BioMed Central
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QD%xmP BMC Ophthalmology
cu>(;= Research article Open Access
%(
7##f_ Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
If'2
m_ population-based surveys 6 years apart
'-A;B.GV% Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
^*f D Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
|1CX?8)b= Westmead, NSW, Australia
c?CfM> Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
&X:;B' Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au Y910\h@V * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
-B-G$ii Abstract
>(P(!^[f Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
39O rY subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
qZF&^pCF} Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
r
}qDvC D cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
AH n!>w, cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
mhrF9&s photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
|Io:D: cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
] :LlOv$ Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
P]n0L4c who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
Z:^#9D{ 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
'i$._Tx an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
o3+s.7 " two surveys.
vrb@::sy0T Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
v3cMPN prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
BA1H)% prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
/UK?&+1qE the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
RK-
bsf prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
*K_8=TIA* Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
v#{Nh8n distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
k^|z.$+ The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
]wDqdD y7S Background
7+f6? Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
zZPWE"u} impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
xdbzpU
estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
D~ 3@v+d affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
?XdvZf $ aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
xP~GpVhLF for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
V
H`_ be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
@yb'h`f] Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
?bM%#x{e most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
Wjq9f; cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
:'%|LB
c0 Published: 20 April 2006
{sB-"NR`K BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
Y>aVnixx< Received: 14 December 2005
Q 8Ek}O\MC Accepted: 20 April 2006
B!J?,SB This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 _Zav Y<6 © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
|)To 0Z This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
l-W)?d which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Gi-pi=#&cs BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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8vUR*2R Page 2 of 7
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!{V`N|0
of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
|0
Fo{ in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
}N-UlL( Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
9$v\D3<Z increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
QE"$Lc) fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
@ A8y!< from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
i / o The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
w7~]c,$y. years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
jo"+_)] Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
]b}3f< increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
% O%;\t 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
PNLlJlYlP population-based samples with a similar age range
nq7)0F%e [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
J.2B
By would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
P
>0S ZP and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
]lJ#|zd8o benefits to a greater number of older people and an
=#TQXm']Gi increased number of persons with surgery performed on
-$s1k~o both eyes.
T2W^4
) Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
b2F1^]p link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
m|cRj{xZF surgery and eye health care provision. This report
2 (ux aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
Q4ii25]* and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
,V4pFQzL (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
cEJ_z(\=hr surveys 6 years apart.
OB,T>o@ Methods
_["97>q The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
I GcR5/3 cohort study of common eye diseases and other
0Z
%<H\Z health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
A^c5CJ_ residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
nzYFa J + areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
H<b4B$/ Participants were identified through a census and were
y7*^
H invited to participate. The study was approved at each
SLd9-N}T stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
hU2N{Ac of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
@D<Q'7mLh Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
Y50$2%kM of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
-gS/ was obtained from each participant.
7xT<|3 I Details of the methods used in this study have been
1G8t=IA%D described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
gD fVY%[Z (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
1hp@.Fv 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
q%^gG03. Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
U(qM( E during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
{la^useg[ cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
0P5
3dF the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
*JOv newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
{gi"ktgk eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
`Op
";E88 this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
oq<#
BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
)'<
zC and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
N4mQN90t Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
h;unbz at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
@fYA{-ZC including demographic, family and medical history. A
%F/tbXy{ detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
>"nk}@
slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
XJ NKM~ Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
Em.? Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
@',;/j80 lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
2Uk8{d previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
,zyrBO0 Eq performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
g%[Ruugu Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
BR%: `uiQ< were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
n*xNMw1x"T estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
BPOWo8TqD^ Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
3a S>U # involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
! O>mu6:Rf when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
e
O}mZN Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
FxT
[4 using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
#sHP\|rA [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
O&0R ~<n was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
fjJIF% was defined to include persons who had previous
s`2o\] cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
u@3w$"Pv1 types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
V+q RDQ kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
;D7jE+ for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
(qr
T0D6 reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
;sf/tX simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
3PGyqt( nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
y()( 8L by an ophthalmologist (PM).
Y4O L 82Y In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
'3Ie0QO]"% ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
/WfxI>v available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
v2'JL(= while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
h(-&.Sm")H Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
CmOb+:4@K 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
8E+l;2
assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
%-Z~f~<? with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
*@nUas2" cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
i`$rzXcS between the two groups, as reported previously
08a|]li [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
@\?f77O
f6 or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
|Y11sDa9h cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
p/~kw:I missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
~~,<+X: for nuclear cataract assessment.
l0{DnQA>I Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
{@AcL:Eit System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
*lAdS]I prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
ZZ*k
3Ce the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
}HorR2(`N We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
[@Y q^.6t interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
(K6StNtN group were independent between the two cross-sectional
V&H8-,7z surveys.
zP}v2 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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-<]_:Kf{;& Results
/8\&f%E Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
FSs$ ]
d; previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
d/rz0L distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
L$Ar]O) characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
@(fY4]K II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
3>)BI(Wl hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
ItE~MJ5p Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
h\\2r> shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
$ywh%OEH was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
xGv,%'u\ respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
j
YID44$ prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
@ ]wem (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
W;]UP$5l increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
#'J7Wy cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
-G#@BtB2+ period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
P3ev4DL (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
[k7N+W8 was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
8;f<q u|w I and II, respectively).
nk$V{(FJ After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
gdFoTcHgO| stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
"|r^l surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
!XA%[u prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
?WtG|w not altered.
5@t uo`k Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
@TPgA(5NR cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
K(KP3Q II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
\{=`F`oB= increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
FoD/Q
both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
qb&NS4# between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
s]<r cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
mImbS)V years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
HZ<f( in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
&c?hJ8" 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
ivUsMhx>S, consistent between the two surveys, except for a
uyRA`<&w reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
L8w76| and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
,dj*p,J years).
p1VahjRE- Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
'UvS3]bSYW observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
n:^"[Le cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
!ga(L3vf but the difference was only significant for cortical
YK?*7 cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
Y0u'@l_[F 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
FH`'1iVH and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
B`?N0t%X Table 1: Participant characteristics.
x#j\"$dla Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
SC
$` n % n %
u_6BHsU Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
.KU SNrs' 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
9"HmHy&:E 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
lA.;ZD! 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
g<rKV+$6 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
)p!*c, 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
7Js>!KR 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
E
&];>3C 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
0Y6q$h>4 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
,\S pjE 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
%7NsBR!y Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
G+hF
[b44' Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
MS st Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
F%PwIB~cy History of:
%K%^ ]{ Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
7>'uj7r]= Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
j!lAxlOX Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
^nHB1"OCV Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
d1~_?V'r] Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
E7X!cm/2< n = number of persons affected
?o~:'Z * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
9^ >M>f" ^ P < 0.01
fg9?3x
Z BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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5:Yck< (page number not for citation purposes)
V&Xi> X8 t
4GG1E. z} rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
87QZun% in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
eecw]P_? (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
kCima/+_ and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
*0%4l_i Discussion
UF@IBb}0 Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
9o-!ecx} with similar age and gender distribution showed
3g4e']t that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
dCB&c^ stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
QJx9I_ to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
X?tj$ with totally independent samples within each age group,
yh S#&)O confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
mO#I nTO survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
p1+7<Y: the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
xN6>2e same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
F[5S(7M
7 reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
g^1r0.Sp{8 variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
BsKbn@'uC may have contributed to the observed difference
sF y]+DB in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
MFv
Si Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
PC|'yAN:
Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
?4,@,
ae& n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
J==}QEhQ{ Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
f3!n$lj 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
kfXS_\@iW1 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
D3y>iQd 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
S/VA~,KCe; 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
\*uugw,\y 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
pajy#0 U 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
u#FXW_-TK 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
ijFV<P 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
>60"p~t PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
!N1J@LT5h 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
+C_*Vs@4 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
~T 02._E 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
-D#5o,]3 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
9`BEi(z 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
9 ZGV%Tw 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
WNa3^K/W{ 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
^wJEfac 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
v
U}: U)S Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
hM>*a!)U 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
"15=ET 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
59i]
65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
x>
\Bxa8 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
<Oa9oM},d 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
2r;GcjezH 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
[))JX"a 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
K/| 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
3ji:O T n = number of persons
l.oBcg[ * 95% Confidence Limits
yW("G-Nm Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
%S`ik!K"I Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
azX`oU,l Mountains Eye Study.
lKWr=k~ 0
?Y3@" rdR 10
.zSD`v@[ 20
Spgg+;
9 30
sRq U]i8l 40
jBpVxv 50
0S.?E.-&0 cortical PSC nuclear any
>a=d; cataract
<HQ&-j x Cataract type
"'A"U %
%
{Q-8w! Cross-section I
JJ5C}`( Cross-section II
cNj*E
=~; BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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&&PgOFD (page number not for citation purposes)
4*M@]J " prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
r7I
B{}>- relatively stable over the 6-year period.
If'2rE7J Although different population-based studies used different
mP-2s;q grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
de YyaV prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
<LA^%2jT different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
H?U't
09 suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
DJP6TFT&G of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
~HDdO3 other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
_/ Os^ >R prevalent type [12,21-23].
@
yxt($G Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
)+Y&4Qu 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
]rW8y%yD age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
+t]Xj1Q prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
Sz0+<F#5 same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
cZQu *K^j thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
ek)Xrp:2 surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
kh?. K# A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
I/p]
DT over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
8tQ|-l* definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
H_B~P%E@] prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
kRot7-7I| level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
F?4Sz# than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
r
nBOj#N groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
*Bw #c
j likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
5py R~+ with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
Q}P-$X+/ n that functional vision and reading performance were high
0HbJKix! in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
~A >oO-0K cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
XxO
n3i (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
XO
wiHW{ overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
u~'OcO was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
d=F-L to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
")M;+<c"l nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
-P#nT 2 than the other two types of cataract. This could have
-
1W resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
,F:=(21 to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
"{(
[! prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
kp`0erJqw more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
V2Y$yV8g1 of any cataract.
cht Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
0QoLS|voA/ among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
./.=Rw of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
Dl\d_:+
assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
xOIg|2^8 both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
wLMvC{5 assessment of temporal changes.
W5/};K\. Measurement error could also have partially contributed
q6&67u0 to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
b *9-}g: Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
)ddsyFGW potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
\7
Mq $d variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
BD'NuI slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
q{@P+2<wF grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
%EoH4LzT camera and the same two graders who graded photos
cY~M4:vgT from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
+2y&B,L_Wh of a partial influence from photographic variation
n?Z f/T on this result.
[R\=M' A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
%
$.vOFP9 than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
%,;gP.dh7 both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
G"C
;A`6 from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
1M/$<
kQ-N Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
6Pijvx^0 Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
ol#yjrv could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
idz9YpW study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
dq2@6xd lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
_<2RYXBC cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
gi 5XP]z factors were detected and no gender difference
%HVD^.
V was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
b?>VPuyBb in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
<b'1#Pd>0 levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
&~}@u[=ux women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
/D
8EI Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
k|5k8CRX Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
nAvs~J n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
EFD?di)s Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
>-eS&rma Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
eZA6D\ PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
\D ^7Z97 Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
;)P5#S!n- Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
\:h0w;34O Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
_=6vW^s n = number of persons
vyujC`61d * 95% Confidence Limits
k5q(7&C BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 ZrA
Um Page 6 of 7
3eJ\aVI>pE (page number not for citation purposes)
J#+Op/mmo cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
pTN%;`)
{ prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
[@x exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
$f9 ,##/ or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
*u58l(&`8 also be related to these observations and warrant further
Q:kwQg:~ study.
U-ERhm>uk Conclusion
L(W%~UGN
V In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
i[mC3ghM6, apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
<1
TlW
~q< of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
2-QuT"Gkd overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
d~w}NK[( 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
&~z+ R="= reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
ys:1Z\$P Competing interests
6s> sj7 The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
_3s~!2 Authors' contributions
wgC??Be;ut AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
b #o}=m and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
|Ba4 G` photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
53g8T+`\( ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
#j(q/
T{x reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
j<`I\Pmv study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
e[d7UV[Knn and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
IKNFYe[9e approved the final manuscript.
$O;N/N:m Acknowledgements
(mD-FR@# This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
r[C3u[ Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
{hW
+^ abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
clPZd (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
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&:f'{>3
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