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Racial/ethnic differences in age-related maculopathy. Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
R Klein1, M L Rowland, M I Harris
1Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.
Ophthalmology
|March 1, 1995
Summary
Age-related maculopathy (ARM) affects 9.2% of US adults aged 40+, with prevalence varying by race and age. Non-Hispanic whites showed higher prevalence overall, but younger Black and Hispanic individuals had a greater chance of developing ARM.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Age-related maculopathy (ARM) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
- Understanding racial and ethnic disparities in ARM prevalence is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of age-related maculopathy (ARM) across different racial and ethnic groups in the United States.
- To examine how age and sex influence ARM prevalence in non-Hispanic whites, non-Hispanic blacks, and Mexican Americans.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), a nationally representative sample.
- Examined 4007 participants aged 40 and older, collected between 1988 and 1991.
- Assessed age-related maculopathy (ARM) through standardized grading of fundus photographs.
Main Results:
- Overall prevalence of any age-related maculopathy (ARM) was 9.2% in the US population aged 40 and older.
- Non-Hispanic whites had a slightly higher overall prevalence (9.3%) compared to Mexican Americans (7.1%) and non-Hispanic blacks (7.4%).
- Younger individuals (<60 years) from Mexican American and non-Hispanic Black groups had a higher likelihood of ARM than non-Hispanic whites; this pattern reversed in older age groups.
Conclusions:
- Age-related maculopathy (ARM) is a significant public health concern across all studied racial and ethnic groups.
- The prevalence and risk factors for ARM differ notably among racial/ethnic groups and vary substantially with age and sex.