Prevalence of open-angle glaucoma in southwestern China: the Yongchuan Glaucoma Study

Abstract

This study examined the prevalence of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) among residents aged ≥50 years living in Yongchuan district of Chongqing. Stratified cluster sampling was employed in random selection to estimate the prevalence of glaucoma from April to June, 2005. Twenty-nine villages or neighborhood communities were randomly selected in urban area (Zhongshan Road), suburban area (Shanjiao Town) and exurban area (Zhutuo Town) of this district. All the respondents underwent detailed ophthalmic examinations. The examinations included questionnaire investigation, visual acuity test, naked-eye examination, measurement of peripheral anterior chamber depth (Van Herrick's technique), detection of intraocluar pressure (IOP) with a Perkins hand-held applanation tonometer (HA-2) and examination of the optic disc by using a 78 diopters (D) lens (including the cup-disc ratio, cup/disc ratio asymmetries, horizontal and vertical diameter, notching and optic disc hemorrhages). A total of 5938 residents were actually examined, and the response rate was 85.19%. The crude prevalence of POAG was 0.86% (n=51/5938, 95% CI 0.64%-1.11%). There were 24 males and 27 females in the glaucoma group. The glaucoma prevalence was not significant different in case number between the male and female subjects (P=0.4900). Furthermore, no association between age or schooling and POAG was noted (P=0.8030, 0.0734). Out of 51 subjects with POAG, unilateral glaucoma-related blindness occurred in 38 subjects (74.5%) and bilateral glaucoma-related blindness was found in 7 subjects (13.7%). This study exhibited that the prevalence of POAG was 0.86% among residents aged ≥50 years living in Yongchuan District of Chongqing. The vision loss caused by POAG in this population was obviously higher than that previously reported in other studies. Glaucoma management, detection of affected persons and handling of the burden of glaucoma should be the priorities of the agenda of local health authorities of Western China.

Fixed-combination treatments for intraocular hypertension in Chinese patients – focus on bimatoprost-timolol

“… 1 As reported, the prevalence of glaucoma in the People’s Republic of China is approximately 1.95%–3.60%. 2 The prevalence of POAG is 0.86%–2.85% in adults aged 50 years and older living in different places in the People’s Republic of China, 3 – 7 and this is expected to rise substantially in the coming years as the population ages and the prevalence of myopia increases. There are an estimated 15 million glaucoma patients in the People’s Republic of China, including three million who are blind in one eye and 1.2 million who are blind in both eyes.…”

Social, health and ocular factors associated with primary open‐angle glaucoma amongst Chinese Singaporeans

“…Findings from these key publications are summarized in Table . Factors such as older age, elevated IOP and myopia have consistently demonstrated an association with POAG amongst Chinese . Of note, in the Singapore Chinese Eye Study cross‐sectional study, where our controls were recruited from, advanced age, male gender and raised IOP were described as risk factors for POAG .…”

“…There have been a few studies investigating factors associated with POAG amongst ethnic Chinese . Findings from these key publications are summarized in Table .…”

“…There have been a few studies investigating factors associated with POAG amongst ethnic Chinese. [39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] Findings from these key publications are summarized in Table 4. Factors such as older age, elevated IOP and myopia have consistently demonstrated an association with POAG amongst Chinese.…”

“…Factors such as older age, elevated IOP and myopia have consistently demonstrated an association with POAG amongst Chinese. 17,23,39,[41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48][49] Of note, in the Singapore Chinese Eye Study crosssectional study, where our controls were recruited from, advanced age, male gender and raised IOP were described as risk factors for POAG. 40 However, because of its cross-sectional nature, it had a limited number of POAG subjects (57 of 3353 cases).…”