Prevalence and Risk Factors of Meibomian Gland Dysfunction: The Singapore Malay Eye Study

Purpose: To describe the prevalence and associations of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) in an urban Malay population in Singapore. Methods: Population-based cross-sectional study of 3280 (78.7% response rate) Malay persons aged 40 to 80 years, living in Singapore. MGD was defined by a slit-lamp clinical examination as either lid margin telangiectasia or meibomian gland orifice plugging in at least one eye. Participants underwent a standardized questionnaire and clinical examination, including laboratory investigations. Data were analyzed for 3271 persons. Results: The age-standardized prevalence of MGD was 56.3% [95% confidence interval (CI), 53.3-59.4]. A higher MGD prevalence was found in male participants across all age groups [odds ratio (OR), 1.30; 95% CI, 1.35-1.79], postmenopausal women (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.19-2.33), and all participants with pinguecula (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 2.08-2.85), high diastolic blood pressure (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.08-1.62), and use of angiotensin II receptor blockers (OR, 4.02; 95% CI, 1.74-9.27). Conclusions: MGD was highly prevalent in this Asian population and associated with various systemic and ocular conditions.