Skip to main content

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Environmental Health and Exposome
Volume 12 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1434611

Eye Health Risks Associated with Unclean Fuel: A Metaanalysis and Systematic Review

Provisionally accepted
Shi Hang Chen Shi Hang Chen 1Yuan Tang Yuan Tang 1*Song Xue Song Xue 1,2*
  • 1 Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
  • 2 Affiliated Hospital of Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, Jiangxi Province, China

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Purpose: This study comprehensively examined the correlation between unclean cooking fuels (UCF) and ocular health, covering diverse eye conditions such as cataracts, visual impairments, and ocular discomfort. Methods: According to MOOSE and PRISMA guidelines, a meta-analysis and systematic review was conducted on 28 studies from 3 databases. Literature quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Heterogeneity among articles was gauged with the I2 statistic, sensitivity analysis used 'leave-one-out test', and publication bias was evaluated using Egger, Begg tests, and funnel plot analysis. Results: The study evidenced a significant association between UCF exposure and cataracts (OR 2.29, 95% CI (1.24, 4.23)), visual impairments (OR 1.70, 95% CI (1.45, 2.00)), and eye diseases/symptoms (OR 2.03, 95% CI (1.25, 3.29)). However, no correlation was found between UCF exposure and glaucoma or elevated intraocular pressure (OR 0.96, 95% CI (0.84, 1.10), n = 2). Subgroup analysis revealed that UCF cooking had an impact on nuclear cataracts (OR 1.98, 95% CI (1.67, 2.33), n = 4). but not on cortical cataracts (OR 1.25, 95% CI (0.98, 1.60), n = 3). Additionally, UCF exposure was linked to severe visual impairments like night blindness (OR 2.03, 95% CI (1.00, 4.96)), blindness (OR 1.43, 95% CI (1.32, 1.55)), and specific ocular symptoms such as tearing while cooking (OR = 3.20), eye irritation (OR = 2.58), and red eyes (OR =2.03). Conclusion: UCF cooking had significant impact on ocular health, notably on eye symptoms, cataracts, and visual impairments. UCF exposure presented demographic inequalities in cataract prevalence, while eye symptoms can serve as a reliable self-assessment of UCF exposure.

    Keywords: health inequalities, Cataracts, visual impairments, ocular symptoms, Unclean cooking fuel

    Received: 18 May 2024; Accepted: 24 Dec 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Chen, Tang and Xue. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence:
    Yuan Tang, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
    Song Xue, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.