BioMed Central
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oK1[_ko| BMC Ophthalmology
p. ~jo Research article Open Access
!eoec2h#5 Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
q9(}wvtr population-based surveys 6 years apart
Bw7:ry Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
y#0Z[[I0 Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
>f05+%^[ Westmead, NSW, Australia
M<m64{m1 Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
)Nd:PnA Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au utS Mx( * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
Kd1\D!#!6 Abstract
=w?cp}HW Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
o%4+I> subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
zO]dQ$r\Z Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
eh(]'%![/ cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
:Lzj'Ij cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
qr;" K?NX photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
rz7b%WY cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
:6iq{XV^ Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
/VZU3p<~ who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
X0=-{
<W 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
En_8H[<% an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
=#fvdj two surveys.
;BvWU\! Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
b#^D8_9h prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
.8~ x;P6 prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
hlEvL the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
86Vu PV- prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
50`r}s} Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
Y" |U$ distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
v1r
Gq The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
,%<
77LE Background
K)Ka"H Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
AkC\CdmA impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
z05pVe/5 estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
]7@Dqd-/S affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
Wc[)mYOSuO aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
v4^VYi,.- for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
`R;XN- be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
;pq4El_ Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
07&S^ X^/ most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
[rem,i+ cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
<#i'3TUR Published: 20 April 2006
p};<l@ BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
S5M t?v|K Received: 14 December 2005
QG
ia( Accepted: 20 April 2006
elQ44)TrQ This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 Ns{4BM6j © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
aQuENsB This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
6iOAYA= which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
:mL.Y em*' BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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DzMk eX (page number not for citation purposes)
4l:+>U@KU of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
W%x#ps5% in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
5NK:94&JE Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
~j_H2+! increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
[iz fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
l1msXBC from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
wlJ_,wA The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
AkF3F^ years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
5 ,HNb Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
j"]%6RwM] increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
49yN|h;c! 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
ZWv$K0agu population-based samples with a similar age range
gNJ\*]SY [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
6_7d1.wv9 would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
dbR4%;< and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
am=56J$ig benefits to a greater number of older people and an
4)?c[aC4P increased number of persons with surgery performed on
| e+m!G1G both eyes.
ZD*>i=S Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
V&G_Bu~ link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
=1D*K% surgery and eye health care provision. This report
MFVFr " aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
i
):el= and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
qsLsyi |zG (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
]l4\/EW6 surveys 6 years apart.
Ofn:<d Methods
Z@>>ZS1Do The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
IBR;q[Dj} cohort study of common eye diseases and other
l{k health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
]uP{Sj residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
iS{)Tll}& areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
L\"$R":3{d Participants were identified through a census and were
Z"P{/~HG invited to participate. The study was approved at each
>k:)'* stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
y
jb
.6 of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
0FXM4YcrJO Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
-Z:al\e<g of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
|^FDsJUN was obtained from each participant.
WvR}c Details of the methods used in this study have been
thOCzGJ$ described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
9[:nWp^ (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
\HR QSfGt 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
L%fWa2P' Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
7FWf,IjcGY during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
UF}fmDi cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
F
M`pPx the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
|ek*wo newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
h1,J<B@ eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
E#T'=f[r~ this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
LV`- eW BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
7m8L!t9 and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
^c+6? Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
i3YAK$w;& at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
rsrv1A=t?
including demographic, family and medical history. A
<&:3|2p detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
$U!w#|& slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
7GKeqv Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
Rb#?c+&# Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
d@`yRueWiV lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
0\u_\%[ previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
|Y:T3hra61 performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
yl|+D] Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
c,x2 were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
^
.>)*P estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
g=a-zg9LX Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
h%#@Xd>. involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
{d=y9Jb^ when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
D4_D{\xhO Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
]5c| using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
0p![&O [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
NeUpl./b was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
,X+071.( was defined to include persons who had previous
U.d*E/OR5 cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
cND2(<jx: types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
r0?`t!%V kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
kf^Wzp for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
\U p<m>3\ reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
">NBPanJ simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
p}N'>+@= nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
DH@*Oz- by an ophthalmologist (PM).
luAhyEp In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
*COr^7Kf5 ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
5h1FvJg available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
=OTwP while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
X=_N7! Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
mLKwk6I 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
^hTq~ " assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
'N0d==aI with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
ExV>s* y cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
%q(n'^#Z.y between the two groups, as reported previously
zLC\Rc4 [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
xs+MvXTC or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
`[/B
G)4 cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
hZ5h(CQ?"# missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
?ZE1>L7e for nuclear cataract assessment.
$UgM7V$ Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
[P,1UO|$B System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
Q_qc_IcM y prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
zEpcJHI% the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
,`)!K}2 We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
OT\[qaK interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
ci6j"nKci group were independent between the two cross-sectional
q/<.^X surveys.
r68'DJ&m3 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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Dm"GCV (page number not for citation purposes)
aZ@Ke$jD Results
N:Q}Lil Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
pkM_ @K previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
mdtq-v
distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
gBf%9F characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
^t?
P32GJ II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
IH'DCY: hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
$@7S+'Q3 Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
hd8:| _ shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
|*e
>hk was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
=VH, i/@ respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
3QL'uk prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
)CSb\ (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
ZH~ T'Bg increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
=ugxPgn cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
`/Zi=.rr period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
uF+if`? (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
Ir_K83VM was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
3<AZ,gF1 I and II, respectively).
o>';-} E After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
w q% 4'( stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
kz@@/DD/9 surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
EdhT;! prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
H B_si not altered.
.|NF8Fj Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
,q] Wi# cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
&s>HiL>f II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
.:B]
a7b increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
S>Z V8 both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
P%]li`56-c between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
R
f+ogLa= cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
KDhr.P.~ years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
#(mm6dj in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
;\DXRKR 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
(f,D$mX consistent between the two surveys, except for a
=toqEm~ reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
,a9<\bd) and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
N 3i,_ years).
+/*g?Vt Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
*Em 9R observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
#/Y t4n cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
~@S5*(&8 but the difference was only significant for cortical
-x=abyD cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
6UXa
5t
95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
8zS't2
u and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
O;h ] Table 1: Participant characteristics.
<i``#"/ Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
lG;RfDI- n % n %
D *R F._ Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
jbcJ\2 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
3/+
9# 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
+ulBy 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
cobq+Iyu 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
M)C.bo{p 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
-Qgu6Ty 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
&2C6q04b 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
.<}(J#vC 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
#m{K 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
p8o
~ Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
%B5.zs]Of Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
%p6"Sg* Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
,rVm81-2 History of:
Sr Z\] Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
c-.t8X,5(~ Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
2j&-3W$^ Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
FZ'|z8Dm Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
t"k6wv;Tq Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
WW82=2rJ9 n = number of persons affected
m,NUNd#)\ * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
-L>xVF-|:1 ^ P < 0.01
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N
v}'"V> t
+U_> Bo rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
HTiqErD2_ in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
~&B{"d (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
VcKufV' and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
F`KA^ZI Discussion
(]7&][ Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
,{
P*ZK3u with similar age and gender distribution showed
Wh6jr=>G that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
fWie fv[& stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
Sn=|Q4ZN to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
KLD)h,] with totally independent samples within each age group,
Q`k=VSUk confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
S^0Po%d survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
q8%T)$! the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
$GhdH) same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
epM;u reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
.U|irDO variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
(#x<qi,T may have contributed to the observed difference
pJ35M in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
"]h4L Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
|@#37 Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
>xQgCOi n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
K P{|xQ> Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
L1=+x^WQ 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
BUT{ }2+K 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
eX7dyM 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
\HX'^t` 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
x Vk|6vA7 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
hu}`,2 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
N~7xj? 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
,#&\1Vxf 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
gB/4ro8 PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
ZC}'! $r7 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
S o>P)d$8+ 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
ny# ?^.1 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
~ [L4,q 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
Zzy!D 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
-*xm<R], 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
{No*Z'X 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
{
FVLH:{U^ 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
n8W+q~sW% Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
lAjP'( 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
v4M1
uJ8 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
9G njJ 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
8!8 yA 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
4n6EkTa 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
(-k`|X" 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
tQ!p<Q=
$) 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
OZ{YQ}t{^1 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
SN
w3xO!;& n = number of persons
n~~0iU) * 95% Confidence Limits
.Up\ 0|b Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
]O%wZIp\P Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
$P<T`3Jg Mountains Eye Study.
J<K-Yeph 0
5/U|oZM" 10
<cC 0l-= 20
iWCR5c= 30
S
b0p? 40
"ecG\}R= 50
bbGSh|u+P cortical PSC nuclear any
DeqTr: cataract
oW0A8_|9 Cataract type
NBLiwL37{ %
sZ~q|}D- Cross-section I
a4'KiA2r Cross-section II
7Jm&z/ BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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z"cF\F (page number not for citation purposes)
T6T3:DG_B prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
PKDzIA~T relatively stable over the 6-year period.
*t_"]v-w Although different population-based studies used different
X5s.F%Np! grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
kzMul<>sl prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
Y}db<Cz
X different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
96L-bBtyY suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
.9":Ljs(L of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
_G$SA-W( other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
<K^{36h prevalent type [12,21-23].
hxwo<wEg Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
J[Ckz] 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
[w0@7p"7 age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
U8f!yXF' prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
4*j6~ same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
l|,
Hj
thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
1z . surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
FU{$oCh/5 A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
&U_YDUQ'L over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
{6_M$"e. definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
pUGFQ."\ prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
Dd: TFZo level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
J$aE:g6' than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
Q9i&]V[` groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
E{Kc$,y likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
:\!D 6\o6 with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
a#huK~$~ that functional vision and reading performance were high
a Uy!(Y in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
?%|w?Fdx- cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
1g{-DIOmn (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
[~aRA'qJ{V overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
I pp#{'Do was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
+:IwP to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
6UAn#d9 nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
VW$a(G_h than the other two types of cataract. This could have
qG6?k}\\ resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
7J[DD5
to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
Cr7T=&L prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
OV"uIY[%8V more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
'%H\k5^ of any cataract.
/wR,P Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
wHT]&fZ among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
5LF &C0v of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
5LX%S .CW assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
f} !Eu both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
f`gs/R assessment of temporal changes.
L0Ycf|[s,
Measurement error could also have partially contributed
%w3Y!7+ to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
5r)]o'?s Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
{f
(RY j potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
(
kKQs") variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
+_T`tmQ slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
*U mWcFoF grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
q` 0wG3 camera and the same two graders who graded photos
FK+`K< from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
ubQbEv{(, of a partial influence from photographic variation
Xl %ax!/
on this result.
fP KFU A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
7C>5Xyy
J than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
u85dG7 both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
6ec#3~ Y] from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
mUdj2vB$+' Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
N\t( rp Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
IZs NMY could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
=#>F' A study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
)
gHfbUYS lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
NiSH$MJ_ cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
~wFiq)v( factors were detected and no gender difference
asZ(Hz% was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
4de:h E in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
<<Q}|$Wu levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
})yB2Q0 women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
?J ,K[.z Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
045_0+r"@ Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
E;,__ n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
Q5A,9ovNZ Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
?dXAHY Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
H^dw=kS PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
VK!HuO9l Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
\58bz<u" Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
i(;.Y Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
6&QOC9JW+7 n = number of persons
oF a,IA * 95% Confidence Limits
abv*X1 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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{|<yZ,,p (page number not for citation purposes)
7w]3D cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
jT/P+2hMW prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
VLVDi>0i exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
$xK\$kw\ or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
0FLCN!i1 also be related to these observations and warrant further
Jd?qvE>Pp study.
vz|(KN[ Conclusion
7yXJ\(6R_ In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
1GIBqs~- apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
vexF|'!}0# of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
Onh
R` overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
Z"qJil} 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
+FAxqCkA reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
R*D5n>~ Competing interests
sCP|d`' The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
`.dwG3R Authors' contributions
Jt#HbAY AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
Zy.A9Bh~ and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
_n!>*A! photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
Lb?q5_ ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
23Dld+E& reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
OCJt5#e~A study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
p~Cz6n and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
Z{:;LC approved the final manuscript.
^*+M9e9Z Acknowledgements
;MK|l,aIQ This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
`p1B58deC Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
tN_=&|{WE4 abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
)siWc_Z4 (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
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