[The prevalence of primary angle-closure glaucoma and its causes in rural area of Shuangyang district in Changchun, Jilin province].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of primary angle-closure glaucoma (PACG) and its causes in a rural area in Changchun, China.


METHODS
From the rural area of Qijiaxiang, Shuangyang district of Changchun, 1139 individuals aged 40 years and above were randomly selected for the study from September 2004 to February 2005 using Zhao Jialiang's standard. All subjects in this study underwent a preliminary screening examination including visual acuity, the peripheral depth of anterior chamber, slit lamp, tonometry and fundus. The suspects of PACG were asked to repeat the following examinations: tonometry, gonioscopy, fundus, and visual field assessment.


RESULTS
1139 of 1528 subjects were invited to participate in the study (response rate 74.5%). In those age 40 years and above, the prevalence of PACG was 1.5% in men, 3.5% in women, and 2.5% in general population, respectively. The prevalence was increased with age. The anterior chamber was significantly (P<0.01) narrower in the female group than in the male group when the peripheral depth of anterior chamber was compared. The prevalence of PACG was significantly (P<0.02) higher in subjects with positive family history than with negative family history.


CONCLUSIONS
In the rural area in Shuangyang district of Changchun, the prevalence of PACG is higher than other regions surveyed in China. Sex, age, family history and the peripheral depth of anterior chamber are significant risk factors in PACG.
Yuan
Hui-ping
HP
Department of Ophthalmology, the 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China. yuanhp@yahoo.com.cn
Yu
Hong
H
Xiao
Zheng
Z
Shao
Zheng-bo
ZB
Zhang
Xiao-li
XL
Yang
Bin-bin
BB
Sui
Hong
H
Zhao
Ya-shuang
YS
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution