Effect of Community Screening on the Demographic Makeup and Clinical Severity of Glaucoma Patients Receiving Care in Urban China.

PURPOSE

To assess differences in clinical and demographic characteristics between glaucoma patients identified by community screening and those newly diagnosed in hospital in a Chinese setting.

DESIGN

Prospective comparative cohort study.

METHODS

A total of 373 patients identified with glaucoma among 27 000 persons undergoing community screening were enrolled as the Screening group. The Clinic group consisted of 119 consecutively presenting, newly diagnosed glaucoma patients in hospital. Primary outcomes were mean deviation (MD), visual field index (VFI) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) on Humphrey Field Analyzer, and intraocular pressure (IOP). Disease severity was categorized into 5 stages based on MD.

RESULTS

A total of 89.6% (328/373) of Screening group patients had IOP < 21 mm Hg, compared to 48.7% (58/119) in the Clinic group (P < .001). The mean VFI, MD, and PSD were 76.4% ± 23.8%, -9.7 ± 7.3 dB, and 6.4 ± 3.4 dB in the Screening group and significantly worse in the Clinic group: 44.1% ± 32.0%, -19.8 ± 9.5 dB, and 7.6 ± 3.1 dB (P < .001 for MD and VFI, P = .001 for PSD). Nearly three quarters of Screening patients had early or moderate visual field loss (monocular), while nearly half of Clinic patients had severe loss at the time of diagnosis. Screening patients were significantly more likely to be older (P < .001) and female (P < .001) than Clinic patients.

CONCLUSION

Glaucoma patients detected through community screening had significantly milder damage, and were more likely to include underserved groups (women, elderly) than those newly diagnosed in a clinic in this setting. Comparison with population studies suggests that cases of glaucoma with IOP < 21 mm Hg are severely underascertained in China, a situation that may be improved by screening.