Epidemiologic aspects of cataract surgery. III: Frequencies of diabetes and glaucoma in a cataract population.

A Danish data source was examined to determine age and sex specific rates of diabetes and glaucoma in a large cataract extracted population. Comparisons with population rates were done. An excess prevalence of diabetes in the cataract population below 70 years was found. For cataract extracted males and females below the age of 40 years, the diabetes prevalence was 15 to 25 times the prevalence in a general population. This prevalence excess decreases with age to normal levels at 75 years of age. Furthermore, we found higher relative frequencies of diabetes among cataract extracted females than among males. Mean age at time of surgery was significantly lower for the diabetic cataract patients. Also for primary glaucoma, an excess prevalence was found in the cataract population. For cataract extracted males and females aged 40 to 49 years the glaucoma frequency was 4-5 times the frequency in a general population. This excess relative frequency decreases with age. The glaucomatous cataract patients have a higher mean age at the time of cataract surgery. A large number of factors seems to contribute to the excess frequencies of diabetes and glaucoma found in the cataract extracted population.