Purpose

To test whether Schirmer test (ST) results are associated with topical or systemic medication and to evaluate the distribution of tear fluid quantity in a 3-min and 5-min ST.

Methods

The Gutenberg Health Study is a population-based, prospective, observational cohort study in Germany. ST was assessed in a sub-cohort of 1,999 participants. ST was performed under topical anesthesia for 5 min (ST-5) or of 3 min (ST-3). Anthropometric factors, systemic diseases, use of systemic and eye medications were recorded. We used multivariable quantile regression analysis to assess the influence on ST measurements.

Results

The length of wetting of the Schirmer strips for ST-5 was 23.2 ± 9.31 mm for right and 22.9 ± 9.0 mm for left eyes. In ST-3, the measurements were 20.0 mm in right and 19.1 mm in left eyes. The clinical cut off of 10 mm for ST-5 corresponded with an 8 mm cut off for ST-3.

There was an association of smaller ST-5 measures with male sex, higher age, socioeconomic status and season (all p < 0.001), but not with diabetes or smoking. The use of prostaglandin or beta-blocker eye drops or oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, drugs for peptic ulcer and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, thyroid hormones, progesterone and estrogen combination drugs, and hypnotics and sedatives showed an association with smaller ST-5.

Conclusions

For the first time we describe the distribution of tear fluid quantity by ST in a very large cohort of the general population. Furthermore, we found associations of ST measures with topical and systemic medication.

中文翻译：

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Schirmer测试结果：它们是否与局部或全身用药有关？

目的

为了测试Schirmer测试（ST）结果是否与局部或全身药物相关联，并评估3分钟和5分钟ST中泪液量的分布。

方法

古登堡健康研究是德国一项基于人群的前瞻性观察性队列研究。在一个由1,999名参与者组成的小组中评估了ST。ST在局部麻醉下进行5分钟（ST-5）或3分钟（ST-3）。记录人体测量因素，全身疾病，全身和眼部药物的使用。我们使用多变量分位数回归分析来评估对ST测量的影响。

结果

ST-5的Schirmer胶条的润湿长度，右眼为23.2±9.31 mm，左眼为22.9±9.0 mm。在ST-3中，右眼为20.0毫米，左眼为19.1毫米。ST-5的临床临界值为10 mm，ST-3的临床临界值为8 mm。

较小的ST-5量度与男性，较高的年龄，社会经济地位和季节有关（所有p <0.001），但与糖尿病或吸烟无关。使用前列腺素或β受体阻滞剂滴眼液或口服非甾体类抗炎药，消化性溃疡和胃食管反流病药物，甲状腺激素，孕激素和雌激素联合药物以及催眠药和镇静剂与较小的ST有关联-5。

结论

我们首次描述了在大量普通人群中ST泪液量的分布。此外，我们发现ST措施与局部和全身药物的关联。