Dry eye symptoms among adults aged 40 years and older in Gaza during humanitarian crisis: prevalence and associated factors

Aljarousha, Mohammed and Che Azemin, Mohd. Zulfaezal and Beshtawi, Ithar M. and Badarudin, Noor Ezailina and Irfan, Bilal and Abdu, Mustafa and Shaqoura, Emad I. H. and Feisal, Nur Azalina Suzianti and Abuhamad, Asmaa Y. and Rahmat, Baqiatu’l Sabiqi ‘Assfi and Kaderi, Mohd Arifin and Tawfik, Mohamed and Muhammad Qazi, Omair and Attaallah, Sara (2026) Dry eye symptoms among adults aged 40 years and older in Gaza during humanitarian crisis: prevalence and associated factors. Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness, 20 (NA). pp. 1-8. ISSN 1935-7893 E-ISSN 1938-744X

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Abstract

Background: Dry eye disease (DED) affects visual function and quality of life. In Gaza, conflict, displacement, environmental exposure, and psychological distress may increase risk, but evidence is limited. This study estimated DED symptom prevalence among adults aged ≥40 years and examined associated factors. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional convenience sample of 296 adults aged ≥40 years living in houses, shelters, or tents in Gaza was surveyed face-to-face. Arabic OSDI assessed symptoms (≥13) and severe symptoms (≥33). Psychological distress was measured using the Arabic DASS-8. Exploratory analyses examined continuous OSDI scores, housing type, geographic/displacement context, and the OSDI environmental-trigger domain. Adjusted associations were evaluated using regression models with robust standard errors. Results: Overall, 97.3% of participants had DED symptoms. Living in tents (PR 1.05, 95% CI 1.01-1.10; P = 0.024) and age ≥70 years (PR 1.05, 95% CI 1.00-1.09; P = 0.028) were associated with slightly higher prevalence. Higher DASS-8 scores were associated with greater continuous OSDI scores and more severe symptoms. Participants in the South/displaced group had greater symptom burden than those surveyed in the North. Conclusion: DED symptoms were nearly universal in this convenience sample. Greater symptom burden was associated with psychological distress and displacement context, although specific environmental exposures were not measured directly.

Item Type:	Article (Journal)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	dry eye disease; aged ≥ 40 years; OSDI; DASS-8; tents; shelters
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RE Ophthalmology
Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button):	Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences Kulliyyah of Allied Health Sciences > Department of Biomedical Science (Effective:1st July 2011)
Depositing User:	Dr. Mohd Zulfaezal Che Azemin
Date Deposited:	14 Oct 2026 15:22
Last Update:	14 Oct 2026 15:22
Queue Number:	2026-10-Q5590
URI:	http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/131916
Indexed In:	SCOPUS, ERA, Google Scholar

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