Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in old persons: Age, Gene/environment Susceptibility Reykjavik Study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence and signs of early and late age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in an old cohort.


METHODS
Population-based cohort study.


METHODS
We included 5272 persons aged ≥66 years, randomly sampled from the Reykjavik area.


METHODS
Fundus images were taken through dilated pupils using a 45-degree digital camera and graded for drusen size, type, area, increased retinal pigment, retinal pigment epithelial depigmentation, neovascular lesions, and geographic atrophy (GA) using the modified Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System.


METHODS
Age-related macular degeneration in an elderly cohort.


RESULTS
The mean age of participants was 76 years. The prevalence of early AMD was 12.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0-13.9) for those aged 66 to 74 years and 36% (95% CI, 30.9-41.1) for those aged ≥85 years. The prevalence of exudative AMD was 3.3% (95% CI, 2.8-3.8). The prevalence of pure GA was 2.4% (95% CI, 2.0-2.8). The highest prevalence of late AMD was among those aged ≥85 years: 11.4% (95% CI, 8.2-14.5) for exudative AMD and 7.6% (95% CI, 4.8-10.4) for pure GA.


CONCLUSIONS
Persons aged ≥85 years have a 10-fold higher prevalence of late AMD than those aged 70 to 74 years. The high prevalence of late AMD in the oldest age group and expected increase of elderly people in the western world in coming years call for improved preventive measures and novel treatments.
Ophthalmology, Landspitali University Hospital, Iceland. fridbert@landspitali.is
Fridbert
F
Jonasson
Arsaell
A
Arnarsson
Gudny
G
Eiríksdottir
Tamara B
TB
Harris
Lenore J
LJ
Launer
Stacy M
SM
Meuer
Barbara E
BE
Klein
Ronald
R
Klein
Vilmundur
V
Gudnason
Mary Frances
MF
Cotch
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D057092:Geographic Atrophy / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D015593:Retinal Drusen / Q000453:epidemiology; D055213:Retinal Pigment Epithelium / Q000473:pathology