BioMed Central
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Sl@Ucc31 (page number not for citation purposes)
zJ@^Bw;A^@ BMC Ophthalmology
l kyK Research article Open Access
!0F+qzGG7 Comparison of age-specific cataract prevalence in two
QX-n l~
population-based surveys 6 years apart
M+:9U&>
Ava Grace Tan†, Jie Jin Wang*†, Elena Rochtchina† and Paul Mitchell†
+d(|Jid Address: Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital,
$dA]GWW5A Westmead, NSW, Australia
9Hd_sNUu\ Email: Ava Grace Tan -
ava_tan@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Jie Jin Wang* -
jiejin_wang@wmi.usyd.edu.au;
<Y$(
lszT Elena Rochtchina -
elena_rochtchina@wmi.usyd.edu.au; Paul Mitchell -
paul_mitchell@wmi.usyd.edu.au `PSjk
F( * Corresponding author †Equal contributors
+(^HL3 Abstract
h[Uo6` Background: In this study, we aimed to compare age-specific cortical, nuclear and posterior
?nWzJ5w3 subcapsular (PSC) cataract prevalence in two surveys 6 years apart.
|=MhI5gsx Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants (82.4% of those eligible) in
5}c8v2R:B cross-section I (1992–4) and 3509 participants (75.1% of survivors and 85.2% of newly eligible) in
nd7g8P9p cross-section II (1997–2000, 66.5% overlap with cross-section I). Cataract was assessed from lens
? Dn} photographs following the Wisconsin Cataract Grading System. Cortical cataract was defined if
\-f/\P/ w cortical opacity comprised ≥ 5% of lens area. Nuclear cataract was defined if nuclear opacity ≥
`*U$pg Wisconsin standard 4. PSC was defined if any present. Any cataract was defined to include persons
P
+wpX who had previous cataract surgery. Weighted kappa for inter-grader reliability was 0.82, 0.55 and
b};o:
0.82 for cortical, nuclear and PSC cataract, respectively. We assessed age-specific prevalence using
{^1'' an interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age group were independent between the
sx}S,aIU two surveys.
Vjw u:M Results: Age and gender distributions were similar between the two populations. The age-specific
K Hgn prevalence of cortical (23.8% in 1st, 23.7% in 2nd) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 6.0%) was similar. The
]}p<P):hO prevalence of nuclear cataract increased slightly from 18.7% to 23.9%. After age standardization,
$2RSYI`py the similar prevalence of cortical (23.8%, 23.5%) and PSC cataract (6.3%, 5.9%), and the increased
Aa4Tq2G prevalence of nuclear cataract (18.7%, 24.2%) remained.
R<(xWH Conclusion: In two surveys of two population-based samples with similar age and gender
K[LuvS distributions, we found a relatively stable cortical and PSC cataract prevalence over a 6-year period.
u05Yy&(f The increased prevalence of nuclear cataract deserves further study.
'+27_j Background
Hmt2~>FI[ Age-related cataract is the leading cause of reversible visual
-; J6S impairment in older persons [1-6]. In Australia, it is
+jyGRSo estimated that by the year 2021, the number of people
7nFOVZ affected by cataract will increase by 63%, due to population
Jazg n5 aging [7]. Surgical intervention is an effective treatment
%OHZOs for cataract and normal vision (> 20/40) can usually
E)ZL+( be restored with intraocular lens (IOL) implantation.
aWJj@',_ Cataract surgery with IOL implantation is currently the
o:fe`#t most commonly performed, and is, arguably, the most
CxZh^V8LP cost effective surgical procedure worldwide. Performance
G\TO]c Published: 20 April 2006
6a9$VGInU BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17 doi:10.1186/1471-2415-6-17
/XEW]/4 Received: 14 December 2005
?Ve IlD Accepted: 20 April 2006
K +3=gBU*w This article is available from:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 3RT\G0?8f © 2006 Tan et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
lg~7[=%k# This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0),
v{fcQb which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
>3Q|k{97 BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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>7I Page 2 of 7
;%
B9mM#p~ (page number not for citation purposes)
-p.\fvip of this surgical procedure has been continuously increasing
5UO+c(T in the last two decades. Data from the Australian
^}B,0yUu' Health Insurance Commission has shown a steady
.8Bo5)q$a- increase in Medicare claims for cataract surgery [8]. A 2.6-
MA6
Vy fold increase in the total number of cataract procedures
tmooS7\a from 1985 to 1994 has been documented in Australia [9].
4]ni-u0* The rate of cataract surgery per thousand persons aged 65
J5I@*f)l years or older has doubled in the last 20 years [8,9]. In the
dkZe.pv$j Blue Mountains Eye Study population, we observed a onethird
U5OX.0 increase in cataract surgery prevalence over a mean
^hmV?a:Y 6-year interval, from 6% to nearly 8% in two cross-sectional
J-5>+E,nZ population-based samples with a similar age range
0)332}Oh [10]. Further increases in cataract surgery performance
p;w&}l{{ would be expected as a result of improved surgical skills
.4)oZ and technique, together with extending cataract surgical
7|DG1p9C benefits to a greater number of older people and an
o
g5VB increased number of persons with surgery performed on
1 _?8 OU both eyes.
>|E]??v Both the prevalence and incidence of age-related cataract
|Ev|A9J! link directly to the demand for, and the outcome of, cataract
&aLTy&8Fv surgery and eye health care provision. This report
m-vn5OX aimed to assess temporal changes in the prevalence of cortical
l<f9$l^U and nuclear cataract and posterior subcapsular cataract
<\~v$=G (PSC) in two cross-sectional population-based
t]$n~! surveys 6 years apart.
ew~Z/ A Methods
P1Hab2%+ The Blue Mountains Eye Study (BMES) is a populationbased
gEd A
hfx cohort study of common eye diseases and other
Z8#nu health outcomes. The study involved eligible permanent
\yr9j$ residents aged 49 years and older, living in two postcode
XB7Aa) areas in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney, Australia.
b&:v6#i Participants were identified through a census and were
u}[ a invited to participate. The study was approved at each
mgAjD. stage of the data collection by the Human Ethics Committees
/?'~`4!( of the University of Sydney and the Western Sydney
h;gc5"mG Area Health Service and adhered to the recommendations
l{{,D57J of the Declaration of Helsinki. Written informed consent
]y_:+SHc was obtained from each participant.
A@}5'LzL Details of the methods used in this study have been
Vp/XVyL}R described previously [11]. The baseline examinations
:y-;V (BMES cross-section I) were conducted during 1992–
,|A^ <R` 1994 and included 3654 (82.4%) of 4433 eligible residents.
-V/y~/]J Follow-up examinations (BMES IIA) were conducted
I2[Z0G@&= during 1997–1999, with 2335 (75.0% of BMES
L 4j#0I]lq cross section I survivors) participating. A repeat census of
E>bkEm the same area was performed in 1999 and identified 1378
pU7;!u:c4% newly eligible residents who moved into the area or the
8z`ZHn3= eligible age group. During 1999–2000, 1174 (85.2%) of
* ,a
F-
this group participated in an extension study (BMES IIB).
wQ+pVu?6_ BMES cross-section II thus includes BMES IIA (66.5%)
g0B] ;Y>( and BMES IIB (33.5%) participants (n = 3509).
0/R;g~q@ Similar procedures were used for all stages of data collection
4 /_jrZO at both surveys. A questionnaire was administered
1K
Fd
~U including demographic, family and medical history. A
YSP\+ZZ detailed eye examination included subjective refraction,
!85bpQ.
slit-lamp (Topcon SL-7e camera, Topcon Optical Co,
m_)- Tokyo, Japan) and retroillumination (Neitz CT-R camera,
&-=~8 Neitz Instrument Co, Tokyo, Japan) photography of the
%1i:*~g lens. Grading of lens photographs in the BMES has been
R-Edht|{ previously described [12]. Briefly, masked grading was
W.j^
L; performed on the lens photographs using the Wisconsin
}yT/UlU Cataract Grading System [13]. Cortical cataract and PSC
%'K
RbY were assessed from the retroillumination photographs by
a|t~&\@ estimating the percentage of the circular grid involved.
w%]) Cortical cataract was defined when cortical opacity
t\Vng0 involved at least 5% of the total lens area. PSC was defined
vb>F)X?b_ when opacity comprised at least 1% of the total lens area.
H$I~Vz[\yb Slit-lamp photographs were used to assess nuclear cataract
*:L"#20:R using the Wisconsin standard set of four lens photographs
7KI
ekL [13]. Nuclear cataract was defined when nuclear opacity
r&LZH.$oh was at least as great as the standard 4 photograph. Any cataract
vMz|'-rm$ was defined to include persons who had previous
u"0{)
, cataract surgery as well as those with any of three cataract
nah?V"
?Y types. Inter-grader reliability was high, with weighted
IW\^-LI. kappa 0.82 for cortical cataract, 0.55 (simple kappa 0.75)
3 yx[*'e$ for nuclear cataract and 0.82 for PSC grading. The intragrader
0
1mu6) reliability for nuclear cataract was assessed with
cO5F=ZxR simple kappa 0.83 for the senior grader who graded
q1rj!7 nuclear cataract at both surveys. All PSC cases were confirmed
9Q9{>d#" by an ophthalmologist (PM).
AS;Sz/YP In cross-section I, 219 persons (6.0%) had missing or
&PC6C<<f ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3435 with photographs
Vlx.C~WYn available for cortical cataract and PSC assessment,
6_`Bo% while 1153 (31.6%) had randomly missing or ungradable
R'gd/.[e Topcon photographs due to a camera malfunction, leaving
_[[0rn$ 2501 with photographs available for nuclear cataract
4Fp[94b assessment. Comparison of characteristics between participants
lAnq2j| with and without Neitz or Topcon photographs in
7T/BzXr,B cross-section I showed no statistically significant differences
T<*)Cdid between the two groups, as reported previously
/si<Fp)z [12]. In cross-section II, 441 persons (12.5%) had missing
utmJ>GW
SI or ungradable Neitz photographs, leaving 3068 for cortical
gXI-{R7Me cataract and PSC assessment, and 648 (18.5%) had
D9+qT<ojN missing or ungradable Topcon photographs, leaving 2860
[63\2{_^v for nuclear cataract assessment.
(u tP@d^ Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Analysis
~ky;[ System (SAS, SAS Institute, Cary, NC, USA). Age-adjusted
6/<Hx@r ( prevalence was calculated using direct standardization of
r|l?2 eO~ the cross-section II population to the cross-section I population.
ec; We assessed age-specific prevalence using an
I0x)d` interval of 5 years, so that participants within each age
1
*'
/B group were independent between the two cross-sectional
W.^zN' a surveys.
O7 ;=g!j BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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1Le8W)J (page number not for citation purposes)
tMw65Xei6b Results
9]v,3'QI Characteristics of the two survey populations have been
)B]s.w previously compared [14] and showed that age and sex
kTH""h{ distributions were similar. Table 1 compares participant
CcUF)$kz characteristics between the two cross-sections. Cross-section
PE5*]+lW. II participants generally had higher rates of diabetes,
zg ,=A? hypertension, myopia and more users of inhaled steroids.
;j9%D`u< Cataract prevalence rates in cross-sections I and II are
B& @ pZYl shown in Figure 1. The overall prevalence of cortical cataract
,f^fr&6jb was 23.8% and 23.7% in cross-sections I and II,
(2eS:1+'8 respectively (age-sex adjusted P = 0.81). Corresponding
poAJl;T prevalence of PSC was 6.3% and 6.0% for the two crosssections
ry|a_3X(I (age-sex adjusted P = 0.60). There was an
XQ=% a5w increased prevalence of nuclear cataract, from 18.7% in
U@q
5`4-!8 cross-section I to 23.9% in cross-section II over the 6-year
"m {i`<, period (age-sex adjusted P < 0.001). Prevalence of any cataract
oaQW~R`_ (including persons who had cataract surgery), however,
{Fwvuk was relatively stable (46.9% and 46.8% in crosssections
!:xycLdfUp I and II, respectively).
s[8M$YBf After age-standardization, these prevalence rates remained
B:X%k/{ stable for cortical cataract (23.8% and 23.5% in the two
j1`<+YT<# surveys) and PSC (6.3% and 5.9%). The slightly increased
693"Pg8b prevalence of nuclear cataract (from 18.7% to 24.2%) was
@Y `Z3LiR$ not altered.
]A }ZaXd Table 2 shows the age-specific prevalence rates for cortical
q6pHL cataract, PSC and nuclear cataract in cross-sections I and
' ds2\gN II. A similar trend of increasing cataract prevalence with
3ibQbk increasing age was evident for all three types of cataract in
:
jkO both surveys. Comparing the age-specific prevalence
vLxaZWr between the two surveys, a reduction in PSC prevalence in
+F q_w cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥ 75
,y'6vW`%g9 years). In contrast, increased nuclear cataract prevalence
sSfP.R in cross-section II was observed in the older age groups (≥
D7nK"]HG;l 70 years). Age-specific cortical cataract prevalence was relatively
-ysNo4#e& consistent between the two surveys, except for a
3Qd/X&P reduction in prevalence observed in the 80–84 age group
c$,1j%[) and an increasing prevalence in the older age groups (≥ 85
omg#[ years).
-BP10-V Similar gender differences in cataract prevalence were
OIj.K@Kr observed in both surveys (Table 3). Higher prevalence of
Z$INmo6 cortical and nuclear cataract in women than men was evident
3#'8S_ but the difference was only significant for cortical
g%Tokl cataract (age-adjusted odds ratio, OR, for women 1.3,
DN)o|p 95% confidence intervals, CI, 1.1–1.5 in cross-section I
Rd7U5MBEF and OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1–1.6 in cross-section II). In con-
$)@D(m,ybd Table 1: Participant characteristics.
;=$;h6W0 Characteristics Cross-section I Cross-section II
!&Q?AS JH n % n %
f.$[?Fi Age (mean) (66.2) (66.7)
C{$iuus0 50–54 485 13.3 350 10.0
%y9sC1
T 55–59 534 14.6 580 16.5
5qH*"i+|s 60–64 638 17.5 600 17.1
w>cqsTq 65–69 671 18.4 639 18.2
[uGsF0#e 70–74 538 14.7 572 16.3
~C^:SND7 75–79 422 11.6 407 11.6
\,Ws=9f 80–84 230 6.3 226 6.4
Pb;c:HeI/ 85–89 100 2.7 110 3.1
E,tdn#_| 90+ 36 1.0 24 0.7
"[P3b"=gW Female 2072 56.7 1998 57.0
O'IU1sU Ever Smokers 1784 51.2 1789 51.2
L!*+:L
DL Use of inhaled steroids 370 10.94 478 13.8^
vE^tdzAG History of:
&~+QPnI>Pm Diabetes 284 7.8 347 9.9^
n"RV!
{& Hypertension 1669 46.0 1825 52.2^
r!fUMDS Emmetropia* 1558 42.9 1478 42.2
ou-UR5 Myopia* 442 12.2 495 14.1^
?[Y(JO# Hyperopia* 1633 45.0 1532 43.7
I4jRz*Ufe? n = number of persons affected
$2h%IK>#G * best spherical equivalent refraction correction
Gqd|F> ^ P < 0.01
t}_ #N'` BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
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k2v:F (page number not for citation purposes)
8lpAe0p(Z t
#}y8hzS$ rast, men had slightly higher PSC prevalence than women
9r]|P}yuS in both cross-sections but the difference was not significant
SdYf^@%}F (OR 1.1, 95% CI 0.8–1.4 for men in cross-section I
Qh&Qsyo% and OR 1.2, 95% 0.9–1.6 in cross-section II).
?p@J7{a Discussion
P!|Z%H Findings from two surveys of BMES cross-sectional populations
@p*)^D6E\ with similar age and gender distribution showed
RX>P-vp that the prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC remained
@5nFa~*K% stable, while the prevalence of nuclear cataract appeared
KCTX2eNN&h to have increased. Comparison of age-specific prevalence,
'?9zL* with totally independent samples within each age group,
O<cP1TF confirmed the robustness of our findings from the two
4c<
s"2F survey samples. Although lens photographs taken from
0h@FHw2d the two surveys were graded for nuclear cataract by the
X-HE9PT. same graders, who documented a high inter- and intragrader
G@H!D[wd reliability, we cannot exclude the possibility that
[oTe8^@[ variations in photography, performed by different photographers,
12n:)yQy may have contributed to the observed difference
/J#(8p in nuclear cataract prevalence. However, the overall
TsTc3 Table 2: Age-specific prevalence of cataract types in cross sections I and II.
<P
pvVDy3 Cataract type Age (years) Cross-section I Cross-section II
G7CeWfS n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
/g<Oh{o8 Cortical 50–54 473 4.4 (2.6–6.3) 338 7.4 (4.6–10.2)
uatUo 55–59 522 9.2 (6.7–11.7) 542 9.0 (6.6–11.5)
&j4pC$Dj 60–64 615 16.4 (13.5–19.4) 556 16.7 (13.6–19.8)
-x//@8" 65–69 653 26.2 (22.8–29.6) 581 23.6 (20.1–27.0)
"Q.* 70–74 516 31.2 (27.2–35.2) 514 35.4 (31.3–39.6)
X.t4; 75–79 366 40.2 (35.1–45.2) 332 39.8 (34.5–45.1)
/d3Jd.l! 80–84 194 58.8 (51.8–65.8) 163 42.9 (35.3–50.6)
:skR6J 85–89 74 52.7 (41.1–64.4) 73 54.8 (43.1–66.5)
hN-@_XSw<I 90+ 22 68.2 (47.0–89.3) 14 78.6 (54.0–103.2)
3 ~v
1 7 PSC 50–54 474 2.7 (1.3–4.2) 338 2.4 (0.7–4.0)
$,4h\>1WP 55–59 522 2.9 (1.4–4.3) 541 2.6 (1.3–3.9)
GI
% &.V d 60–64 616 4.6 (2.9–6.2) 548 5.7 (3.7–7.6)
Z4] n<~o 65–69 655 6.3 (4.4–8.1) 573 4.5 (2.8–6.3)
!ZBtX
t#P 70–74 517 6.8 (4.6–8.9) 505 9.7 (7.1–12.3)
rpT.n-H>%A 75–79 367 11.4 (8.2–14.7) 327 9.5 (6.3–12.7)
/5ZX6YkeH 80–84 196 12.2 (7.6–16.9) 155 10.3 (5.5–15.2)
VPUVPq~
& 85–89 74 18.9 (9.8–28.1) 69 11.6 (3.9–19.4)
&~,4$&_ 90+ 23 21.7 (3.5–40.0) 11 0.0
(>v'0RA Nuclear 50–54 323 1.6 (0.2–2.9) 331 0.9 (–0.2–1.9)
ukWn@q* 55–59 386 2.3 (0.8–3.8) 507 3.6 (1.9–5.2)
BN_h3|) 60–64 453 5.3 (3.2–7.4) 501 11.6 (8.8–14.4)
~ nsb 65–69 478 17.2 (13.8–20.1) 534 18.5 (15.2–21.9)
$GJT 70–74 392 27.6 (23.1–32.0) 453 36.0 (31.6–40.4)
'.mepxf< f 75–79 255 45.1 (39.0–51.3) 302 55.6 (50.0–61.3)
XIW0Z C 80–84 146 54.1 (45.9–62.3) 147 73.5 (66.3–80.7)
oh9
;_~ 85–89 50 64.0 (50.2–77.8) 70 80.0 (70.4–89.6)
>@YefNX6 90+ 18 72.2 (49.3–95.1) 15 73.3 (48.0–98.7)
,EB}IG] n = number of persons
9njl,Q: * 95% Confidence Limits
Ke$_l]} Cataract FMioguunrtea i1n ps rEeyvea lSetnucdey in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
$]2)r[eA) Cataract prevalence in cross-sections I and II of the Blue
r\Nfq(w Mountains Eye Study.
y0 * rY 0
gYKz,$ 10
/
A=w`[< 20
Y=Vbs x 30
>Fel) a 40
>L7s[vKn 50
t'qYM5 cortical PSC nuclear any
9j,g&G.K cataract
.w2 ID Cataract type
22\!Z2@T/ %
1\.$=N Cross-section I
;a:H-iC Cross-section II
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M^
FY6TT4O (page number not for citation purposes)
rO1!h%&o" prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery) was
w:~*wv relatively stable over the 6-year period.
D &
@] Although different population-based studies used different
YGp+[|' grading systems to assess cataract [15], the overall
C*7/iRe prevalence of the three cataract types were similar across
#/)t]&n different study populations [12,16-23]. Most studies have
A4K.,bZ suggested that nuclear cataract is the most prevalent type
).k DY?s of cataract, followed by cortical cataract [16-20]. Ours and
-yYdj1y; other studies reported that cortical cataract was the most
je4l3Hl prevalent type [12,21-23].
f:T?oR>2 Our age-specific prevalence data show a reduction of
'M90Yia 15.9% in cortical cataract prevalence for the 80–84 year
J=4>zQLW age group, concordant with an increase in cataract surgery
Q?{%c[s prevalence by 9% in those aged 80+ years observed in the
1<@SMcj> same study population [10]. Although cortical cataract is
E8Dh;j thought to be the least likely cataract type leading to a cataract
']]d-~: surgery, this may not be the case in all older persons.
39pG-otJ A relatively stable cortical cataract and PSC prevalence
\bA Yic over the 6-year period is expected. We cannot offer a
9>""xt definitive explanation for the increase in nuclear cataract
gL; Kie6Z prevalence. A possible explanation could be that a moderate
2iAC_"n level of nuclear cataract causes less visual disturbance
7*/{m K) than the other two types of cataract, thus for the oldest age
B@,9Cx564 groups, persons with nuclear cataract could have been less
D28`?B9( likely to have surgery unless it is very dense or co-existing
OMGggg with cortical cataract or PSC. Previous studies have shown
a QH6akH that functional vision and reading performance were high
azcPeAe in patients undergoing cataract surgery who had nuclear
+Y\:Q<eMFg cataract only compared to those with mixed type of cataract
P T"}2sR) (nuclear and cortical) or PSC [24,25]. In addition, the
4#U}bN overall prevalence of any cataract (including cataract surgery)
#;!&8iH was similar in the two cross-sections, which appears
1^iBS to support our speculation that in the oldest age group,
xU
*:a[g nuclear cataract may have been less likely to be operated
B.z$0=b than the other two types of cataract. This could have
4<s.|W` resulted in an increased nuclear cataract prevalence (due
)?n'ZhsX to less being operated), compensated by the decreased
"gM^o prevalence of cortical cataract and PSC (due to these being
Z$oy;j99y more likely to be operated), leading to stable overall prevalence
R1jl <= of any cataract.
>1y6DC Possible selection bias arising from selective survival
?Ua,ba* among persons without cataract could have led to underestimation
#-hO\
QdC of cataract prevalence in both surveys. We
K^-1M? assume that such an underestimation occurred equally in
#6sz@X fV both surveys, and thus should not have influenced our
:yay:3qv assessment of temporal changes.
6iC>CY3CG Measurement error could also have partially contributed
sFU< PgV to the observed difference in nuclear cataract prevalence.
&H(yLd[ Assessment of nuclear cataract from photographs is a
A_9WSXR potentially subjective process that can be influenced by
)7q$Pc
Y variations in photography (light exposure, focus and the
>mGH4{H slit-lamp angle when the photograph was taken) and
ZbnAAbfKH grading. Although we used the same Topcon slit-lamp
Uj@th camera and the same two graders who graded photos
K!|eN_1A
from both surveys, we are still not able to exclude the possibility
8&<:(mAP of a partial influence from photographic variation
7Q
3!=
b on this result.
9>}&dQ8 A similar gender difference (women having a higher rate
cx}Yu8 than men) in cortical cataract prevalence was observed in
Daf|.5>(@ both surveys. Our findings are in keeping with observations
4W
T[( from the Beaver Dam Eye Study [18], the Barbados
U>5^:%3 Eye Study [22] and the Lens Opacities Case-Control
?HEqv$
n Group [26]. It has been suggested that the difference
ldv@C6+J could be related to hormonal factors [18,22]. A previous
-Cf)`/ study on biochemical factors and cataract showed that a
oOFTQB_6 lower level of iron was associated with an increased risk of
)'shpRB;1 cortical cataract [27]. No interaction between sex and biochemical
6F\ 6,E factors were detected and no gender difference
blc?[ [,! was assessed in this study [27]. The gender difference seen
U?[ ( in cortical cataract could be related to relatively low iron
<'Q6\R}:vC levels and low hemoglobin concentration usually seen in
U S^% $Z: women [28]. Diabetes is a known risk factor for cortical
jP@ @<dt Table 3: Gender distribution of cataract types in cross-sections I and II.
a`O'ZY Cataract type Gender Cross-section I Cross-section II
G|i0n
n % (95% CL)* n % (95% CL)*
4,RPidv%O Cortical Male 1496 21.1 (19.0–23.1) 1328 20.4 (18.2–22.6)
)e(<YST Female 1939 25.9 (23.9–27.8) 1785 26.2 (24.2–28.3)
^F^g(|(K PSC Male 1500 6.5 (5.2–7.7) 1314 6.4 (5.1–7.7)
-jH|L{Iyq} Female 1944 6.2 (5.1–7.2) 1753 5.7 (4.6–6.7)
1M ?BSH{ Nuclear Male 1106 17.6 (15.4–19.9) 1225 22.5 (20.1–24.8)
mc{z Female 1395 19.5 (17.4–21.6) 1635 25.0 (22.9–27.1)
3(YvqPp& n = number of persons
IZVP- * 95% Confidence Limits
{3Inj8a=?A BMC Ophthalmology 2006, 6:17
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2415/6/17 ZmK=8iN9J Page 6 of 7
||+~8z#+, (page number not for citation purposes)
YQ0#j'}/ cataract but in this particular population diabetes is more
@ @[xTyA prevalent in men than women in all age groups [29]. Differential
"*vrrY exposures to cataract risk factors or different dietary
vCa8`
m or lifestyle patterns between men and women may
*l5?_tF also be related to these observations and warrant further
NuZ2,<~9 study.
)O'LE&kQ| Conclusion
Gxr\a2Z&r% In summary, in two population-based surveys 6 years
(
/y8KG3 apart, we have documented a relatively stable prevalence
J 8i;E4R of cortical cataract and PSC over the period. The observed
b]u$!W overall increased nuclear cataract prevalence by 5% over a
*%xbn8 6-year period needs confirmation by future studies, and
4m*)("H reasons for such an increase deserve further study.
c^}G=Z1@ Competing interests
^O|f
w?, The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.
"vGh/sXW Authors' contributions
i/:L^SQAq AGT graded the photographs, performed literature search
]4aPn and wrote the first draft of the manuscript. JJW graded the
w8lr
pbLh photographs, critically reviewed and modified the manuscript.
JFv70rBe ER performed the statistical analysis and critically
'LgRdtO6 reviewed the manuscript. PM designed and directed the
Y?^liI`# study, adjudicated cataract cases and critically reviewed
W3:j Z: and modified the manuscript. All authors read and
{4_s:+v0 approved the final manuscript.
B=A!hXNa Acknowledgements
n#!c!EfG This study was supported by the Australian National Health & Medical
8}n<3_ Research Council, Canberra, Australia (Grant Nos 974159, 991407). The
f' A$':Y abstract was presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology
ElO|6kOBYG (ARVO) meeting in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, May 2005.
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