Epidemiology and predisposing factors of Corneal ulcer in King Narai Hospital.

Abstract

     This study was survey research by retrospective study aimed to study the situation of corneal ulcers and identify the factors contributing to the development of corneal ulcers and their treatment. at King Narai Hospital. The sample is patients diagnosed clinically with corneal ulcers who required inpatient treatment at King Narai Hospital from October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2023. The study included 142 patients. Data were collected from patient medical records. Data were analyzed using categorical data presented as numbers and percentages, while continuous data with normal distribution were presented as mean and standard deviation (SD). Binary logistic regression was used to find related factors with 95% CI, showing the risk factor rate for each factor with Odds ratio (OR).
     Results: The number of patients with severe corneal ulcers requiring inpatient treatment has increased annually, from 18 cases in 2019 to 37 cases in 2023. Most patients were male (101, 71.1%), with the most common age group being 56–65 years (27.5%) and an average age of 47.15 years. Underlying conditions were present in 40 patients (28.2%), and the majority were laborers (55.6%). Most patients were from Chai Badan District (31.0%) and Mueang District (25.4%). The most common cause of corneal ulcers was foreign metal objects (55.6%), followed by grass or leaves (29.6%). Most ulcers affected the left eye (62.7%), and the average duration of symptoms before hospital admission was 2.32 days. The most common pathogens identified were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10 cases, 7.0%), followed by Staphylococcus coagulase-negative (6 cases, 4.2%) and fungi (4 cases, 2.8%)
     Vision improved in 111 patients (78.2%). Four patients (2.8%) required enucleation. The average length of stay was 17.8 days, with an average treatment cost of 13,356.76 baht per patient. On average, 7 patients per year required referral for further treatment. Factors significantly associated with corneal ulcers included male gender (p = 0.038), diabetes (p = 0.036), hypertension (p = 0.035), laborer occupation (p = 0.006), and farming occupation (p = 0.010).