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2.Assessing the Relationship of Keratocunus to Consanguinity
Abdul Rafe, Mohammed Tariq Munawar, Zaheer ud Din Babar and Kainaat Talat
ABSTRACT
Objective: The purpose of this research is to evaluate the relationship between consanguinity and the prevalence of keratoconus.
Study Design: Comparative/cross-sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Department of Ophthalmology, CMH, Kharian. June 2022 to March 2023.
Methods: This study included a total of 71 participants who were diagnosed with keratoconus. Following the collection of informed written consent from enrolled cases, complete demographic information was gathered. Patients included in the study ranged in age from 6 to 35 years. Participants filled out a questionnaire that they self-administered and answered questions regarding their demographic information, KC results, clinical symptoms, and the marital status of their parents. Using SPSS24.0, all data was analyzed.
Results: In our study patients mean age was 17.6±13.70 years and had mean BMI 20.13±5.19kg/m2. Majority of the patients were males and 42 cases had rural residency. 43(60.6%) were married to a first cousin, 19(26.8%) were married to a second cousin, 3(4.2%) were married to a third cousin, and 6(8.4%) were married to someone outside their immediate family. At the 5% significance level, we found that consanguinity was correlated with KC. It was found that the prevalence of keratoconus and the severity of the condition were both higher in patients with first-degree consanguineous parents.
Conclusion: The findings of this study lend support to the theory that KC is strongly correlated with direct kinship. The results indicate that the risk of developing KC is much higher in cases of first-degree parental consanguinity compared to other types of inter marriage. KC was shown to advance more rapidly in this at-risk group.
Key Words: Inheritance, Genetics, Consanguinity, Keratoconus