BioMed Central
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o%_-u
+ BMC Ophthalmology
"V[j&B)P Research article Open Access
" .7@ Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
=t,
oj6P~ population-based surveys 6 years apart
`i`P}W!F Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
dcf,a<K\ Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
o<nM-"yWb Westmead, NSW, Australia
^T&{ORWz Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
#:?:gY< Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au hkPMu@BI * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
2 5~Z%_? Abstract
k6#$Nb606 Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
F$UL.`X
_/ subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
RvR.t"8 Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
WOO3z5 La cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
|>ztx}\ cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
mZiKA-t photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
y3;M$Jr cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
JZ}zXv Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
@fA{;@N who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
AWcbbj6Nd 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
k~)CJ6} an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
]Gi&:k two surveys.
dQ*^WNUB Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
NnAIL;WS prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
7)U
ik}0 prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
o}
=*E the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
,~3rY,y- prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
GJdL1ptc Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
jTS8
qu distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
@v`.^L{P The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
]U#of O Background
/[?}LrDO Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
Gd|kAC
g impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
S0StC$$1 estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
zHKP$k8 affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
r],%:imGr aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
a(~X for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
Y-8BL be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
8d$|JN;) Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
E-1u_7 most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
}bRn&)e cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
(Q*x"G#4> Published: 20 April 2006
R1SFMI
BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
];CIo>
b_( Received: 14 December 2005
A3.I|/ Accepted: 20 April 2006
xyo~p,(~t This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 :ek^M ( © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
/t`|3Mw This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
0Sk~m4fj( which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
1?w=v|b:P) BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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b5MU$}: Page 2 of 7
'0~?zP (page number not for citation purposes)
=p5]r:9
W of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
KaMg[G in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
4<tbZP3/6) Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
>VZxDJ$R increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
W{Je)N fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
x~uDCbL from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
J|hVD The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
p2(ha3PW years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
Y5 ;a Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
R|}4H*N increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
66-\}8f8a 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
iVnMn1h population-based samples with a similar age range
>Q<XyAH~ [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
%5+X
would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
fe<7D\Sp@ and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
4$, W\d benefits to a greater number of older people and an
F5+FO^3E increased number of persons with surgery performed on
.fqy[qrM both eyes.
Ih
K
SwT Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
,[p pETz link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
\VEnP=*:W surgery and eye health care provision. This report
qZE3T:S aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
z&n2JpLY7 and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
Fab]'#1q4 (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
x0%
m}P/ surveys 6 years apart.
q9_AL8_ Methods
M]k
Q{( The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
N LQ".mM+ cohort study of common eye diseases and other
AfhJ6cSIE health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
$Bncdf residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
t}I@Rmso areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
oV['%Z' Participants were identified through a census and were
:4 z\Q] invited to participate. The study was approved at each
[O ^/"Qk stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
a;KdkykG of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
?[bE/Ya+S Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
3f^jy( of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
F4-rPv was obtained from each participant.
"3]}V=L<5 Details of the methods used in this study have been
#r"|%nOfY described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
V.$tq (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
3^&`E}r 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
"XV@OjrE Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
SD*q+Si,1U during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
6~ y' cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
Hicd
-' the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
k kD#Bb newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
/>I5,D'h eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
MUZ]*n&0 this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
3t.!5L BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
u SI@Cjp and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
S}h
d, "I Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
EI?8/c at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
IFr"IOr'l including demographic, family and medical history. A
!D{z. KO detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
Jia@HrLR slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
3k>#z%// Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
1V[Zk
lS Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
[R8BcO( lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
7;'UC',' previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
BB3a8 performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
Z)~
?foe' Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
&,P
A+# were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
bxxLAWQ( estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
B [YyA Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
yyu -y0_ involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
hTZ6@i/pS when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
O,^s)>c Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
v_%6Ly using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
yr>J^Et%_ [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
=z9,=rR4 was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
af6<w.i was defined to include persons who had previous
#WG;p(?: cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
t'W6Fmwkx types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
[D+PDR kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
<x
;g9Z>( for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
xZ2 1iQeN reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
@(x]+*) simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
<
T.R%Jys nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
^qC.bv]& by an ophthalmologist (PM).
sP@XV/`3L6 In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
}>y~P~`S: ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
~v/`
`s available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
3bC-B!{;g while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
UDJ#P9uy Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
:Zq?V`+M 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
~/SLGyu assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
;*Y+. ?>a with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
Qqb%^}Xx'u cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
3~WI3ZIR between the two groups, as reported previously
]NWcd~"b!Z [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
Oa@SyroF= or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
qB$QC
cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
E'8XXV^I?P missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
~k
6V?z} for nuclear cataract assessment.
@{<^rLt Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
Z$Qwn System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
UiK)m:NU prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
+W[{UC4b the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
1)N# We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
@1pfH\m interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
)&)tX. group were independent between the two cross-sectional
T0@<u surveys.
gK *=T BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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UOZn Page 3 of 7
@v/Ae_q! (page number not for citation purposes)
pwVGe|h%, Results
G-o6~"J\ Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
&)!N
5Veb previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
PEKXPFN distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
rXGaav9 characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
a(`"qS II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
NPE 4@c_a@ hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
iNL>TVUM Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
="g9
> shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
1yc$b+TH was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
m{yq.H[X respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
2rf#Bq?7 prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
~
Bt>Y (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
[XA:pj;rg' increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
}qhND-9#@ cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
)b|xzj
@ period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
d8^S~7 (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
91FVe was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
BDi+*8 I and II, respectively).
TPi{c_
] After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
kh"APxQ79 stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
wr6(C: surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
dhr-tw prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
t1o_x}z4. not altered.
;Z&w"oSJ Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
)EsFy6K: cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
C^
~[b
o II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
rWuqlx# increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
kl5Y{![/&f both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
","to between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
QLH6N
mk cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
}Szs9-Wns years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
Qy'-3GB in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
) !l1 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
fjy2\J! consistent between the two surveys, except for a
d((,R@N' reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
n_t.l<V and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
T'%Rkag> years).
F#l!LER^1g Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
0F[+rh"x observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
@9h6D<? cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
pIvr*UzY but the difference was only significant for cortical
RV6|sN[x> cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
I- WR6s= 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
h_xzqElZu and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
f:/"OCig Table 1: Participant characteristics.
>L88` Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
Wg=4`&F^ n % n %
:stA]JB#
w Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
x@,B))WlGr 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
|F?/L> 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
%`^{Hh` 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
u~j&g 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
"v5jYz5M 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
9
IY1"j0O 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
#w]@yL]|is 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
2g_
2$)2 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
8H2A<&3i 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
=sh]H$ Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
G}gmkp]z Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
'645Fr[lg Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
rsC^Re:*jr History of:
aA&}=lm Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
1A;f[Rze Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
-!pg1w06 Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
#)EVi7UP Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
jL9to6 Hmr Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
jij-pDQnv n = number of persons affected
gqQ"'SRw * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
f|-%., ^ P < 0.01
R7~#7qKQB BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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"o>gX'm* (page number not for citation purposes)
p;YS`*!s t
W>(p4m rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
I 7s}{pG in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
@6:J$B~)u (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
w2e9Ue~WH and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
:x/L.Bz Discussion
k&S
I-jxj Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
Ob>M]udn with similar age and gender distribution showed
M|uWSG that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
U
fAN)SE" stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
5t-dvYgU to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
|\_d^U&` with totally independent samples within each age group,
e:kd0)9 confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
76r RF survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
Z/w "zCd the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
Ed=]RR4R same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
EoD[,:* reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
STY\c5 variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
i#W0 may have contributed to the observed difference
hAv.rjhw_ in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
t;e+WZkV Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
X9
oxni# Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
-^+!:0'; n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
^jx
V Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
gV-x1s+ 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
X=U >r 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
+Ip
C 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
Gcz@z1a=n 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
e;ej/)no` 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
i1E~ F 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
}uaRS9d 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
vOKWi:-U 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
G^Q8B^Lg PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
<B%s9Zy 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
t'pY~a9F 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
'**dD2
n 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
,|r%tNh<8$ 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
E0o?rgfdq 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
~7}aW# 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
fi.[a8w:W 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
5!p
of\/a 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
3r]:k)
J Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
l9eCsVQ~V 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
fd<a%nSD 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
wG\ +C'&~ 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
" A}S92 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
nGqD{!i< 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
AsOkOS3 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
sD!)= t_ 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
E9"P~ nz 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
..5rW0lr n = number of persons
4|#@41\ B * 95% Confidence Limits
=>k E`"{! Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
;;#_[Zl Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
2`?58& Mountains Eye Study.
7`c\~_Df_ 0
b,tf]Z- 10
Fzc8) *w 20
pp2,d`01[L 30
!)1gGXRY
40
Us.")GiHE 50
Lxg,BZV cortical PSC nuclear any
lzE{e6 cataract
=G9 9U/ Cataract type
BIk0n;Kz<L %
C;UqLMrOI Cross-section I
%lbDcEsf9 Cross-section II
`Nnaw+<] BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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b:M1P&R (page number not for citation purposes)
Y_gMoo prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
<y}9Twdy relatively stable over the 6-year period.
J_|LGrt}) Although different population-based studies used different
2YbI."o
b grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
$5]}] prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
4!</JZX~$ different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
^c-8~r|y,
suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
Pss$[ % of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
d$H other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
IrMUw$ prevalent type [12,21-23].
AbExJ~JV\g Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
a$AR
15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
vmj'X>Q age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
x<'<E@jpU; prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
K7-z.WTUR same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
hE;|VSdo thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
w:VD[\h surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
M/mm2?4 A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
&Yklf?EZ>Q over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
DuMzK%
definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
_yRD*2 !; prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
DP8%/CV!* level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
`6:B0-r than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
Z_h-5VU- groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
jf^BEz5 likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
(uVL!%61k with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
KDS}"/ that functional vision and reading performance were high
_M)
G in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
zMXQfR cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
% aqP{mOO (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
bgYUsc*uR overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
&\y`9QpVF was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
^~;"$=Wf to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
cSTF$62E nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
T jE'X2/ than the other two types of cataract. This could have
*>h|<|T' resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
z*UgRLKZD to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
IG Ax+3V prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
?2%;VKN4 more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
i IM\_<? of any cataract.
zP&D Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
.b?
Aq^i8 among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
f_2(`T# of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
X;1yQ|su assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
dmWCNeja. both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
5eiKMKW[ assessment of temporal changes.
.JOZ2QWm< Measurement error could also have partially contributed
$^_6,uBM[ to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
q
BIekQT Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
fx-8mf3 potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
l,*5*1lM variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
15S&
,$1& slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
6e8 gFQ"w2 grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
Bi2 c5[3 camera and the same two graders who graded photos
gyb99c,) from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
Bf.iRh0Q5 of a partial influence from photographic variation
\wDL oR on this result.
<F8e?
xy A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
j9rxu$N+ than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
!B92W both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
*7E#=xb from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
zn>+\ Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
e=nvm'[h Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
Mg2 e0}{ could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
1BEs> Sm study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
8ok=&Gq4 lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
KZTLIZxI- cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
b8_F2 factors were detected and no gender difference
LP=y$B was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
t>AOF\ in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
y%X!l(gQ levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
9|lLce$ women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
0QT:@v2R Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
Gx8!AmeX Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
YVwpqOE.= n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
|iI
dm Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
<zL_6Y2 Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
.>eR X% PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
P1Z"}Qw Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
Scx!h. \5 Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
e`S\-t?Z Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
/IG{j} n = number of persons
D*ZjoU * 95% Confidence Limits
$L 8>Ha} BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 L2,2Sn*4i Page 6 of 7
!8[T*'LJ-
(page number not for citation purposes)
W-l+%T! cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
@<{%r prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
"qNFDr(WM exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
VaY#_80$s or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
5, ,~k= also be related to these observations and warrant further
NX,m6u study.
jkx>o?s)z Conclusion
&F
uPd}F In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
rP3tFvOH apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
7%i'F=LzT of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
[M[<'+^* overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
)0-A;X2 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
!:!(=(4$P reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
\ s aV8U7B Competing interests
BV
B2$&eJ The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
!xfDWbvHV Authors' contributions
%-!%n=P AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
|y U!d
% and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
T0tX%_6` photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
<#h,_WP* ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
ZPmqoR[ reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
-/pz3n study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
G0UaE1n and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
F<,pAxl~@ approved the final manuscript.
T;92M}\ Acknowledgements
R^.PKT2E This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
YCD|lL# Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
;DuVb2~+ abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
Vc(4d-d5 (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
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