title: Migration study of lens opacities in Bangladeshi adults in London and Bangladesh: a pilot study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lens opacities (LO) occur at an earlier age and have a higher prevalence in developing countries. In this pilot study, we assessed the feasibility and practical challenges of conducting a migration study, testing the hypothesis that migration from Bangladesh to the UK decreases the amount of LO on account of less exposure to adverse environmental factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample, which was selected from East London, UK and in Bangladesh, underwent detailed examination and lens grading by the same certified grader using Lens Opacification Classification System III. Data were analysed using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Considerable difficulties were encountered in recruiting the sample in both locations. 372 Bangladeshis aged 40-70 years were examined: 131 in London and 241 in Bangladesh. Having never migrated from Bangladesh was an independent risk factor for opacities (OR 7.6; 95% CI 3.6 to 15.9; p=0.001) as were age (OR 7.1; 95% CI 4.0 to 12.7; p=0.001) and diabetes (OR 2.5; 95% 1.0 to 6.0; p=0.04). The odds of LO were lower among those who had lived in the UK for a higher proportion of their life (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.93 to 0.99; p=0.01), but this was not significant after adjusting for age and diabetes (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.94 to 1.01; p=0.16).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights the challenges of migration studies, and of studies involving ethnic minorities. Preliminary findings suggest that migration to the UK is protective for LO despite a significantly higher rate of diabetes in the UK. A larger study is warranted based on these preliminary findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Finger
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Selvaraj
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sivasubramaniam
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Priya
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Morjaria
authors.affiliation: Stepney Health Centre, London, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bansal
authors.affiliation: University of South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muhit
authors.affiliation: Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Sanjay
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kinra
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Research, International Centre for Eye Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Clare E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Gilbert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D001459:Bangladesh / Q000208:ethnology; D002386:Cataract / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Epidemiology; Lens and zonules