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Descriptive and risk factor analysis of infantile cataracts: National Birth Defects Prevention Study, 2000-2011
Marine Nalbandyan1, Meredith M Howley2, Christopher M Cunniff3
1Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, Rensselaer, New York, USA.
Insights
Infantile cataracts affect 1.07 per 10,000 births. Risk factors include maternal nulliparity for unilateral cataracts and lower maternal education or foreign-born nativity for bilateral cataracts.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
Background:
- Infantile cataracts are a significant cause of visual impairment in newborns.
- Understanding their prevalence and risk factors is crucial for early intervention and prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the birth prevalence of infantile cataracts.
- To describe the clinical characteristics of affected infants, including associated defects.
- To identify maternal risk factors associated with infantile cataracts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS).
- Calculated birth prevalence using NBDPS-eligible cataract cases and live births.
- Conducted logistic regression analyses on maternal exposures using telephone interview data.
Main Results:
- The birth prevalence of infantile cataracts was 1.07 per 10,000 live births.
- Unilateral cataracts were associated with ipsilateral eye defects (IEDs).
- Bilateral cataracts were linked to prematurity, low birth weight, and non-eye major birth defects.
- Maternal nulliparity was associated with unilateral cataracts (aOR=1.61).
- Lower maternal education (<12 years) and foreign-born nativity were associated with bilateral cataracts (aOR=2.08 and aOR=1.92, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Infantile cataract prevalence is estimated at 1.07/10,000 live births.
- Distinct clinical characteristics and risk factor profiles exist for unilateral and bilateral infantile cataracts.
- Maternal factors like education level and nativity warrant further investigation in infantile cataract etiology.
Abstract:
Using National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) data, we sought to estimate birth prevalence, describe clinical characteristics, and examine risk factors for infantile cataracts. We calculated birth prevalence using the numbers of NBDPS-eligible cataract cases and live births in the study area. We described case infants by the presence of associated ipsilateral eye defects (IEDs) and non-eye-related major birth defects. Using maternal exposure information collected via telephone interview, we conducted logistic regression analyses among the interviewed cases and controls. Birth prevalence of infantile cataracts was 1.07/10,000 live births. Unilateral cataracts were more often associated with IEDs, while infants with bilateral cataracts were more often preterm, full-term with low birth weight, or had non-eye-related major birth defects. Unilateral cataracts were positively associated with maternal nulliparity (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.18, 2.20; reference: multiparity), whereas bilateral cataracts were positively associated with maternal education <12 years (aOR = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.13, 3.82; reference: education >12 years), and foreign-born nativity (aOR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.04, 3.52; reference: U.S.-born nativity). The current analysis can inform future epidemiological studies aimed at identifying mechanisms underlying the associations between infantile cataracts and complex maternal exposures, such as lower levels of education and foreign-born nativity.
