title: Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in Japanese immigrants and their descendants living in Londrina (PR) - Brazil.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of early and late-stage age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) and its association with risk factors such as age, gender, smoking, body mass index, hypertension and diabetes history, cataracts and pseudophakia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Population-based cross-sectional study in an elderly Japanese-Brazilian population from Londrina (Paraná, Brazil).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 483 (80.5%) of the 600 registered members of a local association for Japanese immigrants and their descendants, aged 60 years and up. The presence of early and late-stage age-related macular degeneration was determined using the standard protocol and the international classification system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the study subjects was 71 years. The overall prevalence of age-related macular degeneration was 15.1% (CI 95%; 12-18.7). The prevalence of early-stage age-related macular degeneration was 13.8% (CI 95%; 10.9-17.3), geographic atrophy was present in 0.4% and neovascular age-related macular degeneration in 0.8%. Age-related macular degeneration was significantly (p=0.004) and linearly (p=0.001) associated with age.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study population displays a prevalence of early and late-stage age-related macular degeneration and component lesions similar to those of other Western countries, and data suggest a higher prevalence than that reported for populations in Japan. Since the age-related macular degeneration prevalence tends to rise as the population ages, studies identifying risk factors and exploring prevention methods are becoming increasingly important.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brasil. aoguido@sercomtel.com.br
authors.forename: Ana Paula Miyagusko Taba
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Oguido
authors.forename: Antonio Marcelo Barbante
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Casella
authors.forename: Tiemi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Eduardo Henrique de Freitas
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Ramos Filho
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Berbel
authors.forename: Ricardo Montanheiro Alcântara
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Silva
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution