Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: Present knowledge regarding population-based incidence and time trends of congenital and infantile cataract is limited. Furthermore, we have an incomplete understanding of risk factors for this disease. The present investigation takes advantage of the unique Danish registers to study the incidence of childhood cataract during the past 20 years according to age, sex, calendar period, and degree of urbanization. Methods: In Denmark all citizens are given a person-identifiable number by which detailed demographic and disease information is registered and updated on a daily basis. Danish citizens have free access to health care and reporting of all inpatient and outpatient diagnoses is mandatory. The medical records of all patients between 0 and 17 years of age registered with a diagnosis of cataract between January 1, 1977 and 2001 were evaluated. Results: A total of 1,927 patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of childhood cataract. In the most recent period, 1995-2001, the incidence of congenital/infantile/juvenile cataract was 7.2/10,000 for boys and 6.8/10,000 for girls. Sixty-nine percent had undergone surgery. Similar figures for traumatic cataract were 3.0/10,000 for boys and 1.0/10,000 for girls, respectively. The incidence of congenital/infantile/juvenile cataract for both boys and girls remained constant during the study period whereas a significant decrease in the incidence of traumatic cataract in boys but not in girls was observed. . We are presently in the process of characterizing the congenital/infantile cataracts with respect to etiology (hereditary, metabolic, syndromic etc.) and morphology. Conclusions: The incidence of congenital/infantile/juvenile cataract in Denmark is 7.0/10,000 children with no significant difference between boys and girls and no change during the past 20 years. The incidence of traumatic cataract in Denmark is 3 times more common in boys than in girls and the incidence in boys has decreased significantly during the past two decades.
Keywords: cataract • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: pre