Lax eyelid condition (LEC) and floppy eyelid syndrome (FES) prevalence in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Francesco Aiello; Gabriele Gallo Afflitto; Mario Alessandri Bonetti; Francesca Ceccarelli; Massimo Cesareo; Carlo Nucci

doi:10.1007/s00417-022-05890-5

Lax eyelid condition (LEC) and floppy eyelid syndrome (FES) prevalence in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA) patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 2023 Jun;261(6):1505-1514. doi: 10.1007/s00417-022-05890-5. Epub 2022 Nov 16.

Authors

Francesco Aiello¹, Gabriele Gallo Afflitto^{2

3}, Mario Alessandri Bonetti⁴, Francesca Ceccarelli¹, Massimo Cesareo¹, Carlo Nucci¹

Affiliations

¹ Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy.
² Ophthalmology Unit, Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Rome, Italy. gabrielegalloafflitto@gmail.com.
³ Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, 33136, USA. gabrielegalloafflitto@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Reconstructive and Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, University of Milan, I.R.C.C.S. Istituto Galeazzi, Milan, Italy.

Abstract

Purpose: Lax eyelid condition (LEC) and floppy eyelid syndrome (FES) represent two distinct conditions which have been associated with several ocular and systemic comorbidities. The main aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to explore the available literature to estimate the prevalence rate of LEC and FES in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Methods: The protocol of this systematic review and meta-analysis has been registered in PROSPERO. Four electronic databases (PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Web of Science) were searched from inception to December 24, 2021. A random intercept logistic regression model was carried out for the analysis of overall proportions. Odds ratio and mean difference were reported as measures of the effect size in the presence of binary and continuous outcomes, respectively. The estimated numbers of LEC/FES patients in OSA were calculated by multiplying the prevalence rate determined by our random-effects model and the corresponding Benjafield et al.'s population prospect.

Results: We included 11 studies comprising 1225 OSA patients of whom 431 and 153 affected by LEC and FES, respectively. Our model estimated a pooled prevalence rate for LEC and FES in OSA patients of 40.2% (95%CI: 28.6-53.1%) and of 22.4% (95%CI: 13.8-34.2%), respectively. The number of LEC/FES affected individuals among OSA patients is expected to peak up to 376 and to 210 million, respectively. OSA patients appeared to have a 3.4 (95%CI: 2.2-5.2) and a 3.0 (95%CI: 1.7-5.5) increased risk of developing LEC and FES than the healthy counterpart.

Conclusion: Prevalence of LEC and FES is higher in OSA-affected patients compared to controls. More studies are warranted to investigate the mechanisms leading to the development of LEC and/or FES in OSA patients, as well as the feasibility of the adoption of these clinical findings as screening tools for OSA.

Keywords: Epidemiology; FES; Floppy eyelid syndrome; LEC; Lax eyelid condition; OSA; Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Publication types

Meta-Analysis
Systematic Review
Review

MeSH terms

Eyelid Diseases* / diagnosis
Eyelid Diseases* / epidemiology
Eyelids
Humans
Prevalence
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / complications
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / diagnosis
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* / epidemiology
Syndrome