Ophthalmic sequelae and psychosocial impact in pediatric ebola survivors

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Jessica Shantha, Emory University; Dominick Canady, Morehouse School of Medicine; Caleb Hartley, Emory University; Amy Cassedy, University of Cincinnati; Chris Miller, Northwestern University; Sheila T Angeles-Han, University of Cincinnati; Lloyd CM Harrison-Williams, Ministry of Health and Sanitation Sierra Leone; Matthew J Vandy, Ministry of Health and Sanitation Sierra Leone; Natalie Weil, Childrens Hosp New Orleans; Gilberte Bastien, Morehouse School of Medicine; Steven Yeh, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2022-06-03
• Publisher: ELSEVIER
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2022 The Author(s)
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101483
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: ECLINICALMEDICINE
• Volume: 49
• Start Page: 101483
• End Page: 101483
• Grant/Funding Information: This project was supported by the National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health R01 EY029594 (Yeh) and K23 EY030158 (Shantha). Funding support was also provided via an Unrestricted Grant from Research to Prevent Blindness (Emory Eye Center, Emory University School of Medicine), the Marcus Foundation Combating Childhood Illness Seed Grant, Emory Global Health Institute, and the Stanley M. Truhlsen Family Foundation, Inc.; The funding organization had no role in the design or conduct of this research. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the views or policies of the Department of Health and Human Services, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
• Keywords: Psychosocial stressors; Post-Ebola virus disease syndrome; MANIFESTATIONS; RELIABILITY; REVISED CHILD ANXIETY; Uveitis; Ebola; PEDSQL(TM)-4.0; OCULAR COMPLICATIONS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; General & Internal Medicine; DEPRESSION; Medicine, General & Internal; Science & Technology; QUALITY-OF-LIFE; SYMPTOMS; Mental health; Ebola virus disease; Emerging infectious diseases; VIRUS DISEASE SURVIVORS; LONG-TERM SEQUELAE
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Opthamology; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

Background: Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreaks in West Africa (2013-2016) and the Democratic Republic of Congo (2018-2020) have resulted in thousands of EVD survivors who remain at-risk for survivor sequelae. While EVD survivorship has been broadly reported in adult populations, pediatric EVD survivors are under-represented. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the prevalence of eye disease, health-related quality-of-life, vision-related quality-of-life, and the burden of mental illness among pediatric EVD survivors in Sierra Leone. Methods: Twenty-three pediatric EVD survivors and 58 EVD close contacts were enrolled. Participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmic examination and completed the following surveys: Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0, Effect of Youngsters Eyesight on Quality-of-Life, and the Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale. Findings: A higher prevalence of uveitis was observed in EVD survivor eyes (10·8%) cohort compared to close contacts eyes (1·7%, p=0·03). Overall, 47·8% of EVD survivor eyes and 31·9% of close contact eyes presented with an eye disease at the time of our study (p=0·25). Individuals diagnosed with an ocular complication had poorer vision-related quality-of-life (p=0·02). Interpretation: Both health related quality-of-life and vision-related quality-of-life were poor among EVD survivors and close contacts. The high prevalence of eye disease associated with reduced vision health, suggests that cross-disciplinary approaches are needed to address the unmet needs of EVD survivors. Funding: National Institutes of Health R01 EY029594, K23 EY030158; National Eye Institute; Research to Prevent Blindness (Emory Eye Center); Marcus Foundation Combating Childhood Illness; Emory Global Health Institute; Stanley M. Truhlsen Family Foundation.