BioMed Central
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yPxG`w' BMC Ophthalmology
,B/p1^;. Research article Open Access
[E
:`jY Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
xvz5\s|b population-based surveys 6 years apart
$rQFM[ Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
r)@&2b"q Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
~RLx; Westmead, NSW, Australia
EwBN+v;) Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
}.|5S+J?[ Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au Wj{Rp{}3 * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
pNf9 Abstract
E<G@LT
Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
"i<3}6/* subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
mP
.&fS Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
P)j9\ muc cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
MfpWow-#{ cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
3L%r_N*a photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
!m:PBl5
cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
;gu>;_ Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
WQmiG=Dw^ who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
hz|z&vyP 0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
uV$d7(N}" an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
D.CsnfJ two surveys.
_M4v1Hr48 Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
?UhAjtYIS prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
HNUR6H&Fta prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
GvtI-\h] the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
7<'i #E~ prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
o[r6sz: Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
j#>![km Mu distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
#cF8)GC The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
}fMFQA) Background
O|TwG:! Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
\bl,_{z? impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
mb`}sTU). estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
*_rGBW affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
4qcIoO aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
0bL=l0N$W for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
QN a3S* be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
CIvT5^} Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
Z4zMa& most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
I[IQFka} cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
rL/7wa Published: 20 April 2006
(lsod#wEMg BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
:>ST)Y@]w Received: 14 December 2005
N!&VBx^z Accepted: 20 April 2006
+Z(VWu6 This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 oDI*\S> © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
buyz>ICP This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
Mo|5)8_ which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
3?CpylCO BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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LB+=?Mz V (page number not for citation purposes)
I;Y`rGj of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
T )]|o+G in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
Gw,kC{:C Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
y~1php>2f1 increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
&g>+tkC fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
)
hB*Hjh from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
?+L6o C.; The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
Md{f,,E'^@ years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
K%Ml2V
Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
9DKB+K.1 increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
xWV7#Z7 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
B6&M
tm1 population-based samples with a similar age range
niBpbs
O [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
th|Q NG would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
6*
w;xf and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
Us.jyg7_c benefits to a greater number of older people and an
ghiElsBU increased number of persons with surgery performed on
3W0:0I both eyes.
tgnXBWA`! Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
}"tYb6* link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
CB)#;
|aDB surgery and eye health care provision. This report
iOxygs#p aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
Pw{+7b$ and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
yRDLg
c (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
`#U6`[[ surveys 6 years apart.
f#mpd]e+6 Methods
zZQoY_UI The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
AQZ\Kcr cohort study of common eye diseases and other
=Y0m;-1M health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
3iTjM>+> residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
Fjb[Ev areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
hRu%> =7 Participants were identified through a census and were
_i#Z'4?2E invited to participate. The study was approved at each
0Jr<>7Q1 stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
t60m:k4J of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
lvlH5Fc Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
EzaOg| of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
gu!A:Q was obtained from each participant.
K(^x)w r-: Details of the methods used in this study have been
XijQ)}'C3 described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
XA68H!I (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
~S9nLb:O{ 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
* ?K=;$ Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
I$&/?ns@O during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
K^ lVng cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
2StpcAlU} the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
c=gUY~Rl newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
IP3-lru eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
{mDaK&]Oh this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
V4>P8cE BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
@tA
.^k0` and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
v3p..A~XZ. Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
k)J7) L at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
x9=lN^/4 including demographic, family and medical history. A
$l
Qi0*s detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
fITml6mbE slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
?/\;K1c p Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
{:Q2Itsy Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
g 0L 4 lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
\?o%<c5{ previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
1L0ku@%t9Y performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
8P 8"dN[ Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
,ZSu
o4 were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
U;31}'b estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
k}/:
xN" Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
Z`W.(gua involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
-nW{$&5AF when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
3"".kf,O5e Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
e#seqx using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
^~0r+w61 [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
Zj JD@,j was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
&$=F$ was defined to include persons who had previous
B}Qo8i7
z cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
yP-
Dj
, types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
OhTO*C8 kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
iPIA&)x}
for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
1
v Thb reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
k4@GjO1"$ simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
L]VK9qB nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
b&ADj8cKC by an ophthalmologist (PM).
k91Y"_& In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
RsbrD8*AD ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
;8A_-$ available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
ZpdM[\Q- while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
~2qFA2 Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
\KEL.}B9E 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
lRrOoON assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
7}*5Mir p with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
n"pADTaB cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
/i]
Gg
\) between the two groups, as reported previously
NZ_45/(dx [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
V=c&QPP or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
\CL`j cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
!b7H missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
5pDxFs=v for nuclear cataract assessment.
# WxH Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
n;MoMGnPh, System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
5p~Z-kU& prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
`wq\K8v the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
Op|Be We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
.OjJK? interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
UeVF@rw group were independent between the two cross-sectional
$Fo ,$ surveys.
vEb~QX0~ BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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u_uC78`p Results
86I".R$d Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
o~~_ >V)W previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
{!,+C0 distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
k'{lo_ characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
z*R"917 II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
Xc@4(Nyp hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
l@^RbF[' Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
F|"NJ*o} shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
8>w/Es5 was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
:]]amziP& respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
9eV@v prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
aC:
rrS (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
"BTA" increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
SI@I cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
W}EO]A%f.\ period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
|S.-5CAh4 (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
*:_.cbo was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
upX/fLc I and II, respectively).
SQEXC*08 After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
9m#`56G` stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
pa.W-qyu surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
$bN%x/ prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
Z'u`)j
R not altered.
HC$_p,9OV Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
`T}e3l cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
f}@]dF r II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
%T88K}?= increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
tv?~LJYN both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
oW-luC+ between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
}|x]8zL8G cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
]
Li(E: years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
Z EG in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
bZ0r/f,n$ 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
TG'A'wXxy consistent between the two surveys, except for a
2p@S-Lp reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
d]+g3oy
` and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
)82x)c<e years).
V}3.K\7 Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
P
hn&hRAO observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
]2tX'=X cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
_e/vw: but the difference was only significant for cortical
Z!t
t(y\ cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
D
@T,j4o 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
%1xo|6hm- and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
-<qci3Ba} Table 1: Participant characteristics.
Z1*y$=D?3[ Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
/J1O
{L n % n %
0;o`7f Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
trg+")a 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
*O+YhoR? 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
!*N#}6Jd 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
lshO'I+)* 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
= R; 0Ed&b 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
`[7&tOvSk 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
i3N _wv{ 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
7*uG9iX 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
n
omtP } 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
Spt[b.4m F Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
/6b(w=pk Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
NC|&7qQ Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
YtE V8
w_$ History of:
7[^:[OEE Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
wE;??'O'l Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
'd(OFE-hn Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
@\b*a]
CV Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
M"ZP s Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
,r+=>vre n = number of persons affected
uXyNj2(d. * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
t&eY+3y,T ^ P < 0.01
}mk9-7 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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DTI+VY.W^ (page number not for citation purposes)
)d_)CuUBe t
;9/6X#;$ rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
s=u0M;A0Q in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
n +`( R]Q (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
Y:ZI9JK? and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
E_/v$ Discussion
cg}46)^<QH Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
u'<Y#bsR#/ with similar age and gender distribution showed
{M$mrmG that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
DbH{;
Fb stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
v$owG-_>< to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
^4`q%_vm with totally independent samples within each age group,
'[{M"S confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
&:nWZ!D survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
GL.&
g{$#+ the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
{uDL"~^\ same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
jgVra* reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
plv"/K JM variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
EX='\~Dw may have contributed to the observed difference
U^snb6\5 in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
axxdW)+K Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
k9w<0h3 Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
"mSDL:$ n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
F
C2oP, Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
m Wsegq4 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
jcYI"f"~ 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
t'Nu^_# 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
GQ$0`?lp 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
}^pnwo9vV 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
;^=eiurv 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
tV[?WA[xt
85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
FJ!N)`[ 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
D@"q2 ! PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
i6h:%n]Io 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
b,#cc>76\ 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
aEy_H-6f 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
TE
E$1RxV( 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
\@*cj
8e 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
&dbX>u q 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
Y=vA;BE]R 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
MztT/31S 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
!:c7I@ Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
P=KOw
;bs 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
}zlvs
a+ 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
<$Q&n{ 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
)fA9,yNJ3 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
tqmM7$}}P 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
1&i!92:E 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
!MTm4Ls 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
2a (w7/W: 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
nC_<pq^tr n = number of persons
:*/<eT_ * 95% Confidence Limits
2^[fUzL? Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
Mf%/t HK Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
wI#rAx7f- Mountains Eye Study.
3543[W#a 0
/ (W{` 10
v?K
XTc%Z 20
qVZ=:D{ 30
NV36Q^Am[ 40
Tk|0
scjE^ 50
D7sw;{ns cortical PSC nuclear any
u32wS$*8 cataract
}x~|XbG Cataract type
Y 0$m~}j %
rnmWw# Cross-section I
I"Ju3o?u Cross-section II
^q%~K{'`- BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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yoGE#+|7^ (page number not for citation purposes)
|os2@G$ prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
6;*tw i relatively stable over the 6-year period.
B&-;w_K Although different population-based studies used different
x03G Jy5 grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
14s+& prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
D;BFl(l different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
P:ys--$" suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
Fe"0Hp+ of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
#uu wzE*M_ other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
Y($"i<rN prevalent type [12,21-23].
_ky!4^B Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
~4XJ" d3L 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
H# 2'\0u age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
"N7C7`izc prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
;,Lq*x2s same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
i]8zZRe thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
(a&.A
d0{ surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
N<$uAns A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
B<8Z?:3YS over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
&&_W,id` definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
R0oP
##] prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
&EA4`p
level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
m"H9C-Y
than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
M;\K+, groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
%8S!l;\H5 likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
-_b}b)2iYN with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
@
105 @9F that functional vision and reading performance were high
rIS \#j in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
pZjyzH{~ cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
>qcir~ & (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
}6^( overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
)7c^@I;7 was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
N-_2d*l 3 to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
R:^GNra; nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
~[ve?51 than the other two types of cataract. This could have
l#]Z?zW. resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
BuK 82 to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
k"GW3E; prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
If]g6
B.= more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
.i[Tp6'%, of any cataract.
]%shs Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
VpTp*[8O among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
2E=E!Zwt_ of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
(_U&EX% assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
QJOP *<O both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
>Pbd#*
assessment of temporal changes.
^t9"!K Measurement error could also have partially contributed
JGH9b!}-1 to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
:R<,J=+$u Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
BXyZn0k potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
)h>Cp,|{ variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
-$[=AqJXp; slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
%"+FN2nbm grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
I?l*GO+pz camera and the same two graders who graded photos
0+cRUH9Ew from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
{l_R0 of a partial influence from photographic variation
%# J
8cB on this result.
/$I&D}uR` A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
,ulTZV than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
q'q'v
S both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
dtm_~r7~ from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
~>s^/`|? Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
}_5z(7}3 Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
&e3z)
h could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
r")=Z1y study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
9I30ULm lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
&<.Z4GxS cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
r`wL_>"{n factors were detected and no gender difference
83;1L:}` was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
U5izOFc in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
iT9cw`A^% levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
2/?pI/W women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
C2ToT \^ Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
@YWfq$23 Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
&v3r#$Hj[
n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
XD%?'uUQ_ Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
^D oJ='& Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
Yg2z=&p-{" PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
`acorfpi Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
+=u*!6S Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
'#u2q=n4* Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
iWQBo>x n = number of persons
t6-c
{ZX>A * 95% Confidence Limits
~3f#cEP>d} BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 v`beql
Page 6 of 7
t'm]E2/ (page number not for citation purposes)
$.V(_
cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
sY1@ch" prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
ub4(mS exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
TSHp.ABf or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
']+H P9i$ also be related to these observations and warrant further
Wc`Vc
n1 study.
Zd~s5 Conclusion
4Z]^v4vb In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
~}4H=[Zu apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
8Bhot,u'T of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
u$<FKp;I overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
b2p<!? 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
]V.9jlXF reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
8'g/WZY~~ Competing interests
m\@Q/_v The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
mjs*Z{_F^ Authors' contributions
^T^U:Zdq AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
jN5Sc0|b and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
_DJ0MR~3 photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
ZMx_J ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
.iew5.eB+ reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
@X\nY</E#M study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
eTrGFe!8w and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
C:
e}}8i approved the final manuscript.
CB?.|)Xam Acknowledgements
2sittP This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
U35}0NT _ Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
=4Ex'
%%(U abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
fJ\Y
s;l[j (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
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