[Prevalence study of age-related macular degeneration in Caojiadu blocks, Shanghai].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of age-related maculopathy (AMD) in Shanghai residents older than 50 years.


METHODS
1023 individuals were examined in the years 2002 and 2003 for clinical and subjective signs of dry and exudative AMD. A interview concerning clinical symptoms of AMD as also a complete eye exam was performed. Non-mydriatic retinoscopy was done by use of a direct opthalmoscopy. Fundus photography was used to confirm and document the diagnosis. The diagnosis of both forms of AMD was made according to the criteria of the Sub-society of Fundus Disease, Chinese Ophthalmological Society.


RESULTS
15.5% of the included population had AMD and 19 of them were exudative AMD. The prevalences of AMD in the age groups of 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and more than 80 were identified as 5.7%, 13.5%, 20.2% and 23.5%, respectively (chi(2) = 27.97, P < 0.01). No statistical differences were found concerning atrophic and exudative AMD related to gender, education, daily focus time, smoking, alcohol consumption and systematic diseases. In the AMD patients, 5.1% and 36.2% of the eyes were identified as blind or with low vision. In exudative AMD patients, 23.3% and 63.3% of the eyes were identified as blind or with low vision. The visual acuity of eyes with exudative AMD was significantly lower than the visual acuity of atrophic AMD eyes. (chi(2) = 15.4, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of AMD is high, and increasing with aging. The AMD, especially the exudative AMD, leads to severe visual impairment.
Zou
Hai-dong
HD
Department of Ophthalmology, First People's Hospital, Medical College of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China. zouhaidong@263.net
Zhang
Xi
X
Xu
Xun
X
Wang
Feng-hua
FH
Zhang
Shi-jie
SJ
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D015995:Prevalence; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data