Cataract Blindness in Armenia: The Results of Nationwide Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB).

IF 1.7 4区医学 Q3 OPHTHALMOLOGY

Ophthalmic epidemiology Pub Date : 2024-06-01 Epub Date: 2023-08-17 DOI:10.1080/09286586.2023.2248627

Aida Giloyan, Naira Khachatryan, Ala Paduca, Hans Limburg, Varduhi Petrosyan

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose: This study assessed the prevalence of cataract blindness, cataract surgical coverage (CSC), effective CSC, visual outcome after cataract surgery, and barriers to cataract surgery in a population aged 50 years and older in Armenia using Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) methodology.

Methods: The study sample included 2258 individuals aged 50 years and older who were randomly selected from 11 provinces of Armenia in 2019 following the RAAB methodology. The study team randomly selected 50 clusters, 50 people in each. The RAAB survey form was used to collect information on cataract blindness, visual outcome after cataract surgery, and barriers to cataract surgery.

Results: The mean age of the participants was 65.3 (SD = 9.9) ranging from 50 to 99. The majority of participants were women (65.6%). Age- and sex-adjusted prevalence of blindness due to all causes was 1.5%; of which 36.4% was bilaterally blind due to cataract. The CSC and effective CSC at a cataract surgical threshold of <6/12 were 55.1% and 24.4%, respectively. Good outcome was reported in 43.7% of eyes after cataract surgery, borderline in 37.2% of eyes, and poor outcome in 19.1%. The main barriers to cataract surgery included "cost," "need not felt," or "fear."

Conclusion: The prevalence of cataract blindness in our study was higher compared to high-income regions and lower than estimates from South/Southeast Asia. This study suggests the urgent need to update the National Strategic Plan to prevent blindness in Armenia with a focus on improving the quality and coverage of cataract surgery.

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亚美尼亚白内障致盲情况：全国可避免盲症快速评估（RAAB）结果。

目的：本研究采用 "可避免盲症快速评估"（RAAB）方法，对亚美尼亚 50 岁及以上人群的白内障致盲率、白内障手术覆盖率（CSC）、有效的 CSC、白内障手术后的视觉效果以及白内障手术的障碍进行了评估：研究样本包括按照 RAAB 方法于 2019 年从亚美尼亚 11 个省随机抽取的 2258 名 50 岁及以上人口。研究小组随机抽取了 50 个群组，每个群组 50 人。采用 RAAB 调查表收集有关白内障致盲、白内障手术后视觉效果以及白内障手术障碍的信息：参与者的平均年龄为 65.3 岁（SD = 9.9），从 50 岁到 99 岁不等，其中女性占大多数（65.6%）。经年龄和性别调整后，因各种原因导致失明的比例为 1.5%，其中 36.4% 因白内障导致双侧失明。白内障手术阈值的 CSC 和有效 CSC 结论：在我们的研究中，白内障致盲率高于高收入地区，低于南亚/东南亚的估计值。这项研究表明，亚美尼亚急需更新国家防盲战略计划，重点提高白内障手术的质量和覆盖率。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Ophthalmic epidemiology 医学-眼科学

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

5.60%

发文量

审稿时长

6-12 weeks

期刊介绍： Ophthalmic Epidemiology is dedicated to the publication of original research into eye and vision health in the fields of epidemiology, public health and the prevention of blindness. Ophthalmic Epidemiology publishes editorials, original research reports, systematic reviews and meta-analysis articles, brief communications and letters to the editor on all subjects related to ophthalmic epidemiology. A broad range of topics is suitable, such as: evaluating the risk of ocular diseases, general and specific study designs, screening program implementation and evaluation, eye health care access, delivery and outcomes, therapeutic efficacy or effectiveness, disease prognosis and quality of life, cost-benefit analysis, biostatistical theory and risk factor analysis. We are looking to expand our engagement with reports of international interest, including those regarding problems affecting developing countries, although reports from all over the world potentially are suitable. Clinical case reports, small case series (not enough for a cohort analysis) articles and animal research reports are not appropriate for this journal.