title: Prevalence and determinants of age-related macular degeneration in the 50 years and older population: a hospital based study in Maharashtra, India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We present the magnitude and determinants of age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) among the 50 year and older population that visited our hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cohort of eye patients with ARMD, seen from 2006 to 2009. Optometrist noted the best-corrected vision. Ophthalmologists examined eyes using a slit-lamp bio-microscope. The ARMD was confirmed by fluoresceine angiography and optical coherent tomography. The age, sex, history of smoking, sun exposure, family history of ARMD, diet, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and diabetes were associated with ARMD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 19,140 persons of ≥ 50 years of age-attending eye clinic in our hospital, 302 persons had ARMD in at least one eye. The proportion of overall ARMD was 1.38% (95% CI 1.21--1.55). The proportion of age-related maculopathy (ARM) and late ARMD was 1.14% (95% CI 0.99--1.29) and 0.24% (95% CI 0.21-0.24) respectively. ARM was unilateral and bilateral in 64 (29.2%) and 155 (70.8%) persons respectively. Dry ARMD was found in 47.8%. On regression analysis, old age (OR = 1.05), male (OR = 0.54), and history of smoking (OR = 2.32) were significant risk factors of ARMD. A total of 4.2% of persons with ARMD were blind (vision <3/60). Only 43% of persons with ARMD had J6 grade of the best-corrected near vision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ARMD does not seem to be of public health magnitude in the study area. Early stages of ARMD were common among patients. Older age, being male, and history of smoking were significant risk factors for ARMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Non Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Control, Eye and Ear Health Care, Ministry of Health, Muscat, Oman.
authors.forename: Sucheta R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Kulkarni
authors.forename: Supriya R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Aghashe
authors.forename: Rajiv B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Khandekar
authors.forename: Madan D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Deshpande
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence