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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Asel Ryskulova, MD, PhD, MPH¹, Richard Klein, MPH¹, Kathleen Turczyn, MPH¹, Mary Frances Cotch, PhD², and Rosemary Janiszewski, MS². (1) Office of Analysis, Epidemiology and Health Promotion, National Center for Health Statistics, CDC, 3311 Toledo Road, Room 6309, Hyattsville, MD 20782, 301 458-4550, ARyskulova@cdc.gov, (2) National Eye Institute, National Insitutes of Health, 31 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892

Although age-related eye diseases (ED) are leading causes of visual impairment (VI) and the economic and societal cost of ED exceeds $68 billion annually, limited national data on prevalence of ED and associated VI exist. In 2002 the National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative household survey, included a special vision supplement. This supplement was used to estimate prevalence of the selected ED by demographic characteristics and diagnosed diabetes. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate techniques in the SUDAAN software package. In 2002 among US adults 18 years and older, the estimated prevalence rates for selected ED were: cataract - 8.6%, glaucoma - 2.0%, macular degeneration - 1.1%, and diabetic retinopathy – 0.7%. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among persons with diabetes was 9.9%. About 30.1% of persons with cataract, 33.1% of persons with glaucoma, 50.4% of persons with macular degeneration, and 52.1% of persons with diabetic retinopathy reported having VI. The prevalence of ED increased significantly with increasing age, particularly in people over age 65. Age-adjusted prevalence of ED was higher among women, adults with diabetes, adults with low income, and adults with less than a high school education than their respective counterparts. This study presents the most recent available national data on self-reported prevalence of selected ED and associated VI. With the aging of the population, the number of Americans with major eye diseases will likely increase, and vision loss become an even greater public health problem that may have important implications for health care system.

Learning Objectives:

• To identify the prevalence of visual impairment and eye diseases among US population
• To recognize the socioeconomic and demographic characteristics that are associated with increased likelihood for visual impairment and eye diseases

Keywords: Vision Care, Aging

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation