PREVALENCE OF AGE-MACULAR DEGENERATION IN PERSONS OF WORKING AGE WHO APPLIED TO PARTICIPATE IN WORK IN ACTION...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Large-scale epidemiological surveys for retinal degenerative diseases are resource-intensive and have not been conducted in Ukraine.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a significant cause of vision impairment globally.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the prevalence of AMD in a pilot group of non-irradiated working-age individuals in Ukraine.
• To determine the suitability of this pilot data for future epidemiological studies on retinal diseases in Ukraine.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective-prospective analysis of 1,064 individuals' ophthalmological examination results.
• Participants were selected based on claims of working in conditions with ionizing radiation.
• Standardized ophthalmological examinations were used for data collection.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of AMD in the pilot group was 196.4 per 1,000 people.
• AMD risk significantly increased with age, with odds ratios ranging from 3.04 (30-39 years) to 13.71 (over 60 years) compared to those under 30.
• Hazard analysis indicated a relative risk of 1.86 for individuals over 60 compared to those under 30.

Conclusions:

• AMD prevalence is high and increases significantly with age in the studied Ukrainian working-age population.
• Pilot study data are suitable for planning larger epidemiological studies on retinal diseases in Ukraine.
• Findings are crucial for practical medicine, aiding in assessing future healthcare needs for AMD.