title: [Age-related macular degeneration: analysis in two ophthalmological centers in Pernambuco-Brazil].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate age-related macular degeneration (AMD) prevalence and its risk factors in two different populations, with distinct socioeconomic conditions, at two ophthalmological centers in Pernambuco state, Brazil.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed in 200 volunteers aged 55 years or older. One hundred were cared for by the Public Health System (in the Fundação Altino Ventura FAV-SUS) and 100 were cared for at a private hospital (Hospital de Olhos de Pernambuco-HOPE). There were 400 eyes altogether. Age-related macular degeneration was graded using fundoscopic examination using AREDS classification (Age-Related Eye Disease Study).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Presence of age-related macular degeneration was observed in 61 eyes (30%) of the patients of the Fundação Altino Ventura and in 46 eyes (23%) of the patients of the Hospital de Olhos de Pernambuco. The age-related macular degeneration frequency difference between these populations, that are not similar regarding their socioeconomic level, was not significant (p=0.113). There was a positive association between aging and the age-related macular degeneration frequency (p<0.0001). This association was also present in the female gender (p=0.0451), the presence of cataract (p=0.0447), cataract surgery (p=0.0432) and obesity (p<0.0001). No age-related macular degeneration association with race (p=0.1367), hypertension (p=0.1985), diabetes (p=0.6712), smoking (p=0.6374), alcohol intake (p=0.7359), ocular sunlight exposure (p=0.9399), light-colored iris (p=0.1691), hyperopia (p=0.5098) and the usage of antioxidants (p=0.8251) was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The age-related macular degeneration frequency in the two studied ophthalmological centers varied from 23 to 30%. Age-related macular degeneration association with age; female gender; cataract; cataract surgery; and obesity was observed. No age-related macular degeneration association with socioeconomic level was found in this study.
authors.affiliation: Fundação Altino Ventura, Recife, PE.
authors.forename: Laura Patrícia Ferreira
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: José Ricardo
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: Ana Cecília de Souza
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Leão
authors.forename: Marília Fernandes de
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Sena
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors