Clinical Features of Benign Essential Blepharospasm in Korean Patients

PURPOSE: To analyze the clinical features of benign essential blepharospasm in Korean patients. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with benign essential blepharospasm in Kim's Eye Hospital from November 2014 to December 2016 were evaluated using a clinical examination and questionnaire. The questionnaire reviewed personal medical history, demographic factors, risk factors for blepharospasm development, and relieving and aggravating factors. RESULTS: Of the 101 patients enrolled, 78 (77.2%) were women. The mean age was 64.9 years old. Hypertension was the most common medical disorder (42.6%), followed by diabetes mellitus. The majority of the patients were non-smokers (83.2%) and drank less than a cup of a caffeinated beverage a day (30.7%). Fifty-seven percent of patients reported no stressful events immediately prior to symptom development. Fatigue and stress were aggravating factors in more than 55% of patients; rest was the most common relieving factor (35.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Here, we report the clinical features of benign essential blepharospasm in Korean patients for the first time. The results were consistent with previous reports showing that the majority of benign essential blepharospasm patients are women and non-smokers. In contrast to previous reports though, fatigue and stress were aggravating factors, and the most common relieving factor was rest. No stressful events had immediately preceded the development of blepharospasm in 57.4% of patients. This report may aid in treating and counseling patients with benign essential blepharospasm.

Change in Epidemiologic Characteristics of the Patients with Neck and Back Pain

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the associated symptom aggravating factors and epidemiologic characteristics in patients with neck and back pain. METHOD: The demographic characteristics and the total number of patients who visited the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Yong-dong Severance Hospital for the management of neck and back pain were evaluated. A total of 2800 patients sampled from this group of patients and the possible influential factors such as symptom aggravating factors were evaluated. The back school attendants were analyzed for the effectiveness of education on prevention and management of neck and back pain. RESULTS: The most common age group with neck and back pain were 5th decade (21.4%) and 6th decade (24.8%). The proportion of patients in acute stage were increased yearly. Of the aggravating factors, sports injury, driving and weight gain increased annually. In patients with neck pain, aggravation by typing and computer work was remarkable. The patients with desk type of job were increased each year and the patients in teenage group were also increased annually. CONCLUSION: Understanding of the current epidemiologic characteristics and the influential factors will be helpful for providing objective standards for assessment, management and preventioin of neck and back pain.