The three-year incidence of age-related macular degeneration: the "Pathologies Oculaires Liées à l'Age" (POLA) prospective study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the 3-year incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a French population.


METHODS
The "Pathologies Oculaires Liées à l'Age" (POLA) Study, a population-based prospective cohort study.


METHODS
Retinal photographs were graded according to the international classification. Early age-related maculopathy (ARM) was defined by the presence of (1) soft indistinct drusen (>125 microm) and/or (2) soft distinct drusen (>125 microm) associated with pigmentary abnormalities.


RESULTS
The 3-year incidence of AMD was 0.49% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.13 to 0.85) and increased significantly with age, reaching 3.41% (95% CI: 0 to 7.2) in participants aged 80 years or more. After adjustment for age, eyes with early ARM at baseline were 78 times more at risk of developing AMD than eyes without early ARM (OR = 78.4, 95% CI: 14.6 to 420.1).


CONCLUSIONS
This study confirms that AMD develops mainly in subjects aged 80 years or older, and in subjects with early ARM.
Delcourt
Cécile
C
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Research Unit U593 for Epidemiology, Public Health and Development, Université Victor Segalen Bordeaux 2, Bordeaux, France. delcourt@montp.inserm.fr
Lacroux
Annie
A
Carrière
Isabelle
I
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies