Estimated Incidence of Open–angle Glaucoma in the United Kingdom Using GPRD Database

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose:To determine the incidence of open–angle glaucoma (OAG) in the United Kingdom. Methods:: The population at risk included patients with General Practice Research Database records for ≥1 year before and ≥1 year after 1/1/1997. Newly diagnosed OAG patients were those with records having medical codes for OAG, excluding patients who had undergone laser peripheral iridotomy or iridectomy. Incidence of definite/probable OAG: number of newly diagnosed OAG patients / number of patient–years at risk. Incidence of definite OAG: number of newly diagnosed OAG patients prescribed an IOP–lowering agent / number of patient–years at risk. Results:In the 1,874,973 participants with 5,750,530 patient–years at risk, 6295 newly diagnosed cases of definite/probable OAG and 4548 cases of definite OAG occurred. The incidence of definite/probable OAG was 1.10 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.14) per 1000 patient–years at risk and of definite OAG was 0.79 (95% CI: 0.75, 0.83) per 1000 patient–years at risk. For both diagnoses, age–specific incidence rates increased markedly in both sexes through age 84 and then declined in those >84. Conclusions:Despite the limitations inherent in estimating disease incidence using a retrospective medical records database, this study provides an initial estimate of the incidence of OAG in the UK.

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