Epidemiological characteristics and socioeconomic factors of patients with infectious keratitis in an ophthalmological reference center in Mexico

Purpose: To evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and socioeconomic factors of patients with infectious keratitis in an ophthalmological reference center in Mexico.Methods: Observational, retrospective and descriptive study.A review of the database and records of patients diagnosed with infectious keratitis treated in the cornea and refractive surgery department of the Fundación Hospital Nuestra Señora de la Luz, between 2015 and 2020 was carried out.Results: Of 301 patients included, 51.5% were women.Men presented more severe infections (p = 0.0025).Mean age was 51.82±20.49years.Most of the cases of keratitis were bacterial (n = 101; 33.6%).About half of the patients presented a severe infection (n = 153; 50.8%) requiring surgical treatment.Mean visual acuity was 1.6±0.92Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution (LogMAR), with worse visual acuity in patients who received surgical treatment (p < 0.001).The most common occupation was housewife (n = 29; 21.6%).The most frequent schooling level was high school (n = 46; 34.3%).Monthly family income was $ 6,573±11,282 Mexican pesos, with less severe infections being reported by those with a family income greater than $ 20,000 Mexican pesos per month (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Socioeconomic factors of patients with infectious keratitis play an important role in the course of the disease.Patient comorbidities and worse socioeconomic status are associated with worse infections, and frequently require invasive treatment, and also present worse visual prognosis.