BioMed Central
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,xhB (page number not for citation purposes)
)^D:VY92 BMC Ophthalmology
jdEqa$CXG Research article Open Access
~"IjT'W
3 Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
z}gfH| population-based surveys 6 years apart
0/g 0=dW= Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
:t'*fHi~ Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
sy
s6 V? Westmead, NSW, Australia
@y+Hb@ >. Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
AVR=\ qR Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au /8s+eHn&% * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
@ff83Bg Abstract
W/?\ 8AE Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
X-mhz3Q&a subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
;FI"N@z Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
<z2*T \B!8 cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
FK:Tni cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
E7c!KJ2 photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
r\x"nS cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
4?vTuZ/
M Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
Js'#= who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
chQCl3&e^ 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
:v(fgS2\
an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
qa!3l b_'M two surveys.
4XCy>;4u Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
O:hCUr prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
u6pfc'GG g prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
EU
0b>2n4 the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
w:0=L`<Eu prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
W-ctx"9DS Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
Oosr`e@S distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
o2J-& The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
ZtFOIb* Background
;rK=
jz^Q Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
=HGC<# impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
o(w xu) estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
]l~TI8gC affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
i- v PJg1 aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
@+,J^[ y for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
B_u1FWc be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
/&`sB| Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
^@"EI|fsP most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
s_j ?L cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
=jWcD{;1I} Published: 20 April 2006
5,;>b^gXY` BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
ROv(O;.Ty Received: 14 December 2005
vs`"BQYf Accepted: 20 April 2006
&ml7368@ This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 {4%B^+}T
© 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Uh9p,AV This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
" G&S`8 which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
zHEH?xZ6sD BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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&Ti:IC%M of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
feI%QnK)U in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
42Qfv%*c Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
8`0/?MZ) increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
7jZE(|G- fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
~g6`Cp` from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
!P_8D*^9 The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
=tS1|_ years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
t,f)!D$ Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
s5
P~f
eg increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
^uDNArDmj5 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
MPtn$@ population-based samples with a similar age range
EGY'a*]cU [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
E/OJ}3Rf would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
3Y
L and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
4dB6
cg benefits to a greater number of older people and an
l$1z%|I increased number of persons with surgery performed on
)}G?^rDH( both eyes.
?tf/#5t} Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
o`]o(OP link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
|9Gng`) surgery and eye health care provision. This report
JB_<Haj aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
wU9H=w^ and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
N`G*
h^YQ (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
/YyimG7 surveys 6 years apart.
NB["U"1[^E Methods
iq25|{1$ The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
.[@TC@W cohort study of common eye diseases and other
[YGPcGw health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
o|tq&&! <
residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
')bas#=uP areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
!zu YO3: Participants were identified through a census and were
J$]-)`[G& invited to participate. The study was approved at each
Ve]ufn
6 stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
g}cb>'=
={ of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
C\Y%FTS: Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
\z~wm& of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
^AI5SjOUx was obtained from each participant.
3U_-sMOB| Details of the methods used in this study have been
~ x!"( described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
:RxWHh3O (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
JGJy_.C 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
k\ 2.\Lwb Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
g
`2DJi&) during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
feSj3,<! cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
<]SI- the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
FLb
Q#c\ newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
>Q`\|m}x)Q eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
cE|Z=}4I7 this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
^57G]$Q BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
J&B>"s, and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
]]EOCGZ" Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
bm</qF'T6 at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
nx2iEXsa including demographic, family and medical history. A
pPa
3byWf detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
.# Jusd slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
aw3 oG?3I Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
VJ8"Q Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
(>LJv |wn lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
::lD7@Wg previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
LE'8R~4.< performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
;RElG>#$ Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
]ZbZ] were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
iB1+4wa estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
Uyuvmt> Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
=!~6RwwwY involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
ri]"a?Rm when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
Rg3cqe#O/ Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
,drcJ using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
ZQVr]/W^r [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
m?@0Pf}xa was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
Gy3t was defined to include persons who had previous
1 p|h\H cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
88}=VS types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
)[Bl3+' kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
9iwSE(}, for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
\nKpJ9! reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
CkHifmc(u- simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
^T.icSxP nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
pAm
L by an ophthalmologist (PM).
gE}+`w/X In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
|_H{B+. ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
Z2t
r?] available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
oE;SZ"$x while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
[3~mil3rO Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
50?5xSEM0_ 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
UD+r{s/% assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
]rY3bG'& with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
q' cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
W3h{5\d! between the two groups, as reported previously
]CnqPLqL [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
E979qKl or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
Aq5@k\[ cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
JKMcdD?' missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
yJ
MHm8OB7 for nuclear cataract assessment.
o<f#Zi Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
-|/kg7IO\ System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
pRTdP/(OQ prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
LL}b]B[ the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
{-'S#04 We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
&58TX[# interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
t%'0uB#v1 group were independent between the two cross-sectional
-AX[vTB surveys.
$(PWN6{\r^ BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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B;6N.X(K (page number not for citation purposes)
Q&;d7A.@ Results
rjJ-ZRs\ Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
`
g5S previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
zr1,A#BV distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
puPYM" characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
w-3 B~e II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
Ts~)0 hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
Zt7G
f Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
(qky&}H shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
jh*aD=y was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
S}T*g UO respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
G._E9 prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
C $r]]MSj (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
?t{ 2y1 increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
(wtw
1E5X cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
faJ>,^V# period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
J91O$szA (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
w' gKE'c was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
*z{.9z` I and II, respectively).
ji(Y?vhQt After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
oB8x_0#n stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
xr<.r4 surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
NL-<K prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
xqAXfJ. not altered.
(fYrb#]!y Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
n~wNee cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
Wxxnc#;lv II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
vMQvq9T} increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
@A-^~LoP. both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
PilV5Gg between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
/h!Y/\ kI cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
:<}.3 Q?& years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
\~YyY'J in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
Zk4( 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
2EdKxw3$] consistent between the two surveys, except for a
i7m=V T reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
MDo4{7 and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
O+o4E?} years).
qC%[J:RwF Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
;{Sgv^A observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
!Hk$ t cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
\*_@`1m but the difference was only significant for cortical
S4jt*]w5b cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
FZEK-]h. 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
dX58nJ4u and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
;I#S m; Table 1: Participant characteristics.
:jFKTG
Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
iuX82z` n % n %
\rw/d5. Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
v%e-vl 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
?`nF"u> 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
@R|Gz/ 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
b Hr2LhQCN 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
~9:ILCfX 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
JYbE(&l%de 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
Rv)!p~V8 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
{ZS-]|Kx 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
6;lJs,I1w{ 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
.Z!!x Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
idC4yH42 Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
x*~a{M,h Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
N
F[v/S History of:
(O
N
\-* Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
KUdpOMYX Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
*nB fF{y Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
s<I[)FQVr Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
C*}TY)8 Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
%`%xD>![ n = number of persons affected
y@;4F n/ * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
LF'M!C9| ^ P < 0.01
gc:qqJi)X BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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.wrNRU7s (page number not for citation purposes)
`eIX*R t
e&C(IEZ/N; rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
4]N`pD5 in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
T/
CI?sn (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
Mj
&f7IUO and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
{4Q4aL( Discussion
//G5lW/* Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
zh$[UdY6 with similar age and gender distribution showed
_wWh7'u~G that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
@WX]K0$; stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
&0O1tM*v to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
B.&ly/d with totally independent samples within each age group,
v7O&9a; confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
jNN$/ZWm survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
Sd.i1w& the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
3LZ0EYVL same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
jxL5L[ reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
N}wi<P:*) variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
.J3lo: may have contributed to the observed difference
Cw]Q)rX{ in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
;JpU4W2/ Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
dL>0"UN}- Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
H~+D2A n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
ARW|wXh
yf Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
$kJvPwRO 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
([s}bD.9 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
MJ>9[hs 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
\>w[#4`m 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
5tR<aIf 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
>`8r 52 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
>Vc_.dR)E 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
.O'S@ %] 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
\1f$]oS PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
%"j<` 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
\`r5tQ r 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
"8VCXD 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
*G$tfb( 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
=35^k-VS 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
|UM':Ec 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
0R<@* 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
:{%6<j 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
D0=D8P}H: Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
,JRYG<O_T 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
g^"",!J/ 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
/iNCb&[
65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
JAen=%2b 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
vn~DtTp/ 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
<r.f ?chf 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
Jg3}U j2By 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
B+eB=KL 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
+bI &0` n = number of persons
U/Z!c\r * 95% Confidence Limits
&CF74AN# Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
"EF:+gi#" Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
&G5+bUF, Mountains Eye Study.
)!hDF9O 0
<^|8\<J 10
k
uU,7<o 20
Bg
J;\NV 30
y _>HQs,: 40
FVT_%
"%C9 50
x "]%q^x cortical PSC nuclear any
e(x1w&8dB cataract
6GMQgTY^ Cataract type
1[D~Eep %
}4ijLX>b Cross-section I
[zn
`vT Cross-section II
tx}{E<\>$ BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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/@lXQM9T (page number not for citation purposes)
&9, 6<bToP prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
U:~O^ relatively stable over the 6-year period.
B-|:l7
Although different population-based studies used different
;:vbOG#aSN grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
[?)}0cd0 prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
&48wa^d different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
s[nXr suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
jl{>>TW{x of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
P-ys$= other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
NwIl~FNK prevalent type [12,21-23].
jAf
Uz7@ Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
Z9cch-u~ 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
(WCpaC age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
lV]hjt-L
2 prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
_S{HVc same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
[53rSr thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
5Z]`n surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
&7,Kv0j} A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
,jQkR^]j- over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
v2gK(&? definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
vY7C!O/y_k prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
$^INl0Pg level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
8OqG{jmG than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
=Jg5J5 groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
-8HIsRh likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
b&"=W9(V with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
z
`T<g!Y that functional vision and reading performance were high
o )GNV in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
m4<8v cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
,v4Z[ ( (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
<8|vj2d2 overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
z2i?7)(?;A was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
8c3`IIzAS to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
mhH[jO) nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
@OZW1p than the other two types of cataract. This could have
#.$p7] resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
@
eqVug to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
5JK{dis]k prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
B
cg\
p} more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
5u'"m
<4 of any cataract.
yBXdj`bV Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
oZHsCQ % among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
V.Dqbv of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
^&am