Importance: Greater understanding of the association between strabismus and mental health conditions across sociodemographic backgrounds may inform strategies to improve mental well-being in this population.
Objective: To describe the association of strabismus with mental health conditions in a diverse cohort of US adults.
Design, setting, and participants: This cross-sectional study used data from the National Institutes of Health's All of Us Research Program, an ongoing program launched in 2015. The study included 3646 adults (aged ≥18 years) with strabismus and 3646 propensity score-matched controls. Statistical analysis was conducted from September 12, 2023, to January 29, 2024.
Main outcomes and measures: Adults with strabismus were propensity score matched on age, gender, race and ethnicity, income, educational level, and insurance status in a 1:1 ratio with adults without strabismus. The prevalences of anxiety, depression, substance use and addiction, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia spectrum disorder among adults with strabismus were compared with controls. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association of mental health conditions with sociodemographic factors in each group.
Results: This study included 3646 adults with strabismus (median age, 67 years [IQR, 53-76 years]; 2017 women [55%]) and 3646 propensity score-matched controls (median age, 67 years [IQR, 53-76 years]; 2017 women [55%]). Individuals with strabismus had higher prevalences of anxiety (1153 [32%] vs 519 [14%]; difference, 17%; 95% CI, 15%-19%; P < .001), depression (1189 [33%] vs 514 [14%]; difference, 19%; 95% CI, 17%-20%; P < .001), substance use and addiction (116 [3%] vs 51 [1%]; difference, 2%; 95% CI, 1%-3%; P < .001), bipolar disorder (253 [7%] vs 101 [3%]; difference, 4%; 95% CI, 3%-5%; P < .001), and schizophrenia spectrum disorder (103 [3%] vs 36 [1%]; difference, 2%; 95% CI, 1%-3%; P < .001) compared with individuals without strabismus. Among adults with strabismus, higher odds of mental health conditions were associated with younger age (odds ratio [OR], 1.11 per 10-year decrease; 95% CI, 1.06-1.16 per 10-year decrease), female gender (OR, 1.62; 95% CI, 1.41-1.85), Black or African American race and ethnicity (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.01-1.48), low income (OR, 3.06; 95% CI, 2.56-3.67), and high school education or less (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.34-1.85).
Conclusions and relevance: In a diverse and nationwide cohort, adults with strabismus were more likely to have mental health conditions compared with adults without strabismus. Further investigation into the risk factors for poor mental health among adults with strabismus across sociodemographic backgrounds may offer novel opportunities for interventions to improve mental well-being in this population.