Cataract Prevalence in Older Indians
Author Information
Author(s): Vashist Praveen MPH, Talwar Badrinath MS, Dip NBE (Oph), Gogoi Madhurjya MD, Maraini Giovanni MD, Camparini Monica MD, Ravindran Ravilla D. MS, Murthy Gudlavalleti V. MPH, MSc, Fitzpatrick Kathryn E. MSc, John Neena MSc, Chakravarthy Usha FRCS, PhD, Ravilla Thulasiraj D. MBA, Fletcher Astrid E. PhD
Primary Institution: Dr. Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
Hypothesis
To describe the prevalence of cataract in older people in 2 areas of north and south India.
Conclusion
The study found high rates of unoperated cataract in older people in north and south India, with women having higher rates than men.
Supporting Evidence
- The prevalence of unoperated cataract was 58% in north India and 53% in south India.
- Nuclear cataract was the most common type, affecting 48% in north India and 38% in south India.
- The prevalence of any cataract was similar in both regions, at around 73% in north and 72% in south India.
- Women had higher rates of cataract, with an odds ratio of 1.8 compared to men.
- The study included over 7500 participants aged 60 and older.
Takeaway
Many older people in India have cataracts, which can make it hard for them to see. Women are more likely to have cataracts than men.
Methodology
Population-based, cross-sectional study with randomly sampled villages and hospital-based ophthalmic examinations.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to lower response rates in older participants and geographical variations.
Limitations
The study results may not apply to city populations and response rates were lower in the oldest age group.
Participant Demographics
Participants were aged ≥60 years, with a mix of rural and urban populations from north and south India.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.01
Confidence Interval
95% CI, 56–60
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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