Abstract
Purpose
To estimate the prevalence and associated risk factors of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in a rural population in northeast China.
Methods
A population-based survey was conducted within Bin County, Harbin of northeast China. Glaucoma was diagnosed using International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology criteria. All the subjects underwent a complete ophthalmic examination.
Results
A total of 4956 (86.0%) of 5762 subjects aged 40 years or older were examined. The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) of right eyes was 14.0 (95% confidence interval (CI), 13.9 to 14.1) mm Hg. The prevalence of POAG was 0.71% (35/4956, 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.93). In these POAG subjects, 17 (48.6%) had elevated IOP >21 mm Hg in either eye, 3 (8.8%) participants had been treated by laser trabeculoplasty or trabeculectomy and were known to have POAG. Vision impairment to varying degrees was present in 20 subjects (58.8%) with 1 subject blind in both eyes and 8 subjects blind in one eye. On multivariate analysis, age, family history of glaucoma, systemic hypertension, and IOP were regarded as significant independent risk factors.
Conclusions
POAG is a disease of serious consequence and of low diagnosis and treatment rates in rural northeast China. Age, family history of glaucoma, systemic hypertension, and IOP remain as significant independent risk factors for POAG.
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Acknowledgements
We are grateful to all volunteers for their participation and the government of Bin County for support, organization and help in this investigation. This study was supported by Special Fund for Major Research Projects (2008-02) and PhD Research Fund (BS2010-16) of the Second Hospital of HMU, China.
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Sun, J., Zhou, X., Kang, Y. et al. Prevalence and risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma in a rural northeast China population: a population-based survey in Bin County, Harbin. Eye 26, 283–291 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.243
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/eye.2011.243
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