BioMed Central
]7Fs$y. Page 1 of 7
vm'5s]kdh (page number not for citation purposes)
=0-
$W5E BMC Ophthalmology
Z--@.IYoJ Research article Open Access
z`6fotL Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
$o +5/c?| population-based surveys 6 years apart
zd_HxYrN Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
v?c 0[+? Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
A!vCb
8(TX Westmead, NSW, Australia
O,<IGO Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
\]9.zlB Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au W-
$a
Y2 * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
1shBY@mlq Abstract
}YOL"<,:o Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
hCYQGx0 subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
y{9~&r Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
6r"u$i`o cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
+uWYK9 cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
^2odr \ photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
q4UA]+-* cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
39 Y(!q Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
LzDI0a. who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
rC_*sx
r^ 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
)R_E|@" an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
xw<OLWW two surveys.
qP!P
+'B Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
sP'0Sl~NU prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
d
{2 prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
7:NmCpgL! the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
v=I|O% prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
#kkY@k$4 Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
(IbW;bV distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
qJR!$? The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
5wC* ?>/ Background
iF+
RnWX\ Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
>i,iOx|E- impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
mT*{-n_Zs estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
1+y"i<3) affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
7yI@"c#O aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
4YU/uQm for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
o=fgin/E\ be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
h7_)%U<J2 Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
TB
aVW most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
|f2A89 cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
`BZ&~vJ_ Published: 20 April 2006
a?cn9i)# BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
VFD%h
} Received: 14 December 2005
y@ek=fT%4 Accepted: 20 April 2006
q$ghLGz This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 e5v`;(^M © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
&;q<M_< This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
ySNV^+ which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
FJM;X-UOY BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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q{4|Kpx@ (page number not for citation purposes)
{0jIY of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
dXu {p in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
u"VS* hSH Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
4B O %{ increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
+/'<z fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
/r$&]C:Fi from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
:
1)}Epo, The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
9fVj
8G years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
Q^h5">P Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
bcJ@-i0V increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
nX
x=1*X 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
2)LX^?7
R population-based samples with a similar age range
EnCU4CU` [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
LdTIR] would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
6Dzs? P and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
pzEABA benefits to a greater number of older people and an
kO3`54 increased number of persons with surgery performed on
GgdlVi 2 both eyes.
X ]s"5ju|t Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
i,OKfXp link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
6VR18Y!y surgery and eye health care provision. This report
d^aNR
Lv aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
bXl
8v and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
BMjfqX (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
|BJqy/ surveys 6 years apart.
/+P5)q
TKL Methods
GN%<"I. The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
E4m:1=Nd~] cohort study of common eye diseases and other
]PVto\B= health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
$'u\B residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
nt`<y0ta areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
rIPl6,w~ Participants were identified through a census and were
~h|m&XK+Q invited to participate. The study was approved at each
k!c7a\">{ stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
th Q J(w of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
kpT>G$s~gy Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
f-]><z of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
]W|RtdF3.N was obtained from each participant.
p\ok_*b Details of the methods used in this study have been
u7~mnl described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
UhA_1A'B (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
@:IL/o* 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
Bpas[2gYC Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
@|]G0&gn&? during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
U[Nosh)hu\ cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
tKX}Ok:V% the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
BWohMT newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
|87W* eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
Q.>/*8R; this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
)ZeLaa P BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
h/{8bC@bi and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
@%%bRY Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
<\Vi,, at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
*H?t;,\ including demographic, family and medical history. A
[}@n*D$ detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
c0SX]4}
G slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
tz3]le|ml Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
^
} tLnF Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
<qr^Nyo4 lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
`fLfT' previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
!4_!J (q% performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
hO%Y{Gg Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
)'=V!H#U* were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
va@Xb UC estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
4YBf ~Pp Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
.:T9pplq involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
J&'>IA when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
zv`zsqDJ Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
wXP_]- using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
3g^IXm:K$ [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
_dJp
3D was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
rtcJ=`)0` was defined to include persons who had previous
m\l51
}xz cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
+yt 6.L types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
fmtuFr^a1 kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
|&9
tU for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
sYl&Q.\q reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
hT\p)w simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
"$# $f nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
GOUY_&}tL by an ophthalmologist (PM).
Hf;RIl2F In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
(MZ A ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
- $xKv4 available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
2=i+L z^ while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
]kyle3#-~ Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
^H
f+du 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
?psOj% assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
FRb&@
(; with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
Wh#os,U
$ cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
KteZK.+#: between the two groups, as reported previously
&f
(sfM_n [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
:_W0Af09 or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
XHU<4l:kl cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
fx8y`8}_ missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
s^{{@O. for nuclear cataract assessment.
l:>qR/|m Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
\9&YV;Ct System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
BaNU}@ prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
`kaR@t the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
@vVRF
Z We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
e<ism?WG interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
Z&?+&q
r^ group were independent between the two cross-sectional
j]cXLY
surveys.
s!nSE
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s[vPH8qb (page number not for citation purposes)
6Zl.Lh Results
"(HA9: Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
y~4SKv
$ previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
dA_V:HP distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
.O
@q5G characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
O?4vC5x II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
O9Jx%tolF% hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
x):k#cu[L Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
=2vMw] shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
FBwncG$]F* was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
~t.WwxY+ respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
[EW$7 se~ prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
d-#u/{jG) (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
`lV increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
\h'E5LO cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
'o#J>a~!9L period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
+ 8K1]'t$ (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
a2klOX{ was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
iz%A0Z+`bg I and II, respectively).
ftI+#0?[! After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
#)h
~.D{ stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
,SE$Rh surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
H-\{w
prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
@7[.>I( not altered.
,Q /nS$ Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
2dd:5L, cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
0@FM^ejA# II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
>$S,>d_k` increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
TXh@ both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
t+4Y3*WeGF between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
x 1x j\O cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
@y\{<X.F\1 years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
P
VkN3J in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
}MavI' 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
@aV~.!! consistent between the two surveys, except for a
I\uB"Z{9 reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
h3d\MYO)B and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
#
!d^3iB2 years).
EAd:`X,Y Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
tj^:SW.0 observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
sQw`U{JG cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
h^_taAdS` but the difference was only significant for cortical
$@qs(Xwr cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
`)C`_g3Ew 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
}
Ved and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
.kKwdqO+zB Table 1: Participant characteristics.
g\{! 21M Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
;7n*PBUJJ n % n %
BfE-s< Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
\;:@=9` 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
7@cvy?
v{ 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
-b>O4_N 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
/e?ux ~f| 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
i`nw"8 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
:9
iOuu 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
?M-8Fp3 + 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
JX0_UU 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
[O+^eE6h 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
ODvpMt:+ Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
"gikX/Co= Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
Qp{-!* Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
cTaD{!zm5 History of:
s1\BjSzk Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
9c %
Tv Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
bl>b/u7/6 Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
:;WDPRx Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
yW(+?7U Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
A^@ <+? n = number of persons affected
)$4DH:WN * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
;
GT)sI ^ P < 0.01
:Q
L p`s BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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O Lup`~ (page number not for citation purposes)
9x{prCr t
({nSs5)$ rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
DMN H?6 in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
_1c_TM h}9 (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
tRBK1h and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
P}QbxkS 8 Discussion
Byj~\QMD| Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
5@%-=87S with similar age and gender distribution showed
32P ]0&_O that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
j$oZIV7 stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
+##I4vP to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
J\D3fh97- with totally independent samples within each age group,
m e{SVG{ confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
I'b]s~u survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
'k Z1&_{ the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
6|cl`}g_j same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
Wj=ex3K3u. reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
l8Qi^<i/ variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
qJt gnk| may have contributed to the observed difference
@\}36y in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
zL8A?G)=M Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
tgA
|Vwwk Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
Hvo27THLo n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
&~f_1< Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
Lta\AN!c 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
9'h^59 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
v ed
Qwzh 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
<U pjAuG8 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
AI; =k 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
mP[u[|] 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
,0~TvJS 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
<5~>.DuE 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
1Di&vpn0u PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
'Sh5W%NM 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
BG=_i#V 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
'v
X"l 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
]]3D`
F} 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
3v U (4}@ 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
C ,hsr 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
{hz:[ 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
;xwQzu%M>5 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
#mYxO Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
Shz;)0To 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
F9W5x=EK\ 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
j83
V$
Le 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
"g-NUl`' 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
:TI1tJS~* 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
Dzr5qP?# 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
y{JkY\g 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
7l3q~ dQ 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
n TG|
Isa n = number of persons
2l?J9c}Wo * 95% Confidence Limits
.~J^`/o Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
NY
x4&
*le Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
bAp`lmFI Mountains Eye Study.
p~IvkW>ln) 0
kx[8#+P 10
uE(w$2Wi 20
?*,q#ZkA9W 30
:%{7Q$Xv< 40
l<0V0R( 50
DxHeZQ"LL cortical PSC nuclear any
nj
mE>2 cataract
Ry C7 Cataract type
STe;Sr&p %
P6Ei!t,> Cross-section I
RswR DLl Cross-section II
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F/8y p<_r (page number not for citation purposes)
=E}/Z prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
I$$!YMm.N relatively stable over the 6-year period.
lgl/|
^ Uw Although different population-based studies used different
#
V+e grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
Ax
^9J)C prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
PyYe>a;. different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
C}CX n X suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
Oaui@q
of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
T~la,>p|} other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
Ap/WgVw; prevalent type [12,21-23].
@ o]F~x Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
~c4Y*]J 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
3jeR;N]x age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
95}"AIi prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
a`}-^;}SW same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
V%))%?3x_ thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
H_9~gi surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
F)C8LH A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
1z)+P1nH] over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
di"*K*~y definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
fYwumx`J prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
s:%>H|- level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
%BL +'&q than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
GFvOrRlP\ groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
x[]n
\\a? likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
m#uutomi0 with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
#N*~Q
that functional vision and reading performance were high
f.!cR3XgV in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
ST{<G cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
-50|r;a (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
@rE>D overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
Zvc{o8^z was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
xk#/J]j to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
YS/4<QA[ nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
^s^X n QhE than the other two types of cataract. This could have
J
g@PhN<9 resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
LcQ \
d* to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
zH.7!jeE prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
gP`8hNwR more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
nP] ~8ViS of any cataract.
vFQ'sd]C Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
hS<+=3
<M among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
(R{WJjj of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
J@52<.>6 assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
[8<)^k both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
KATt9ox@ assessment of temporal changes.
O.}{s; Measurement error could also have partially contributed
gE|_hfm
( to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
Po% V%~ Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
2-FL&DE potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
N\rbnr variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
P/4]x@{ih slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
0X.pI1jCO grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
2ACN5lyUS camera and the same two graders who graded photos
I6~.s
Tl from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
LNtBYdB`pK of a partial influence from photographic variation
Z%k)'%_ on this result.
I!~5. A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
$)mK]57 than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
[?^,,.Dd both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
ng"R[/)In from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
-r7*C:E Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
xx_]e4 Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
/0IvvD!7N could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
,E
<(K8 study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
u,I_p[`E lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
;N#d'E\ cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
R5(<:] factors were detected and no gender difference
v'mRch)d was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
Y j;KKgk in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
W1fEUVj levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
2r4owB? women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
e0Zwhz, Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
wylbs@ Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
.SzPig n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
-PPH]?], Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
)RG@D\t , Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
ji9 (!G PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
o`,|{K$H Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
2:3-mWE Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
>>22:JI` Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
dNK Q&TC n = number of persons
++1<A&a * 95% Confidence Limits
1$mxMXNsJ BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 }ya@*jH Page 6 of 7
dp;;20z (page number not for citation purposes)
jd ]$U_U( cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
M uz+j.0 prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
s[<a( exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
[Ume^ or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
gJ;jh7e@ also be related to these observations and warrant further
dAg<BK/ study.
GY% ^!r Conclusion
bT93R8yp In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
Qg9*mlm` apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
)\K ;Ncp[ of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
5~8FZ-x overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
(p6$Vgdt 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
cl\Gh reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
7
k:w3M Competing interests
TTGk"2
Q' The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
Xgb ~ED] Authors' contributions
XHN*'@
77; AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
[l`_2{: and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
y"bSn5B[ photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
S{uKm1a ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
fS@V`"O6 reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
Jy
iP3whW study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
ox|K2A and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
*- S/{
.& approved the final manuscript.
]'"aVGqa. Acknowledgements
/7`fg0A This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
?^X
e^1( Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
jIvSjlm I abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
&x
mYp Q (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
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|)'6U3 Pre-publication history
9+!1jTGSkf The pre-publication history for this paper can be accessed
45+w)Vf! here:
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