BioMed Central
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=M67V (page number not for citation purposes)
^y?7B_%:B# BMC Ophthalmology
TzXivE@mm Research article Open Access
wW3fsXu Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
dOm#NSJVd population-based surveys 6 years apart
>IW0YIQy, Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
Wgl7)Xk.) Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
YfC1.8 Westmead, NSW, Australia
uiO7sf6 Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
,3G8afo Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au tJ>OZ * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
Zho d %n3 Abstract
10v4k<xb Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
`~Eo;'( +^ subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
'`q&UPg] Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
6i/x"vl> cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
*rO#UE2 cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
iH& Izv photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
[&n2 yt cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
rn
l~i Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
LL5n{#)N who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
4P@Ak7iL(V 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
U2=l; R{ an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
#C1u~db two surveys.
3^l@!Qw Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
Z~^)B8 prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
*<n]"- prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
<syMrXk)R( the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
c&.>SR')
prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
&g R+D Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
h#9X0u7j distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
* 8
n0 The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
Qvh: hkR Background
Xc;W9e(U Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
ec/1Z8}p impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
(]0JI1
d estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
Fyy)665x/ affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
X>^St&B}fC aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
ZI4[v> for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
6p%;:mDB be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
,)3%@MwO Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
\EF^Ag most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
UN'[sHjOnD cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
uc]]zI6 Published: 20 April 2006
F)'kN2 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
]ovP^]]V Received: 14 December 2005
v0)I rO Accepted: 20 April 2006
c8!q_H~ This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 5s3!{zT{ © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Vvk1 D( This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
mm(Ff >O which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
D+G?:mR BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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(Tt\6- of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
~R-P%l P in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
KITC,@xE_O Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
SPfz/ q{ increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
pRyePxCDj) fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
T%|{Qo<j from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
Gf` `0F) The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
%0 cFs' years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
[X K^3pT_ Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
?wM{NVt#- increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
fCC^hB]' 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
"m2g"xa\7 population-based samples with a similar age range
t!^ j0 q [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
8zhr;Srt would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
g~ubivl2 and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
4WspPHj benefits to a greater number of older people and an
n:dnBwY increased number of persons with surgery performed on
Zw@=WW[Q`p both eyes.
o'Rr2,lVi Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
|azdFf6A:[ link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
Lp1\vfU<+ surgery and eye health care provision. This report
xlKg0&D aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
(zIWJJw and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
qnO>F^itF (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
;q5.\m: surveys 6 years apart.
/&>vhpZ} Methods
C3k[ipCN The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
6j2mr6o cohort study of common eye diseases and other
8?l
/x health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
7cMHzhk^ residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
q0t} areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
_GW, 9s^A Participants were identified through a census and were
.X.,.vHx invited to participate. The study was approved at each
7gnrLc$]O stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
O yG# of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
r,8~qHbOT Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
fUKi@*^ZUa of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
UlD]!5NO was obtained from each participant.
/:GeXDJw Details of the methods used in this study have been
L]e@./C$ described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
\c(Z?`p]R1 (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
nhImO@Q: 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
]1)#Y Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
:k/Z| during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
g3*J3I-O cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
n4A#T#D!t3 the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
pPH"6
newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
Nc_Qd4<[@G eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
\Y$@$) this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
U
UYx-x BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
q/eo
d and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
g^)8a;/c Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
kP[LS1}* at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
L43]0k including demographic, family and medical history. A
e13' dCG detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
WT '?L{ slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
OhiY < Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
S]g`Ds< Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
["BD,mB lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
h
{M=V previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
fl+dL#] performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
X*<
!_3 Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
9?I?;l{ were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
&'"dYZj{ estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
\}:;kO4f Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
58[.]f~0 involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
nq 9{{oe when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
ftRzgW); Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
W.7XShwd*2 using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
]EfM;'j[ [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
Rc#c^F< was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
={B?hjo<- was defined to include persons who had previous
O)D+u@RhH cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
# 5b
types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
4=C7V,a kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
J{r3y&: for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
qrkJ:
reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
f19'IH$n{ simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
GEJy?$9 nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
@%gth@8 by an ophthalmologist (PM).
>"<<hjKJ In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
DlxL: ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
R
:,
|xz available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
QRz5eGpW while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
2T3b6
Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
]?UK98uS\A 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
W+ v#m>G assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
Ct9dV7SH with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
a
n|bzG cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
!d{Ijs'T between the two groups, as reported previously
_&K>fy3t& [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
zTW)SX_O or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
bxvp
j cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
sg8j}^VI missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
L
/V;; for nuclear cataract assessment.
Y%#r&de Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
>/9on. System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
\><v1x>; prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
r9whW;"q the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
M1 _1(LSU We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
' qN"!\ interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
C$7dmGjZ group were independent between the two cross-sectional
*7^w}v+. surveys.
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"XWO#,Ue Results
eWU@@$9 Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
$-"V
2 previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
f~v@;/HL distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
+~!\;71:f characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
G*W54[ II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
O%p+P<J hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
sX|bp)Nw Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
EbMG9
shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
,n/^;. _1 was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
v)-:0f respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
RinaGeim prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
%fB!XCW (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
jZP
~!q increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
lt{yo\ cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
'X/(M<c period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
@;g|styh^ (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
V
jZx{1kCR was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
OVhtU+r I and II, respectively).
jb0LMl}/A After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
1^^9'/ stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
%xhA2 surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
`cn}}1Lg] prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
>w)A~ F< not altered.
hH*/[|z Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
PYJ8\XZ1_N cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
j
hr pS II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
y)#=8oci increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
k(%h{0' both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
GZk{tTv between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
0VwmV_6'<W cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
v+qHH8 years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
$5S/~8g( in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
-wUw)gJbM 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
3_cZaru consistent between the two surveys, except for a
jO+#$=C reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
YpwMfl4 and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
v''F\V ) years).
Kta7xtu Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
&
&er7_Q observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
';.n# cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
c</u]TD but the difference was only significant for cortical
KQv97#n1 cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
o u*`~K|R 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
vivU4:uH3 and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
|T;NoWO
+ Table 1: Participant characteristics.
pJ;4rrSK Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
$TR#-q n % n %
+Oa+G.;)o4 Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
[S#QGB19 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
Wi3S
t`$ 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
=abBD 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
n\G88)Dv`V 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
u{dI[?@ 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
- BE.a< 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
QXg9ah~ 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
6y
d/3k 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
'X@>U6s 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
4kqgZtg. Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
((T0zQ7= Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
i!k5P".o^ Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
4~
YPLu History of:
oGa
8#> Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
j\9v1O!T Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
lX*IEAc Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
8R;A5o, Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
tP;^;nw Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
'}|sRuftb n = number of persons affected
5Dv;-G; * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
{ :m%n- ^ P < 0.01
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\gE6KE<?p t
0>KW94 rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
R]y[n;aGC in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
\vR&-+8dk (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
)QO"1#zg@c and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
$Z8=QlG> Discussion
@=kDaPme92 Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
)n&@`>vm with similar age and gender distribution showed
RV2s@<0p that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
b9(_bsc stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
;Fi(zl to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
;E{k+vkqy with totally independent samples within each age group,
'Lb-+X, confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
zYW+Goz/C
survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
|z`kFil% the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
6zfi\(fop same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
qek[p_7 reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
|_7AN!7j variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
",hPy[k may have contributed to the observed difference
b?~%u+'3 in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
=d{B.BP( Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
!Xzne_V< Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
[A.ix}3mm n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
0F495'*A Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
oJLpFL 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
Rz Os, 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
%%dQIlF
65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
=y$|2(6 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
A=(<g";m 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
d*e0/#s 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
!FqJP
OGm 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
K9*vWoP' 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
fXV+aZ PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
_Prh&Q1zs 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
>+P5Zm(_ 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
l.
9
i ` 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
L>&o_bzp 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
GbLuXU 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
?OYK'p.
80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
JjXuy7XQ 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
(SEE(G35 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
|[RoR Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
*WHQ1geI8 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
G<2OL#Y- 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
)\qA[rTG 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
qPn}$1+~ 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
Z4^O`yS9+ 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
zA
; 7Nv$3 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
]f3[I3;K 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
b-d{)-G{( 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
OzVCqq"] n = number of persons
/e2CB "c * 95% Confidence Limits
pQ_EJX) Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
JJHfg) Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
8(6(,WwP} Mountains Eye Study.
un)YK 0
kE8\\}B7 10
u{6b>c|,X 20
THVF(M4v 30
\W,,@- 40
!nBE[& 50
,w9:)B7 cortical PSC nuclear any
s U|\? pJ cataract
c\J?J>xz Cataract type
iF_#cmSy$ %
<T3 v|\6~H Cross-section I
u!B6';XY Cross-section II
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F3%8E<QZd; prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
!:GlxmtoW? relatively stable over the 6-year period.
6dNW
2_ Although different population-based studies used different
Fuz'! grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
SyB2A\A prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
v<
_wf different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
~OE1Sd:2 suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
z>6hK:27 of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
qdOUvf other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
gfW_S&&q prevalent type [12,21-23].
)Z" Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
xpU7ZY 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
YAc~,N age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
L,+m5wKj[ prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
:kU-
ol$ same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
Fmd^9K thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
+NT8dd surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
9K6G% A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
n|M~C\* over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
D^30R*gV definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
,O'#7Dj prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
0XWhSrHM level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
B*3<(eI than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
'|
6ZPv&N groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
>* )fmfY likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
JnY.]: with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
h6(\ tRd!\ that functional vision and reading performance were high
/)-OK7x in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
EW~M,+? cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
/n3Qcht (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
1Uaj}=@M overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
Yf?h
l was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
gy*c$[NS$ to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
.ED8b5t| nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
;xQNa}"V than the other two types of cataract. This could have
Q^{XM resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
Jmml2?V-c to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
)#Le"&D prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
hqW),^\>' more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
%nV6#pr of any cataract.
f6])M) Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
M/J?$j among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
F^Y%Q(Dd7w of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
eD,'M
assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
<5]ufv both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
Ow50M;E assessment of temporal changes.
''?iJFR Measurement error could also have partially contributed
bamQ]>0|>! to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
I&wJK'GM` Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
ey@{Ng# potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
cw/E?0MWb variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
<
UD90} slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
H{4_,2h=m grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
w'6sJ#ba( camera and the same two graders who graded photos
T$"s
w7< from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
tNG[|Bi# of a partial influence from photographic variation
2(2UAB"u on this result.
@+7CfvM A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
G$[Hm\V than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
8gxo{<,9 both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
qH4+iSTnV from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
8/<+p? 3p> Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
kD
me>E= Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
~5o2jTNy`p could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
&fW'_,- study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
M=54xTh0Y lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
|pZ:5ta# cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
AAF']z<4_" factors were detected and no gender difference
K SJ Ko was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
/5X_gjOL, in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
XzBlT( `w levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
O4cBn{Dq9 women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
~U4Cf > Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
}.D adV Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
E
BSjU8 n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
)4RSo&9p` Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
>FS}{O2c Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
?u5jXJ0L PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
hh[x(O)TC~ Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
9&zQ5L> Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
|S]T,`7u Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
uANpqT}! n = number of persons
y+
4#Iy * 95% Confidence Limits
;B
!p4hu BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 U,8mYv2| Page 6 of 7
Mp(;PbVD (page number not for citation purposes)
"5v^6R9e cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
4n*`%V prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
XePGOw))O exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
|xT'+~u or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
hW` o-' also be related to these observations and warrant further
j
Y(|z*| study.
cUO$IR)yL Conclusion
j8%Y[:~D In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
qfRrX" apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
:m36{# of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
eIOMW9Ivt overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
a*t>Ks'C 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
|E;+j\ reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
:(4q\~ Competing interests
,t!I%r The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
oi8M6l Authors' contributions
:
@$5M AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
{R/e1-; and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
e7tio! photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
wr~Qy4 ny ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
[[xnp;-; reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
xe9
\5Gb} study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
m-#]v}0A and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
HBs
6:[q approved the final manuscript.
sh
O4>Ha Acknowledgements
$.31<@T7 This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
MP.ye|i4Q Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
16Jjf|]j abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
a54S,}| (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
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