Are diabetes and blood sugar control associated with the diagnosis of eye diseases? An English prospective observational study of glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, macular degeneration and cataract diagnosis trajectories in older age

Background
The growing global burden of diabetes suggests a currently unrealised growth in prevalence of eye disease. This prospective observational study addresses gaps in evidence of blood sugar control as a risk factor for the diagnosis of glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, macular degeneration and cataract using waves 2–9 (2004–2019) of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing.

Methods
Logistic regression modelling is used to predict the probability of self-reported diagnosis of four eye conditions separately over a 14-year period in a community-dwelling sample in England. Analysis of approximately 29 000 person observations over eight study waves from around 5600 participants for each eye disease is conducted with an average of 5.7 waves per participant. Participants’ baseline blood sugar control is categorised as non-diabetic (diabetes not previously diagnosed and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c)

Read More

Incidence and risk factors for glaucoma and its clinical, mental health and economic impact in an elderly population: a longitudinal study

Objectives
To investigate the incidence and determinants of glaucoma in an elderly Chinese population, and clinical, mental health and economic impacts.

Design
This nationally representative, longitudinal study assessed self-reported 6-year (from 2011 to 2018) incident glaucoma diagnosis by a physician and measured biological, clinical and socioeconomical participant characteristics at baseline and endline.

Setting
In the first stage, 150 county-level units from across China were randomly selected with a probability-proportional-to-size sampling technique from a frame containing all county-level units nationwide. The sample was stratified by region and within region by urban district or rural county and per capita gross domestic product. The final sample of 150 counties included 30 out of 31 provinces and autonomous regions in China.

Participants
Consenting, community-dwelling Chinese persons aged 50 years and older.

Primary and secondary outcome measures
Incident glaucoma incidence (primary), factors associated with incident glaucoma (secondary), impact of glaucoma (secondary).

Results
Among 9973 individuals, 3.4% reported a glaucoma diagnosis between 2011 and 2018; Central China had the highest incidence (3.95%) and Eastern China the lowest (2.64%) between 2011 and 2018. Those diagnosed with glaucoma during 2011 and 2018 were of older age (beta coefficient: 0.050, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.001, p

Read More