Saleha Z Munir1, Wuqaas M Munir, Jennifer Albrecht. 1. Departments of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences (S.Z.M.), and Epidemiology and Public Health (J.A.), University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of keratoconus in the United States using a large vision insurance database. METHODS: We used data from the 2016 vision service plan (VSP) Global claims database to estimate the prevalence of keratoconus among enrollees by state. The VSP Global database includes cross-sectional de-identified claims data summarized by state of residence in predefined age and gender groups. Crude values of prevalence of keratoconus are provided in the VSP Global database. The open-source software package qGIS version 3.12 was used as the geographic information system for geospatial analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of keratoconus among VSP enrollees in the United States was estimated to be 0.15% with 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.15%, 0.15%). The prevalence of keratoconus was highest in Western states and among male population. The highest prevalence of keratoconus was in Colorado (0.51%; 95% CI 0.49%-0.52%), with particularly high prevalence for men in the age groups 18 to 39 years (0.90%; 95% CI 0.84%-0.95%) and 40 to 64 years (0.90%; 95% CI 0.85%-0.95%). CONCLUSION: The average prevalence of keratoconus in the United States in 2016 may be higher than previously reported. Living in Western states and male sex were associated with high prevalence.
PURPOSE: To estimate the prevalence of keratoconus in the United States using a large vision insurance database. METHODS: We used data from the 2016 vision service plan (VSP) Global claims database to estimate the prevalence of keratoconus among enrollees by state. The VSP Global database includes cross-sectional de-identified claims data summarized by state of residence in predefined age and gender groups. Crude values of prevalence of keratoconus are provided in the VSP Global database. The open-source software package qGIS version 3.12 was used as the geographic information system for geospatial analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of keratoconus among VSP enrollees in the United States was estimated to be 0.15% with 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.15%, 0.15%). The prevalence of keratoconus was highest in Western states and among male population. The highest prevalence of keratoconus was in Colorado (0.51%; 95% CI 0.49%-0.52%), with particularly high prevalence for men in the age groups 18 to 39 years (0.90%; 95% CI 0.84%-0.95%) and 40 to 64 years (0.90%; 95% CI 0.85%-0.95%). CONCLUSION: The average prevalence of keratoconus in the United States in 2016 may be higher than previously reported. Living in Western states and male sex were associated with high prevalence.
Authors: Cristina Ariadna Nicula; Adriana Elena Bulboacă; Dorin Nicula; Ariadna Patricia Nicula; Karin Ursula Horvath; Sorana D Bolboacă Journal: Front Med (Lausanne) Date: 2022-05-26