Age-related macular disease in rural southern Italy.
Arch Ophthalmol
; 115(5): 616-22, 1997 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9152129
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
To report the prevalence of age-related maculopathy (ARM) in Salandra, a small, isolated southern Italian community, to test the hypothesis that an environmental factor, scarce in such a remote community but ubiquitous in modern industrial societies, might modify the risk of developing ARM.DESIGN:
Population-based cross-sectional survey. MAIN OUTCOMEMEASURES:
Prevalence of advanced age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) (geographic atrophy or exudative maculopathy) and ARM (large, soft drusen or retinal pigment epithelium changes, or both) defined by fundus biomicroscopy and 30 degrees stereoscopic, macular photography. Self-sustenance was assessed by interview of participants and local shop retailers. The degree of genetic isolation was computed using a model that fits the genetic population structure with the frequency distribution of surnames in the community.RESULTS:
A full ophthalmic examination was undertaken in 366 (63.5%) of 576 eligible participants, 354 (96.7%) of whom had clinical or photographic assessment for the presence of ARMD and 310 (84.6%) of whom had drusen characteristics graded on color transparencies for ARM. The overall prevalence of ARMD was 1.1%. Drusen larger than 50 microns and more numerous than 10 were found in 4.5% of subjects. Salandra was the birthplace of 87.2% of participants and for 77.3% of both parents of each subject. People in the community tended to consume homegrown products.CONCLUSION:
The prevalence of ARM may be lower in this self-sustained farming community than elsewhere in the industrialized world.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Macular Degeneration
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Aged
/
Aged80
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Europa
Language:
En
Journal:
Arch Ophthalmol
Year:
1997
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United kingdom