Prevalence of Epiretinal Membrane among Subjects in a Health Examination Program in Japan

Abstract

The prevalence of an epiretinal membrane (ERM) was elucidated using a dataset from a health examination program database in Japan. From the cohort database, 5042 eyes of 2552 subjects were included. The presence of an ERM, cellophane macular reflex (CMR), or preretinal macular fibrosis (PMF) was detected using color fundus photographs, and crude and age-standardized prevalence were obtained. To further assess the possible risk factors of ERM, background parameters were compared between ERM+ and − groups, and multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. ERM was detected in fundus photographs of 275 eyes (eye-based prevalence of 5.5%) from 217 subjects (subject-based prevalence of 8.5%). CMR was detected in 169 eyes (3.4%) of 138 subjects (5.4%), and PMF was detected in 106 eyes (2.1%) of 97 subjects (3.8%). By univariate analyses, compared with ERM− eyes or subjects, higher Scheie’s H grade (p < 0.0001), S grade (p < 0.0001), and glaucoma prevalence (p = 0.0440) were found in ERM+ eyes, and older age (p < 0.0001), more frequent histories of hypertension (p = 0.0033) and hyperlipidemia (p = 0.0441), and more frequent uses of medication for hypertension (p = 0.0034) and hyperlipidemia (p = 0.0074), shorter body height (p = 0.0122), and higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.0078), and thicker intimal medial thickness (p = 0.0318) were found in ERM+ subjects. By multivariate analyses, older age (p < 0.0001, estimate = 0.05/year) was the only significant factor of ERM prevalence. Age-standardized prevalence of ERM was calculated to be 2.4%, 6.7%, and 13.3% for all ages, subjects older than 40 years, and subjects older than 65 years, respectively. We reported the prevalence of ERM and its subclasses in Japanese subjects. Since its prevalence is remarkably high in older subjects, an ERM can be seen as an important cause of visual impairment in Japan and in areas of the world where individuals live to an advanced age.

Prevalence and risk factors of epiretinal membrane: Data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII (2017–2018)

“…Shimizu et al reported that hypertension and hypertensive drugs may be associated with ERM and hypothesised that this relationship is due to the possible similarity between retinal vessel changes caused by hypertension and vascular changes associated with ERM. 30 Previous research has also reported a relationship between retinal vessel narrowing and ERM, and have noted that secondary ERM is directly associated with hypertensive retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, and branch retinal vein occlusion. 7,31 Our finding supports that there is a significant association between hypertension and ERM, especially in patients with well controlled, long-term, and treated hypertension.…”

“…However, this study demonstrated hypertension to be a risk factor after adjustments, and found that participants with well‐controlled hypertension had a higher risk of ERM than those with poorly controlled hypertension. Shimizu et al reported that hypertension and hypertensive drugs may be associated with ERM and hypothesised that this relationship is due to the possible similarity between retinal vessel changes caused by hypertension and vascular changes associated with ERM 30 . Previous research has also reported a relationship between retinal vessel narrowing and ERM, and have noted that secondary ERM is directly associated with hypertensive retinopathy, central retinal vein occlusion, and branch retinal vein occlusion 7,31 .…”

Robotics-assisted Tools in Macular Surgery

“…According to these records, the total number of vitrectomies was estimated at 400,000 cases in 2018, of which the number of macular surgeries represented approximately half. 2 That proportion has continued to grow in recent years and is highly likely to have now exceeded the 50% recorded in 2018.…”

“…The government maintains records on the total number of each type of surgery performed, as all surgeries are registered with the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. According to these records, the total number of vitrectomies was estimated at 400,000 cases in 2018, of which the number of macular surgeries represented approximately half 2 . That proportion has continued to grow in recent years and is highly likely to have now exceeded the 50% recorded in 2018.…”