Abstract
Purpose :
To estimate the prevalence of undetected open-angle glaucoma (UOAG) and the factors associated with UOAG in a population-based sample of African American adults.
Methods :
A population-based sample of self-identified African Americans 40 years of age and older (n = 6347) from thirty contiguous census tracts in Inglewood, California, underwent a complete ophthalmic examination and an in-home-administered questionnaire to assess sociodemographic (e.g. marital status, employment status, education level, annual income level), lifestyle (e.g. smoking history), and biological and medical (e.g. weight and height, diabetes mellitus, healthcare and eye care utilization) risk factors associated with UOAG. Evidence of glaucomatous optic neuropathy on visual fields and/or optic nerve assessment was used to determine the presence of OAG. Persons who were not previously diagnosed for glaucoma were classified as having UOAG. Multivariable regression analysis was used to identify variables independently associated with UOAG.
Results :
Of the 406 African Americans with OAG, 99 (24%) reported no previous diagnosis of OAG. The independent risk factors associated with UOAG included persons (i) having 2 or more comorbidities, (ii) being 40-60 years of age, and (iii) who had less than a high school education.
Conclusions :
These findings suggest that the prevalence of UOAG in this population-based sample of African Americans while significant is lower than that seen in other population-based studies (50% and higher). Screening for glaucoma in persons with these risk factors, especially those between 40 and 60 years of age, who have less than a high school education, and those with multiple comorbidities would help identify additional persons with glaucoma. If treatment can be initiated early in these persons, then the burden of glaucomatous vision loss and blindness can be reduced in this high-risk minority population.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.