The Prevalence of Primary Angle Closure Glaucoma in European Derived Populations

Abstract

Purpose: : To estimate the prevalence of primary angle closure glaucoma (PACG) in European derived populations.

Methods: : Systematic review and modeling of PACG prevalence data from population studies. PACG was defined according to the ISGEO definition requiring structural ± functional evidence of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. Prevalence estimates were applied to the 2010 United Nations projected population figures to estimate case numbers.

Results: : The prevalence of PACG in those 40 years old or more is 0.4% (95% CI 0.3 to 0.5). Age-specific prevalence values are 0.02% (CI 0.00 to 0.08) for those 40-49 years, 0.60% (0.27 to 1.00) for those 50-59 years old, 0.20% (0.06 to 0.42) for those 60-69 years old and 0.94% (0.63 to 1.35) for those 70 years old and older. Three-quarters of all cases occur in females (3.25 female: 1 male; CI 1.76 to 5.94).

Conclusions: : This analysis provides a current evidence-based estimate of PACG prevalence in European derived populations and suggests PACG is up to 4 times more common than previously thought. There are an estimated 130,000 people in the United Kingdom, 1.60 million people in Europe and 581,000 people in the United States with PACG today. Accounting for aging population structures, cases are predicted to increase by 19% in the UK, 9% in Europe and 18% in the United States within the next decade.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence