title: Wet age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) in rural and urban inhabitants in south-eastern Poland.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Evaluation of the demographic profile of patients from south-eastern Poland treated due to wet age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data concerning 201 patients were analyzed (133 F/ 68 M), aged from 50 -91, (mean age 76 ± 8.6), with the wet form of age-related macular degeneration treated by intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibiting drugs. The significance of the relationships between variables was investigated by means of chi-square test for independence. The differences between the empirical and theoretical sample distribution was examined by means of chi-square goodness-of-fit test. The significance level was set at p=0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Analysis did not show any significant differences in the access to treatment with intravitreal injections of vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors between the rural and urban patients. Urban males and females living in the rural areas received treatment statistically more often (p=0.05). No significant differences were observed with respect to either the waiting time for a visit in a specialist outpatient department, nor the duration of waiting for treatment. Patients from the rural and urban areas presented a similar degree of visual impairment, evidencing the advancement of the pathological process.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Place of residence has no effect on obtaining treatment by patients. The lack of significant differences in treatment between the rural and urban inhabitants may indicate a sufficient level of ophthalmological care in the area of south-eastern Poland. An improvement in the awareness of hazards resulting from inadequate diet and life style could exert a positive effect on the state of health of rural and urban inhabitants. At the same time, knowledge of the disease and risk of blindness related with this disease would increase alertness among rural and urban inhabitants, and in consequence, accelerate an early diagnosis and implementation of an effective treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latalska
authors.affiliation: General Ophthalmology Department, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matysik-Woźniak
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics and Health Statistics, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bylina
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Children's Orthopaedics, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Latalski
authors.affiliation: General Ophthalmology Department, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rejdak
authors.affiliation: Department of Vitreoretinal Surgery, Medical University, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mackiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Informatics and Health Statistics, Institute of Rural Health, Lublin, Poland; Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology, University of Economics and Innovation, Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Mirosław J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jarosz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population; D014505:Urban Population; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy