Glaucoma in rural China (the Rural Epidemiology for Glaucoma in China (REG-China)): a national cross-sectional study.
Liu Yuanyuan, Yao Baoqun, Chen Xi, Yang Xueli, Liu Yong, Xie Zhenggao, Chen Xiaofeng, Yuan Zhigang, Wang Xingrong, Hu Dan
AI Summary
Rural China has a high glaucoma prevalence (1.7%), predominantly primary angle-closure, with age, smoking, and stroke as risk factors. This necessitates integrating glaucoma into chronic disease management programs.
Abstract
Objective
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of glaucoma with associated factors in the rural populations of 10 provinces in China.
Design
A population-based cross-sectional study.
Methods
All participants aged 6 years or older from 10 provinces completed visual acuity testing, slit-lamp examination, ophthalmoscopy and non-contact tonometry. Glaucoma suspects underwent fundus photography, Goldmann applanation tonometry, visual field testing and gonioscopy. Glaucoma was determined according to the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology classification scheme. Associations of demographics and medical factors with glaucoma were assessed using multiple logistic regression models.
Results
From June 2017 to October 2018, 48 398 of 52 041 participants were included in the final analyses. The age-standardised prevalence of glaucoma was 1.7% (95% CI 1.55% to 1.78%) among the participants older than 6 years, which was 2.1% (95% CI 1.93% to 2.23%) in participants aged over 40 years. The constituent ratios of glaucoma were: 44.4% primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), 34.7% primary open-angle glaucoma, 2.6% congenital glaucoma and 18.3% other types of glaucoma. Increasing age, smoking, cerebral stroke, type 2 diabetes, higher education (college or more) and higher personal income were significant risk factors for PACG. The unilateral and bilateral blindness rates in the entire study population were 4.692% and 1.068%, respectively. A family history of glaucoma was a significant risk factor for the prevalence of glaucoma and blindness in at least one eye.
Conclusions
Rural populations have a high prevalence of glaucoma, which should be included in chronic disease management programmes in China for long-term care.
MeSH Terms
Shields Classification
Key Concepts5
The age-standardised prevalence of glaucoma was 1.7% (95% CI 1.55% to 1.78%) among participants older than 6 years in rural populations of 10 provinces in China.
The age-standardised prevalence of glaucoma was 2.1% (95% CI 1.93% to 2.23%) in participants aged over 40 years in rural populations of 10 provinces in China.
The constituent ratios of glaucoma types in rural populations of 10 provinces in China were: 44.4% primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG), 34.7% primary open-angle glaucoma, 2.6% congenital glaucoma and 18.3% other types of glaucoma.
Increasing age, smoking, cerebral stroke, type 2 diabetes, higher education (college or more), and higher personal income were significant risk factors for primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) in rural populations of 10 provinces in China.
A family history of glaucoma was a significant risk factor for the prevalence of glaucoma and blindness in at least one eye in rural populations of 10 provinces in China.
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