C Y Cheng1, J H Liu, S J Chen, F L Lee. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taiwan, ROC.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Age-related cataracts are the main cause of blindness throughout the world. Nonetheless, population-based data on the epidemiology of age-related cataracts among Taiwanese populations are not readily available. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of age-related cataracts and to determine the relationships of age, gender, blood pressure, diabetes and smoking to the risks of age-related cataracts in an urban Taiwanese population. METHODS: The study was part of a population-based survey of eye diseases among residents aged 50 years or older in Peitou Precinct, Taipei, Taiwan. Of the 2,700 eligible persons, 2,038 (75.5%) underwent a standard evaluation protocol including dilated slit-lamp examination, a questionnaire of medical and ophthalmic histories and blood pressure measurement. RESULTS: Among the participants, 1,040 were diagnosed with age-related cataracts. The prevalence was 51.0% (95% confidence interval, 48.9%-53.2%). Nuclear opacity was the most prevalent type (718/1,040; 35.2%) of cataracts, followed by posterior subcapsular opacity (311/1,040; 15.3%) and cortical opacity (163/1,040; 7.8%). An increased risk of age-related cataracts was associated with female gender (p = 0.002). When a single type of lens opacity was considered, diabetes was significantly associated with a posterior subcapsular cataract (p = 0.022). Overall, older women with diabetes and relatively lower diastolic blood pressure were more likely to have age-related cataracts. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided the first prevalence data on age-related cataracts in an urban Taiwanese population and highlighted the relationships of age, gender, blood pressure and diabetes to the frequency and type of age-related cataracts. The results can assist in the design and implementation of intervention programs to reduce the prevalence of age-related cataracts.
BACKGROUND: Age-related cataracts are the main cause of blindness throughout the world. Nonetheless, population-based data on the epidemiology of age-related cataracts among Taiwanese populations are not readily available. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of age-related cataracts and to determine the relationships of age, gender, blood pressure, diabetes and smoking to the risks of age-related cataracts in an urban Taiwanese population. METHODS: The study was part of a population-based survey of eye diseases among residents aged 50 years or older in Peitou Precinct, Taipei, Taiwan. Of the 2,700 eligible persons, 2,038 (75.5%) underwent a standard evaluation protocol including dilated slit-lamp examination, a questionnaire of medical and ophthalmic histories and blood pressure measurement. RESULTS: Among the participants, 1,040 were diagnosed with age-related cataracts. The prevalence was 51.0% (95% confidence interval, 48.9%-53.2%). Nuclear opacity was the most prevalent type (718/1,040; 35.2%) of cataracts, followed by posterior subcapsular opacity (311/1,040; 15.3%) and cortical opacity (163/1,040; 7.8%). An increased risk of age-related cataracts was associated with female gender (p = 0.002). When a single type of lens opacity was considered, diabetes was significantly associated with a posterior subcapsular cataract (p = 0.022). Overall, older women with diabetes and relatively lower diastolic blood pressure were more likely to have age-related cataracts. CONCLUSIONS: The study provided the first prevalence data on age-related cataracts in an urban Taiwanese population and highlighted the relationships of age, gender, blood pressure and diabetes to the frequency and type of age-related cataracts. The results can assist in the design and implementation of intervention programs to reduce the prevalence of age-related cataracts.
Authors: Mary Kay Margolis; Karin Coyne; Tessa Kennedy-Martin; Timothy Baker; Oliver Schein; Dennis A Revicki Journal: Pharmacoeconomics Date: 2002 Impact factor: 4.981
Authors: Sudha K Iyengar; Barbara E K Klein; Ronald Klein; Gyungah Jun; James H Schick; Christopher Millard; Rachel Liptak; Karlie Russo; Kristine E Lee; Robert C Elston Journal: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A Date: 2004-09-27 Impact factor: 11.205