João M Furtado
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Stephen Gichuhi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Reeta Gurung
- Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Esmael Habtamu
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Eyu-Ethiopia Eye Health Research, Training, and Service Centre, Bahirdar, Ethiopia
| | - Peter Holland
- International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness, London, UK
| | - Jost B Jonas
- Institute of Clinical and Scientific Ophthalmology and Acupuncture Jonas and Panda, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Ophthalmology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany; Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pearse A Keane
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Lisa Keay
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Rohit C Khanna
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Gullapalli Pratibha Rao International Centre for Advancement of Rural Eye Care, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India; Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad, India
| | - Peng Tee Khaw
- National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | - Hannah Kuper
- International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Fatima Kyari
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; College of Health Sciences, University of Abuja, Abuja, Nigeria
| | - Van C Lansingh
- Instituto Mexicano de Oftalmologia, Queretaro, Mexico; Centro Mexicano de Salud Visual Preventiva, Mexico City, Mexico; Help Me See, New York, NY, USA
| | - Islay Mactaggart
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; International Centre for Evidence in Disability, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Milka M Mafwiri
- Department of Ophthalmology, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | | | - Ian McCormick
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Priya Morjaria
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Lizette Mowatt
- University Hospital of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Debbie Muirhead
- The Fred Hollows Foundation, Melbourne, Australia; Nossal Institute for Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Gudlavalleti V S Murthy
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad, India
| | - Nyawira Mwangi
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; Kenya Medical Training College, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Daksha B Patel
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Tunde Peto
- Centre for Public Health, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | | | - Solange R Salomão
- Departamento de Oftalmologia e Ciências Visuais, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Bernadetha R Shilio
- Department of Curative Services, Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Elderly, and Children, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Anthony W Solomon
- Department of Control of Neglected Tropical Diseases, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bonnielin K Swenor
- Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Hugh R Taylor
- Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ningli Wang
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | - Aubrey Webson
- Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda to the United Nation, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sheila K West
- Dana Center for Preventive Ophthalmology, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tien Yin Wong
- Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore; Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
| | - Richard Wormald
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK; National Institute for Health Research Biomedical Research Centre for Ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
| | | | - Mayinuer Yusufu
- Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Eye Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Beijing Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Key Laboratory, Beijing, China
| | | | - Serge Resnikoff
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Brien Holden Vision Institute, University of New South of Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Clare E Gilbert
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Allen Foster
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Hannah B Faal
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria; Africa Vision Research Institute, Durban, South Africa
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7
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Arunga S, Kintoki GM, Gichuhi S, Onyango J, Newton R, Leck A, Macleod D, Hu VH, Burton MJ. Delay Along the Care Seeking Journey of Patients with Microbial Keratitis in Uganda. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2019; 26:311-320. [PMID: 31088316 PMCID: PMC7446038 DOI: 10.1080/09286586.2019.1616775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Purpose To describe the care seeking journey and causes of delay among patients with Microbial Keratitis in Uganda. Methods A prospective cohort of patients presenting with microbial keratitis at the two main eye units in Southern Uganda (2016–2018). We collected information on demographics, home address, clinical history, and presentation pathway including, order of facilities where patients went to seek care, treatment advice, cost of care, and use of Traditional Eye Medicine. Presentation time was noted. We compared “direct” presenters versus “indirect” presenters and analysed predictors of delay. Results About 313 patients were enrolled. All were self-referred. Only 19% of the patients presented directly to the eye hospital. Majority (52%) visited one facility before presenting, 19% visited two facilities, 9% visited three facilities, and 2% visited four facilities. The cost of care increased with increase in the number of facilities visited. People in a large household, further distance from the eye hospital and those who used Traditional Eye Medicine were less likely to come directly to the eye hospital. Visiting another facility prior to the eye hospital and use of Traditional Eye Medicine aOR 1.58 (95%CI 1.03–2.43), p = .038 were associated with delayed presentation to the eye hospital. Conclusion This study provided information on patient journeys to seek care. Delay was largely attributable to having visited another health facility: a referral mechanism for microbial keratitis was non-existent. There is need to explore how these health system gaps can be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Arunga
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK.,Department of Ophthalmology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology , Mbarara , Uganda
| | - Guyguy M Kintoki
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology , Mbarara , Uganda
| | - Stephen Gichuhi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Nairobi , Nairobi , Kenya
| | - John Onyango
- Department of Ophthalmology, Mbarara University of Science and Technology , Mbarara , Uganda
| | - Rob Newton
- Department of Ophthalmology, Uganda Virus Research Institute , Entebbe , Uganda
| | - Astrid Leck
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - David Macleod
- Tropical Epidemiology Group, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Victor H Hu
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
| | - Matthew J Burton
- International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine , London , UK
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