BioMed Central
tF|bxXsZ Page 1 of 7
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`c(@WK4 BMC Ophthalmology
C7#$s<>TO Research article Open Access
{\B!Rjt[T Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
#^Y,,GA population-based surveys 6 years apart
}MNm>3 Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
=R05H2hs Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
s>5 Z Westmead, NSW, Australia
]l%j>Vb!L Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
< -Nj Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au 8/:\iPk0 * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
p.G7Cs Abstract
G
Ot@x9
% Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
:|a[6Uwl\V subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
QU t!fF@t Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
pPE4~g 05h cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
r$KDNa$/a cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
Y3[@( photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
5GKz@as8 cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
}^H_|;e1p Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
"jSn` who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
5J,vH[E 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
IY'S<)vOY an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
O'k"6sBb two surveys.
ZM" t. Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
<%5ny!] prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
[lf[J&}X prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
PYZ8@G the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
M-
n +3E9 prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
/O9z-!Jz Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
aePk^?KbB distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
~%]+5^Ka] The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
v"`w'+ Background
y0xte& Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
139_\=5|U/ impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
r_QWt1K estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
E11"uWk` affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
;*8$BuD aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
Na4\)({ for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
d;`JDT be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
y@F{pr+dA Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
:>|[ o&L most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
DUaj]V{_^ cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
0ZO!_3m$r Published: 20 April 2006
HJDM\j*5 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
WHL@]^E@m Received: 14 December 2005
yJ?6B LJi Accepted: 20 April 2006
YM-,L-HMA This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 gF&1e5`i © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
8/k*"^3 This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
%5'6^bT which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
&4LrV+`$V BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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vLq_l4l
of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
3:s!0t
y" in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
:U=*@p4? Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
04o(05K increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
I=0`xF|4K- fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
>HyZ~M from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
XsEDI?p2 The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
&=~Jw5WK years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
_vm ~yKId Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
`@RTfBBg increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
EJrP{GH 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
Ko:<@h population-based samples with a similar age range
OQ&l/|{O0? [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
@cukoLAn would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
HQX.oW and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
K|]/BjB
/ benefits to a greater number of older people and an
u^, eHO increased number of persons with surgery performed on
-%,=%FBi~4 both eyes.
}20~5
! Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
f?W_/daP link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
xa8;"Y~"bg surgery and eye health care provision. This report
Y7BmW+ aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
5X&Y~w,poU and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
_0}u0fk
(PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
42M_ %l_ surveys 6 years apart.
CVE(N/&b Methods
MroN=%|t The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
8wV`mdKN cohort study of common eye diseases and other
B`|f"+. health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
$7" Y/9Y residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
L+N\B@ 0- areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
w p\-LO~ Participants were identified through a census and were
MX? *jYl invited to participate. The study was approved at each
SSxp!E' stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
1oe,>\\ of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
`*6|2 Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
t W+"/<U of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
x$;RfK2&p was obtained from each participant.
Dj>eAO> Details of the methods used in this study have been
wx^Det described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
O uNPD q% (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
`WIZY33V 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
}`kiULC'= Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
{n|ah{_p| during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
?7}ybw3t] cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
>$7x]f the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
;plBo%EBV newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
FRuPv6 eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
r4pX47H this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
P0y DL:X[ BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
BBM[Fy37!} and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
TG[u3Y4 Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
rRg,{:;A at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
U$mDAi$ including demographic, family and medical history. A
Vm|KL3}NRv detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
s3eS` rK- slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
eT+i& Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
'y\Je7 Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
j*@@H6G lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
]f#s`.A~ previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
uLafO=Q performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
?<${?L> Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
*#'j0;2F were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
PQDLbSe)\ estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
&y5"0mA Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
M2Jf-2 involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
Vf;&z$D{r when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
RqgN<&g? Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
kzKej"a; using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
HD^#" [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
jd](m:eG was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
Hl,{4%] was defined to include persons who had previous
-T,?'J0 2 cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
&1$d`>fn types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
QQBh)5F kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
bZNqv-5 4h for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
Z#Mm4(KNh reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
r }lGcG) simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
k5I;Y:~` nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
rW)h?, b by an ophthalmologist (PM).
|Y>Jf~SN In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
fZ$b8 ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
ZeP=}0TGjn available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
C`hdj/!A while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
LH5Z@*0# Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
:j]1wp+ 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
f' ?/P~[ assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
oZa'cZN
s with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
p?i.<Z cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
,AP0*Ln between the two groups, as reported previously
IMkE~0x4</ [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
|-Uh3WUE6 or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
cLV*5?gVO cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
r{;NGQYs missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
N1$u@P{ for nuclear cataract assessment.
n93q8U6m/U Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
Sc7 Ftb% System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
V4[-:k prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
*'>_X X the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
ev4[4T-(@ We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
{DRk{>K, interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
.d<K` .O; group were independent between the two cross-sectional
}bb,Iib surveys.
&t=:xVn-M BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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/j~~S'sw Results
y
bhFDx Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
K!6T8^JH previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
7hHID>,o9% distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
.C'\U[A{ characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
J :O!4gI II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
Bgxk>Y hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
{KG}m'lx Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
0~U#DTx0 shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
Z[#8F&QV!m was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
GHsDZ(d3. respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
JWNN5#=fQ prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
|5^
iqW (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
bBi>BP= increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
v3DK0 MW cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
ctP+ECH period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
evyjHc Cx (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
NfoHQU<n was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
\l/(L5gY I and II, respectively).
Qsbyy>o) After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
Nw"df=,{ stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
n*\o. :f surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
.q2r!B prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
<V^o.4mOg> not altered.
U^_\V BAk Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
?8O5%IrJ cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
(-S^L'v62v II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
ja9u?UbW increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
lat5n&RP Y both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
Uh.swBC n between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
G8}owszT cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
aVR!~hvFs years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
LuZlGm in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
X!|eRA~o 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
'-"[>`[
q consistent between the two surveys, except for a
?b7ttlX{ reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
2D:/.9= 8v and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
y{M7kYWtHV years).
Kb]}p Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
yV`Tw"p observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
m^FKE: cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
Ys.GBSlHG but the difference was only significant for cortical
w<~[ad} cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
&j~9{ C 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
/SJ>< and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
U?dad}7 Table 1: Participant characteristics.
jUD^]Qs Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
m$C1Ea-wnT n % n %
8GBKFNR8 Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
#6a!OQj 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
sPc}hG+N 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
ktPM66`b 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
} J?,?>Z 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
>NPK;Vu 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
HT/!+#W. 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
PK|qiu-O&* 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
q0q-Coh>
85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
onmpMU7w 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
xyo~p,(~t Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
:ek^M ( Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
/t`|3Mw Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
0,-]O= History of:
%AJ9fs4/ Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
%h(%M'm? Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
dLGHbeZ[( Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
<o9i;[+H- Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
/$clk= Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
#qk=R7"Q n = number of persons affected
dn}EM7:Z * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
FO>!T@0G ^ P < 0.01
4pMp@b BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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I*j~5fsS' (page number not for citation purposes)
#/Ob_~-?j t
Ohgu*5!o rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
UhDf6A`] in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
&\ca ? # (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
u(yN
81 and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
b00$3,L Discussion
CB-;Jqb Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
!"<rlB,J with similar age and gender distribution showed
i`f!) 1 that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
";`jS&"= stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
&Jb$YK
t to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
CAvi P61T with totally independent samples within each age group,
i,"Xw[H*s confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
]v5/K survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
jmgkY)rb R the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
Y|b,pC|, same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
SJX9oVJeZ reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
8EkzSe variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
)TVd4s(e may have contributed to the observed difference
j&/+/s9N in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
_:NQF7X#ug Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
PfU\.[l$ Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
NwOV2E6@OW n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
3
eF c Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
Vb#a
,t 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
'OTZ&;7{ 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
]!!?gnPd5 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
p*g)-/mA 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
3O4lGe#u 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
ox<&T| 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
VHqoa>U,* 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
ct|0zl~ 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
|uz<) PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
G na%|tUz| 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
XNx$^I= 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
/'.gZo 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
>G"fMOOkW 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
S-\wX.`R1 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
KI#v<4C$P 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
am3JzH 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
V D7^wd9 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
\$4z@`n Y Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
03|nP$g 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
??B!UXi4R 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
eLh35tw 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
(ot56`,k 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
Z-ci[Zv 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
k0PwAt)65 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
$ eL-fg 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
>{~xO 6H 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
i83Jy w,f n = number of persons
lU=V
CuW! * 95% Confidence Limits
`%#_y67v Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
r8*xp\/ Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
paN=I=:*M Mountains Eye Study.
NRG~ya > 0
MW+DqT.h 10
hTZ6@i/pS 20
Si
~wig2 30
!~F oy F 40
8'3&z- 50
O\;Lb[`lb cortical PSC nuclear any
_a"
|
:kX cataract
mM/#(Ghl Cataract type
# Dgkl %
b|x B< Cross-section I
GadY#]}( Cross-section II
b9i_\ BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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.L#4#IO (page number not for citation purposes)
RB""(< prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
"
@"" relatively stable over the 6-year period.
6OC4?#96%' Although different population-based studies used different
8aRmHy"9l grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
!(
Y|Vm' prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
(kK8
Ox fF different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
d@JavcR suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
zN+jn of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
5)k/4l ' other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
9,Dw;|A] prevalent type [12,21-23].
*CF80DJ Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
5$Kv%U 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
K|~!oQ age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
{t0!N]' prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
R"t2=3K same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
y\iECdPU thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
`+TC@2-? surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
{~EsO1p A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
@wAYhnxq over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
cqZlpm$c definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
DBvozTsF~ prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
#>5T,[{?j level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
6+>X`k%D than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
K;\fJ2ag groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
<Fl.W}?Q} likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
yG# x*\9 with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
9a1R"%Z that functional vision and reading performance were high
Esj1Vv# in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
0Y~5|OXJ cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
J<cY'?D (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
G&6`?1k overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
K7q R was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
90<a'<\| to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
U?:?NC=1{ nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
G)3r[C^[k than the other two types of cataract. This could have
VjiwW%UOM resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
>v/%R~BuX to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
N_0B[!B] prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
1)-VlQK p more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
q{q;X{ of any cataract.
K1-3!G Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
~
Bt>Y among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
Nfl5tI$U: of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
}?U
#@ h assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
]e?L,1- both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
2.a{,d assessment of temporal changes.
4)snt3k Measurement error could also have partially contributed
|[/XG2S to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
}%,LV]rGEZ Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
$|19]3T@Z potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
lp1GK/!s variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
Ige*tOv2 slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
G|UeR=/ grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
$j0<ef! camera and the same two graders who graded photos
q:,ck@-4 from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
h& Ez
hv2 of a partial influence from photographic variation
^%33&<mB} on this result.
n=h!V$X A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
Q3LScpp than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
((fFe8Rn)q both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
Rap_1o9#\ from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
Ke\FzZ] Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
3=^B
&AB Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
kE{-h'xADD could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
%wmbFj} study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
1F[W~@jW lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
aw1f;&K4 cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
$4>x4* factors were detected and no gender difference
kO8oH8Vt was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
R lmeZy4.
in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
7p Zd?-6M^ levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
5G WC women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
yJHFo[wGMJ Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
!4fT<V( Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
A}0u-W n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
'X1/tB8* Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
Q|W~6 Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
GuRJ PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
K55]W2I9 Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
h8? E+0 Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
jRSY`MU}t+ Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
s!j vBy n = number of persons
[7=?I.\Cr7 * 95% Confidence Limits
,Zs*07!$f BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 43o!Vr/S Page 6 of 7
6kHb*L Je (page number not for citation purposes)
>I*uo.OF cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
Te&5IB- prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
!l#n.Fx&3 exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
{{e+t8J?? or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
eih~ SBSH also be related to these observations and warrant further
ynG@/S6)K study.
N#4"P:Sv Conclusion
WRfhxl In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
f-a+&DB9 apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
5jK9cF$> of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
=&v&qne9 overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
y>_*}>2 ,O 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
y,vrM
WDy reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
E0<$zP}V}F Competing interests
)w&k&TY4H The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
>r5s>A[YC Authors' contributions
E3,Nc`'m9 AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
/WJ+e and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
-
4nSiI photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
s2iL5N|"Q ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
B>,&{ah/5J reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
s!F`
0=J^ study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
EiWsVic[ and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
t{Xf3. approved the final manuscript.
,)7y?*D} Acknowledgements
t{RdqAF This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
0X[uXf Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
6F4OISy%3 abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
/DN!" (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
*Z
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