title: Incidence of acute angle-closure attacks in Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia.
abstract: The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of acute angle-closure attacks among residents of the Split-Dalmatia County, Croatia, during a 6-year period. In this retrospective, interventional case series study, hospital records of 53 consecutive patients (33 female, mean age 71.7 +/- 16.6 and 20 male, mean age 66.2 +/- 23.2) with acute angle-closure attacks, treated at University Department of Ophthalmology, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia, from January 2002 to December 2007 were reviewed. The annual incidence of acute angle-closure attacks was 2 cases per 100,000 (95% CI, 0-3.4). The incidence of acute angle-closure was 0.6 (95% CI, 0-1.4) cases/100,000 per year. The incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma was 1.5 (95% CI, 0-2.8) cases/100,000 per year. The incidence was 1.5 (95% CI, 0-3.4) cases/100,000 per year in males and 2.3 (95% CI, 0-4.6) in females. Nine (17%) patients were treated by medicamentous therapy, peripheral iridectomy was performed in 19 (36%) patients and laser iridotomy in 16 (30%) patients, whereas nine (17%) patients underwent filtering surgery. Median time between the onset of symptoms to presentation at the hospital was two days (range 1-21 days). There was no statistically significant association between the acute angle-closure attacks and seasonal variation (chi2-test = 4.6; p = 0.20). In conclusion, the number of patients with acute angle-closure attacks in the Split-Dalmatia County is relatively small; however, the significant incidence of acute angle-closure glaucoma could pose a social and health care problem in the County.
authors: University Department of Ophthalmology, Split, Croatia. lovreb@kbsplit.hr
authors: Lovro
authors: L
authors: Bojić
authors: Veljko
authors: V
authors: Rogosić
authors: Zeljko
authors: Z
authors: Kovacić
authors: Zlatko
authors: Z
authors: Kljajić
authors: Nikola Kolja
authors: NK
authors: Poljak
authors: Zlatko
authors: Z
authors: Hrgović
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017523:Croatia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015812:Glaucoma, Angle-Closure / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged