Recent trends of ophthalmic diseases in Italy: are official data reliable?
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to investigate the epidemiological trends of ocular diseases using hospital discharge forms as our data source.


METHODS
We examined official Italian Statistical Institute (ISTAT) data concerning patients discharged from ophthalmologic wards. Our analysis was limited to the years when ISTAT managed health service data (1986, 1990 and 1994); whilst currently this duty has been transferred to the Ministry of Health.


RESULTS
The diseases encountered most frequently were cataract, glaucoma and retinal detachment. Patients over 65 years of age represented 54% in 1986 and 67% in 1994. We observed a general trend toward shorter hospital stays (10.5 days in 1986 and 6.4 days in 1994). We applied an indirect analysis that included masculinity and chi 2 homogeneity that were aimed to evaluate results de spite the questionable reliability of ISTAT gross data.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of indirect analysis (masculinity and chi 2 homogeneity, of data combined with the significant number of charts presenting incomplete diagnostic information strongly question the reliability of official documentation. The increase of hospitalisation for ophthalmic surgery and a higher average age of affected subjects were confirmed. We observed a reduction of mean hospital stay per admission, indicating a positive achievement in terms of cost reduction.
Cruciani
F
F
Department of Ophthalmology, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. filippo.cruciani@tin.it
Lombardo
E
E
Abdolrahimzadeh
B
B
Antonelli
B
B
Saracino
V
V
Melino
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012163:Retinal Detachment / Q000453:epidemiology*