BioMed Central
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uZ_?x~V/ BMC Ophthalmology
cu5}( Research article Open Access
uy"i3xD6- Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
e^~dx}X population-based surveys 6 years apart
@+M1M2@Xz Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
|wb_im Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
/KnIU|; Westmead, NSW, Australia
Iw?^ Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
pK{G2]OK{U Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au ^=-25%&^ * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
8%4v6No&* Abstract
D?Ol)aj? Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
;A"i.:ZT subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
Bf^K?:r"V Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
?^-fivzS> cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
\C;Yn6PK0 cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
F
@t\D? photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
mrsN@(X0 cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
Yqu/_6wLx Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
56C'<# who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
3M[d6@a 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
o"N\l{ #s an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
_q-k1$o$ two surveys.
[ryII hQ Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
HuA4eJ(2 prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
NQ '|M prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
6I]{cm the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
b83m'`vRM prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
&u2m6 r>W Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
c;
1f$$>b distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
+WxD=|p; The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
oC!z+< Background
/I`- Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
`- 9p)@'8k impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
7Sycy#D estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
D|C!KF ( affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
6099w0fR` aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
y&F&Z3t for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
\VAS<?3 be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
z_$F)*PL Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
Uo:=-NNI most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
Ez^wK~ cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
w[;5]z Published: 20 April 2006
5q}7#{A BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
H$3:Ra+ S Received: 14 December 2005
~Y7:08 Accepted: 20 April 2006
`Y<FR This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17
7Y1FFw| © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
tNDv[IF This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
jH2_Ekgc;_ which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
U!524"@%U` BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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pb|,rLNZ (page number not for citation purposes)
3TnrPO1E of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
z7]GZF in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
~:"//%M3l Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
^qNr<Ye increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
2j-^F fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
8/ PS#dM\ from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
%1kIaYZ The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
%bgUU|CdA years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
)&.Zxo;q= Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
l
!:kwF increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
X~ g9TUv8 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
}<=_&n population-based samples with a similar age range
gH|:=vfYUR [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
. MH;u3U would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
CsiRM8 and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
v8
pOA<s benefits to a greater number of older people and an
$9?<mP2-* increased number of persons with surgery performed on
k83S.*9Mx both eyes.
/J[s5{ Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
!p{CsR8c link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
j. mla surgery and eye health care provision. This report
aS, aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
YZ^mH < and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
)w,<XJhg` (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
{_~vf surveys 6 years apart.
5+a5pC Methods
2&XNT-Qm The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
%#C9E kr cohort study of common eye diseases and other
!TO+[g! health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
d:=Z<Y?d/ residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
'PWA areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
=:'\wx
X Participants were identified through a census and were
w>\_d invited to participate. The study was approved at each
slAR<8 stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
LZ RP}| of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
JT6}m Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
Vllxv6/_ of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
7[I +1 was obtained from each participant.
D>0(*O Details of the methods used in this study have been
vIf-TQw described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
,0{x-S0jX< (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
A?ho<@^ 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
FmSE]et Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
~F%sO'4! during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
YQb503W"d~ cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
t~<HFY*w the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
q3
C newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
?d+ri eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
MJkusR/ this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
Kp^"<%RT BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
>'4$g7o, and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
^+~5\c* Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
:,fT^izew at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
vG7Mk8mIr including demographic, family and medical history. A
!&
:Cp_ detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
}zxf~41 slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
HEAW](s Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
y5F"JjQAa Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
%?, 7!|Ls lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
-2!S>P Zs previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
'CS
jj@3 X performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
X)6 G :cD Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
E_I-.o| were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
,A $IFE estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
~5h4 Gy) Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
ju3@F8AI involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
UJQTArf when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
bCr
W'}:de Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
\!30t1EZ using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
'jMs& [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
/4OQx0Xmm was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
;dMr2y`6 was defined to include persons who had previous
JP0aNu cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
a%BC{XX types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
rir,|y, kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
@%2crJnkS for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
/m;Bwu reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
g.Qn,l]X/p simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
D</?|;J#/ nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
UMBeY[? by an ophthalmologist (PM).
aM1WC 'c&) In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
PPrvVGP
ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
bZgo}`o% available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
Q.7X3A8
while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
+h/OQ]`/m Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
5uSg]2: 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
35AH|U7b assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
@XL49D12c with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
:.l\lj0Yf cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
_X<V`,
p between the two groups, as reported previously
0QquxYYw, [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
{~}: oV or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
`WC4
:8
cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
^mI`P}5Y missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
K^GvU 0\ for nuclear cataract assessment.
F$JA
IL{W Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
#3?"#),q System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
]k1N-/ prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
Ly, ]; the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
lu.xv6+ We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
e*Nm[*@UW interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
C;70,!3 group were independent between the two cross-sectional
436SIh
surveys.
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a,M/i&.e` Results
RhjU^,% Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
4=* ml}RP previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
&j{IG`Trl distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
8Waic&lX~ characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
SS,'mv II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
<("P5@cExU hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
mA
3yM# Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
N9f;X{ shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
uC`)?f*I was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
O}Do4>02 respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
`jDmbD
+= prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
(]<G)
+* (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
v{U1B increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
l)1ySX&BU cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
!r0 z3^*N period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
HR k^KB (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
zB{be_Tw was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
AyZBH&}RZ I and II, respectively).
( KG>lTdN After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
3gmu-tv stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
;0\ surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
K<tkNWasQ prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
C0Ti9 not altered.
kv3jbSKCT Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
}vdhk0 cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
7J2i /m II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
=2[cpF] increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
(@?PN+68| both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
"ealYveu between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
7uRXu>h cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
SQbnn" years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
Eyu?T in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
5ff66CRw 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
iwfv t^ consistent between the two surveys, except for a
Ip4SdbU reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
CxtH?9# | and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
=`rESb[ years).
LE!3'^Zq Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
9oY%v7 observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
Rj%q)aw' cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
'on, YEp but the difference was only significant for cortical
pFD L5 cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
-q\1Tlc]3 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
#2&_WM!
and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
x5 3aGi| Table 1: Participant characteristics.
oO>mGl36H Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
z}N=Oe n % n %
4S@^ym Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
sL
XQ)Ce 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
m
Fwx},dl 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
3ePG=^K^ 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
aDTNr/I 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
u-At k-
2M 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
a}+|2k_ 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
kl_JJX6jPP 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
tD.md_E 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
iXMs*GcK 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
vu;pILN Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
} O8|_d Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
M;,Q8z% Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
xg k~y,F History of:
OW\r } Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
9H$#c_zrq Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
PW x9CT Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
N2vSJ\u Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
De@GNN"- Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
Lqb9gUJ:U n = number of persons affected
9^,MC&eb * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
o<`Mvw@Z
^ P < 0.01
4!64S5(7t BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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t<wjS|4 (page number not for citation purposes)
zgXg-cr t
mZQW>A]iE rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
:jlKj} 4A in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
(3~h)vaJ (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
lKWe=xY\B and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
>W Tn4SW@ Discussion
jYDpJ##Zb Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
LH/lnrN with similar age and gender distribution showed
ZOJ<^t} that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
~(i#A> stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
)`
~"o*M to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
:%G_<VAo! with totally independent samples within each age group,
dRj2%Q f confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
j.=&qYc0" survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
?APzb4f^W the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
5j'7V1:2 same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
bu0i# reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
EzII!0 F variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
7R5m|h`M may have contributed to the observed difference
X LHi in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
wrP3:!= Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
}%75Wety Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
|P_voht n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
8
8 x2Hf5I Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
zv.#9^/y 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
M r-l 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
m@Hg:DY 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
q$7w?(Lk 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
i/{dD"HwM 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
E]w2
{% 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
-,186ZVZ 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
[L>mrHqG 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
1y3)ogL PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
%45*DT 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
ZAJ~Tbm[f 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
XqLR2d 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
rF$S 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
Xv+
!)j< 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
A(9$!%#+L 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
<S^Hy&MD> 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
}0Q
T5 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
}S"qU]>8a Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
~#
jnkD 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
:
IO"' b 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
z57q| 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
Sc ijf 9 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
e6>[Z C 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
CHi
t{
@9 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
?e%u[ Q0 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
Mr*CJgy 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
nf-6[dg n = number of persons
"!Nu A * 95% Confidence Limits
,
{}S<^?] Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
8.&P4u i Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
.zy2_3: Mountains Eye Study.
?k=)T]-} 0
t]{, 7.S 10
C,8@V` 20
*l@T
9L[M' 30
H?
%I((+ 40
t Kjk< 50
ug/P>0 cortical PSC nuclear any
;[7#h8 cataract
X;{U? `b- Cataract type
}5d|y* %
{\VmNnw Cross-section I
[C3wjYi Cross-section II
t?p>L* BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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Zf?jnDA (page number not for citation purposes)
R;w1& Z prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
oTeQY[%$ relatively stable over the 6-year period.
+H_ / Although different population-based studies used different
<*opVy^ grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
VjSA&R prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
#~6X9,x= different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
z6OJT6<' suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
l 4cTN
@E of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
HF%)ip+ other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
W0Q;1${ prevalent type [12,21-23].
GV
SVNT}I Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
i'0ol^~y6 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
V[">SiOg age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
f>+:UGmP prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
;Z#DB$o\ same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
`L"{sW6S thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
y &%2 surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
xw rleB A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
>l!DWi6 over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
Edav }z definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
ESv&x6H prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
nYO4J
lNP level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
SN|:{Am than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
$Z^HI
groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
JIU=^6^2' likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
p'IF2e&z with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
OO+QH 2j that functional vision and reading performance were high
+eD+Z.{ in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
,_2ZKO/k$ cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
m339Y2%= (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
X,h"%S<c#H overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
pe$l'ur was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
uDpCW} to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
K=82fF(- nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
mxJ& IV than the other two types of cataract. This could have
>FabmIcC resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
xMu[#\Vc
to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
8vLaSZ="[ prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
zg2}R4h more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
_c4kj of any cataract.
;NHZD Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
6RLYpQ$+ among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
VNcxST15a of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
W5^m[,GU' assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
m["`Op4 both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
~<?+(V^D
assessment of temporal changes.
5HZ t5="+ Measurement error could also have partially contributed
*?a rEYc8 to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
VM1`:1Z:$ Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
Wz~=JvRHh potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
;|.^_Xs variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
V kA$T8 slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
XvU^DEfW grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
Z-fQ{&a{ camera and the same two graders who graded photos
(|<e4HfZL from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
-_bnGY%, of a partial influence from photographic variation
ZH:-.2*cj on this result.
R aVOZ=^- A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
OD*\<Sc than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
B^;P:S<yG both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
vdn`PS'# from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
vr,8i7*0 Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
dr|>P* Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
0]3 ,0s $} could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
iYqZBLf{S study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
:!SVpCt3 lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
ne]P -50 cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
LW={| 3} factors were detected and no gender difference
i`m&X6)\j was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
WR&>AOWAD in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
B6N/nCvHK levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
S}O>@% women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
Lro[ |A Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
Q[j'FtP% Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
r8.`W\SKX n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
<>n-+Kr Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
GI+x,p Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
{7kJj(Ue PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
o1kT
B&E4B Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
M id v Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
)x!b{5'"7 Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
.wU0F n = number of persons
N)I9NM[ * 95% Confidence Limits
AiP#wK; BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 syJLcK+e Page 6 of 7
V-{3)6I$hG (page number not for citation purposes)
-wh?9?W cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
V< Ib#rd' prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
':>u* exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
@A5'vf|2;. or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
|p .o ^ also be related to these observations and warrant further
!*?|*\B^I study.
YE
*%Y[" Conclusion
-;:.+1 In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
5K:'VX apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
gW5yLb_Vz$ of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
WYUel4Z overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
aw923wEi 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
:`>$B?x+ reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
f7SMO-3a Competing interests
:R{pV7<O The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
83adnm Authors' contributions
68UfuC AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
r)
u@,P and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
cBD#F$K2 photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
|iA8aHFU ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
Ei7Oi!1 reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
U *:ju+)k study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
~n~j2OE
and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
!(F?Np Am approved the final manuscript.
`-!kqJ Acknowledgements
oF~+L3&X This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
dBkM~
" Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
#De a$ abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
B'e@RhU; (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
<N:)Xf9
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\#9LwC"8; Pre-publication history
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