Colombian Ocular Inflammatory Diseases Epidemiology Study (COIDES): Optic Neuritis incidence and sociodemographic characterization 2015-2020

Abstract

Purpose : Optic neuritis (ON) is caused by several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases that affect optic nerve function. Its frequency has yet to be well described in populations from the southern hemisphere. This study aims to estimate the incidence of ON in Colombia.

Methods : A Population-based study was made using the national database from the Colombian Ministry of Health. The International Classification of Diseases-10 code for ON (H46x; H481; G360) was used to estimate the incidence from 2015 to 2019. In addition, we evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the epidemiology of the disease during 2020, using the Gaussian Random Markov Field model (conditional autoregressive model). Finally, a standardized morbidity rate (SMR) map was created to assess the country's geographic distribution of ON.

Results : From 2015 to 2019, a total of 2,463 new cases of ON were reported. The overall 5-year incidence rate was 1.56 (95% CI: 1.55-1.56) cases per 100,000 consultations; 66% of the patients were females. The presentation peak in males occurred in the quinquennium of 50 to 55 years of age, 45 to 50 in the case of females. During 2020, consultations were reduced in 0.15 cases per 100,000 consultations (Fig 1). The regions with the highest number of cases on the SMR map and increasing risk of new cases were Bogotá, Antioquia, and Valle del Cauca (Fig 2).

Conclusions : Colombia has a slightly lower incidence of ON than the northern hemisphere countries, which has been reported to be between 3.7-5.36 per 100,000 inhabitants. The absence of face-to-face diagnostic methods during the pandemic lockdown drove fewer reported ON cases during 2020. Further studies on the visual outcomes after lockdowns are required.

This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.