Risk Factors for Age Related Maculopathy in a Tunisian Population

Abstract

Purpose: : To evaluate risk factors for age related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Tunisian population

Results: : Prevalence of early and late AMD was respectively 4.5 % and 11.9%. Age was a significant risk factor: prevalence was 12.5% in patient group aged between 50 and 60 years and 31% in patient group aged more than 80 years (p=10-3). Females were more exposed to AMD than males (p<10-3). Excessive sun exposure, lack of nutrients and antioxidants increases significantly the risk of AMD (p<10-3). Smoking was the most important risk factor (p<10-3) and prevalence increased proportionally to the importance of cumulated annual consummation, it was evaluated at 13.2% for low consummation less than 10 pack annual and at 69% for high consummation more than 40 pack annual[p<10-3 OR=10.7 RR=4]. Cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and dyslipimia were not significantly associated with a high prevalence of AMD. Cataract extraction did not increase the risk of AMD in our study and myopia was associated with a low risk of AMD.

Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • retina