The epidemiology of medical treatment for glaucoma and ocular hypertension in the United Kingdom: 1994 to 2003.
OBJECTIVE
To study trends in the prevalence of being treated for glaucoma and ocular hypertension from 1994 to 2003, and to examine factors determining treatment in 2002.


METHODS
Computerised data (the DIN-LINK database) from 131 general practices across the United Kingdom, in which half a million patients aged 40 years or more were registered annually, were used. On average 10 000 patients were treated for glaucoma and ocular hypertension annually.


RESULTS
Prevalence of being treated for glaucoma and ocular hypertension increased from 1.7% in 1994 to 2.3% in 2003. Those aged 85 years or more were 13 times (95% CI 12.2 to 13.8) more likely to be treated than those aged 40-64 years. Men were more likely to be treated than women (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.28). Subjects "hard pressed" were less likely to be treated than "wealthy achievers" (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.99). While use of topical beta blocker only medications has declined since 1995, use of topical prostaglandins and combination therapies has increased. In 2003, use of prostaglandins overtook beta blocker only medications.


CONCLUSIONS
Prevalence of being treated for glaucoma has increased over time, and rises with age. Differences in treatment by sex and social status could be explained by use of or access to health care or by underlying prevalence of disease. Trends in treated glaucoma emphasise the shift from use of topical beta blockers to newer therapies.
Owen
C G
CG
Division of Community Health Sciences, St George's, University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK. cowen@sgul.ac.uk
Carey
I M
IM
De Wilde
S
S
Whincup
P H
PH
Wormald
R
R
Cook
D G
DG
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D008297:Male; D016347:Medical Records Systems, Computerized; D008875:Middle Aged; D009798:Ocular Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015995:Prevalence; D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012923:Social Class; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D011448:Prostaglandin Antagonists