Abstract
Abstract: :
Purpose: To determine the prevalence of ARM in a population-based sample of Latinos (age ≥40 years). Methods: All participants underwent complete eye examinations including fundus photography. ARM was graded in a masked manner using the Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System. Early ARM was defined as the presence of soft indistinct drusen or by the presence of hard or soft distinct drusen with retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) depigmentation or increased retinal pigment in the macular area, and the absence of signs of late ARM. Late ARM was defined as the presence of signs of exudative age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) or geographic atrophy. The chi-square statistic was used to compare age differences. The Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel chi-square statistic was used to compare gender differences adjusting for age. Results: A majority of the 5102 participants was female (58.2%). Mean age was 54.1 (± 10.7) years. Any ARM was present in 9.8% of the participants (9.4% had early ARM and 0.4% had late ARM). Exudative ARMD was present in 0.3% and pure geographic atrophy in 0.2% of the participants. Prevalence of ARM was greater in older than younger individuals. Any ARM was present in 6.0% of those aged 40 to 49 years and 37.5% of those aged 80+ years (p<0.0001). Early ARM was present in 6.0% of those aged 40 to 49 years and in 26.1% of those aged 80+ years (p<0.0001). Late ARM was absent in those aged 40 to 49 years, but was present in 11.4% of those aged 80+ years (p<0.0001). After age-adjustment, men had a significantly higher prevalence of early ARM than women (12.0% versus 7.5%, p<0.0001). However, the prevalence of late ARM was similar in men and women (men 0.5%, women 0.4%). Conclusion: Overall, the prevalences of any, early, and late ARM, in this population of Latinos are lower than those observed in Whites. The prevalence of ARM is higher in older than younger individuals. Furthermore, men in this Latino cohort have a higher prevalence of any ARM and early ARM than women.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: pre • macula/fovea