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wnU-5r&!] Page 1 of 7
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2!_DkE BMC Ophthalmology
%"Ia]0 Research article Open Access
/# d^ Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
nX_w F`n" population-based surveys 6 years apart
JT! Cb$! Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
/|p\l" Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
D>-srzw Westmead, NSW, Australia
E?0Vo%Vh Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
%Jji<M] Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au `\r<3? * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
-EJj j { Abstract
H0f] Swh0a Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
V-(*{/^" subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
NY6;\ 7!n
Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
?3%r:g4 cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
Pm]lr|Q{I cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
Zb7%$1)L~ photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
B7wzF" cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
l{gR6U{e Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
R=3|(R+kA who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
KF6N P 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
0RjFa;j an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
&]tm'N25 two surveys.
<=Saf. Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
,9M2'6= prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
CTe!jMZ= prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
'h@&rr@5 the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
1(pv3
prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
1*e7NJ/., Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
]T{v~]7:{ distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
*&tTi
v{^ The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
k(M"k!M Background
H|$
*HQm Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
oWx^_wQ-= impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
J 7sH] estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
3kT?Y7<fv affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
/x)i}M) aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
P @J)S ? for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
>xA(*7 be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
x+TdTe;p Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
Nobu=
Z most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
,x
R u74 cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
K%_UNivN Published: 20 April 2006
u9(42jj[$U BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
Dc*
H:x; Received: 14 December 2005
`Z#':0Z Accepted: 20 April 2006
|#{ i7>2U This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 H!6+x*P0 © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
H DD)AM&p This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
Z4:^#98c. which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
%iME[| u& BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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=c$x xEDD of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
B'mUDW8\D in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
_mk@1ft Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
=y(*?TZH increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
I;1)a4Xc4R fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
}D?qj3?bj from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
^7*7^< The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
x%O6/rl years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
19-V;F@; Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
I-1NZgv increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
)m[<lJbw 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
RnU7|p{ population-based samples with a similar age range
3IjsV5a [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
R/Z7}Q W would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
WRA(k and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
Gg]Jp:GF benefits to a greater number of older people and an
)v11j.D increased number of persons with surgery performed on
@|sBnerE both eyes.
$.:x3TsA Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
^u#iz link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
r b\t0tg surgery and eye health care provision. This report
,c0LRO aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
g]c6_DMfb1 and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
3:8p="$F (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
Bd)Cijr surveys 6 years apart.
#B6f{D[pI Methods
+Mhk<A[s The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
b
62B|0i cohort study of common eye diseases and other
/3tEr
c' health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
dFhyT.Y? residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
_Y/*e<bU areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
}<@-= Participants were identified through a census and were
9Li&0E invited to participate. The study was approved at each
,6pGKCUU:y stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
JR
xY#k of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
p >ua{}!L Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
0!KYi_3 of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
*)`PY4zF was obtained from each participant.
Lj#xZ!mQS Details of the methods used in this study have been
(xWsyo(4 described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
~k?wnw (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
^);M}~ 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
XEa
gN:
Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
:) -` during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
&7>]# *
cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
]jn1T^D' the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
L-S5@;" newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
%eW7AO> eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
$F9w0kz:,* this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
7CSz BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
@ <2y+_e and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
JhwHsx/ Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
z~tdLtcX at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
g\8B; including demographic, family and medical history. A
~<O.Gu&"R detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
K@xMPB8in slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
<Opw"yY&q] Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
3D!7,@&>3 Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
+HRtuRv0T lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
]v),[]Xs previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
X[H .t$w5A performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
#>\SK Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
m9sck:g#L1 were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
P]y{3y:XxM estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
KnA BFH Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
<T)0I1S involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
^c(r4#}$" when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
D]aQt%TL Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
`8O Bw using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
mLkp*?sfC [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
Xf#
;`*5 was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
)B&`<1Oie was defined to include persons who had previous
V#.pi zb cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
~,KrL(jC types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
&Z!y>k%6 kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
V_m!<sr ( for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
J(!=Dno reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
bx{njo1Mr simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
qrj f
nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
_unoDoB by an ophthalmologist (PM).
|.yS~XFJS In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
$8 &Y(` ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
WjR2:kT available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
Ja5od while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
b&4JHyleF Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
uqI'e_&=&5 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
{g`!2" assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
WoB'B|% with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
??P\v0E cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
fH_l2b[-3@ between the two groups, as reported previously
]3='TN8aQF [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
|Rx+2`6Dp or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
LE5N2k cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
I8T*_u^_ missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
we!w5./Xm for nuclear cataract assessment.
TNN@G~@cm Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
:6)!#q'g System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
iR{@~JN=) prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
TxN+-< f the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
{&D$U'ye We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
-Q
Mwtr#q} interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
-"2 t^Q group were independent between the two cross-sectional
2sG1Hox surveys.
jgXr2JQ< BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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-AVT+RE9z Results
Mg8ciV}\xY Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
?/hS1yD; previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
Q;=4']hYU distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
]w]BKpU= characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
[4B(rra II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
$/JXI?K hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
g}hNsU=$5~ Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
mKV31wvK} shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
eL)m( was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
l9+CJAmq respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
.v+J@Y a prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
eej#14& (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
@{3_7 increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
)G]J@36 cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
3]'h(C period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
efHCPj (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
@V Tw>=94 was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
1{cF/ :o I and II, respectively).
:c )R6=v After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
e9S*^2; stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
ab)ckRC surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
I7'v;* prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
z?`7g%Z?{ not altered.
e(DuJ- Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
!>K=@9NC|. cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
\sW>Y#9] II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
b1=! "Y@ increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
5
6NDU>j$ both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
s6 K~I between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
m,w^,) cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
7(LB} years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
5Go@1X]I in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
Yc5)
^v 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
DC$> 5FDv consistent between the two surveys, except for a
$Nj'
_G\} reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
w>RwEU+w=@ and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
<<YH4}wZ years).
poqNiOm4% Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
kCoEdQ_ observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
HXqG;Fds( cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
7~D5Gy but the difference was only significant for cortical
"!Hm.^1 cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
zj1_#=] 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
nqcD#HUv and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
_]+
\ B Table 1: Participant characteristics.
\ ERHnh Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
`DP4u\6_ n % n %
5 ^tetDz} Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
~llw_w 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
)OQih+#?W 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
p;2NO& 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
r$! 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
9 NC'iFQ# 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
nN[QUg 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
dJmr!bN\; 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
5jc y*G}[ 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
hOcVxSc. 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
r@H7J 5<Y- Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
{gS7pY%_W Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
H3BMN}K~ Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
+H3;{ h9, History of:
G:|=d0 Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
:c&F\Q= Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
Lq5Eu$;r Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
T_4y;mf!@O Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
Y:K1v:Knw Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
ZG-[Gz n = number of persons affected
"@+r|x * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
7@9R^,M4: ^ P < 0.01
=:7OS>x BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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|3}I( (page number not for citation purposes)
Hd0?}w\ t
N:7;
c}~ rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
sT% ^
W in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
D7(kkr:r (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
p#fV|2'
and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
OLgW.j:Ag Discussion
Q.])En >i Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
}SF<. A with similar age and gender distribution showed
uMM?s?q that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
r4FGz!U
stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
j= Ebk;6p to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
p7d[)*
L>C with totally independent samples within each age group,
>$iQDVh! confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
~xP4}gs1 survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
C%\. the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
h`%}5})= same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
W_P&
;)E
reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
O&De!Gx variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
y72=d?]W may have contributed to the observed difference
1{7*0cv$iL in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
;wvhe;! Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
VOK0)O>&
Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
aR}L-
-m n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
EvEI5/z Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
0($ O1j~$ 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
xsIuPL#_ 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
iw==q:$ 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
<;
(pol| 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
@z!|HLD+ 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
pN
^^U[ 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
&6mXsx$ 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
LU=`K4 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
K_X10/#b& PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
*[^[!'kT& 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
c8cPG
m#i 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
FV->226o% 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
Y={_o!9 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
p#eai 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
z|:3,$~sN 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
3h-C&C 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
..g?po 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
D[5Qd)PIL Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
d?uN6JH9 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
*Fe 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
@{|vW 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
L(bYG0ZI5C 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
Qg\{d)X[N 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
6pHn%yE* 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
u\9t+wi}< 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
`?f Y!5BA 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
5A~lu4-q n = number of persons
-t:~d: * 95% Confidence Limits
).BZPyV< Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
ah(lH5r Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
i^2yq&uT( Mountains Eye Study.
C{r Sq 0
7vRFF@eq} 10
$T)
EJe 20
tS2Orzc>, 30
Z?7XuELKV 40
[-*1M4D9 50
d1"%sI cortical PSC nuclear any
Y2)2
tzr] cataract
d'4^c,d Cataract type
-/k;VT| %
yt+"\d Cross-section I
?G48GxJ Cross-section II
vUX(h.}8 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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