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Birth prevalence of visually significant infantile cataract in a defined U.S. population
Jonathan M Holmes1, David A Leske, James P Burke
1Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. holmes.jonathan@mayo.edu
Insights
The birth prevalence of visually significant infantile cataract is estimated at 3.0 to 4.5 per 10,000 live births. This study highlights infantile cataracts as a key cause of childhood vision impairment.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Infantile cataract is a significant cause of visual impairment in children.
- Accurate prevalence data is crucial for resource allocation and clinical trial planning.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the birth prevalence of visually significant infantile cataract.
- Utilized population-based comprehensive medical record retrieval in a defined US population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective, population-based study using medical record retrieval.
- Reviewed pediatric patient records (0-17 years) coded for cataract from 1978-1997.
- Defined infantile cataract as diagnosed within the first year; excluded visually insignificant cases.
Main Results:
- Identified 10 incident cases of visually significant infantile cataract, yielding a birth prevalence of 3.0 per 10,000 live births.
- An additional 5 "possible infantile cataract" cases were found, increasing the estimate to 4.5 per 10,000.
- Prevalence estimates included 95% confidence intervals for statistical accuracy.
Conclusions:
- The birth prevalence of visually significant infantile cataract is estimated between 3.0 and 4.5 per 10,000 live births.
- Infantile cataracts represent an important cause of childhood visual impairment.
- These epidemiological data aid in planning pediatric ophthalmology clinical trials and healthcare resource allocation.
Purpose:
To determine the birth prevalence of visually significant infantile cataract, using population-based comprehensive medical record retrieval, in a defined US population.
Design:
Retrospective, population-based, medical record retrieval.
Methods:
We reviewed records of all pediatric patients (0-17 years) coded as cataract during a 20-year period (1978 to 1997) using the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. "Infantile cataract" was defined as a cataract diagnosed within the first year of life. "Possible infantile cataract" was defined as a cataract, diagnosed after the first year in a child born in Olmsted County, where there was no evidence of an acquired traumatic, acquired systemic, or acquired ocular etiology. Visually insignificant cataracts were excluded.
Results:
Ten incident cases of visually significant infantile cataract were identified during the 20-year study period, yielding a birth prevalence of 3.0 per 10,000 live births (95% CI: 1.5-5.6 per 10,000). Five additional cases of visually significant "possible infantile cataract" were identified, diagnosed between the ages of 2 and 8 years. Inclusion of these "possible infantile cataracts" would result in an estimate of overall birth prevalence for visually significant infantile cataract of 4.5 per 10,000 live births (95% CI: 2.5-7.5 per 10,000).
Conclusions:
Using population-based medical record retrieval methods, we estimate the birth prevalence of visually significant infantile cataract to be 3.0 to 4.5 per 10,000. Infantile cataracts are an important cause of visual impairment in children and these data are useful in planning clinical trials and allocating health care resources.