Dataset Information

Ethnic Differences in the Association Between Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Vision-Specific Functioning.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Understanding the link between ethnicity and health is critical to making appropriate public policy decisions. Few population-level data are available about this connection, however, including the influence of ethnicity on the association between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and vision-specific functioning (VSF).

Objective

To identify the influence of ethnicity on VSF among Chinese, Malay, and Indian patients with AMD.

Design, setting, and participants

This cross-sectional, population-based study relied on patients and their data from 3 population-based studies in 3 ethnic groups: Chinese, Malay and Indian. Of 10 033 Chinese, Malay, and Indian adults who participated in the study, 9962 (99.3%) who had gradable fundus images and Visual Function Index (VF-11) data available were included in the analyses for the present study. Uniocular presenting distance visual acuity was measured using the logMAR chart. Separate multiple linear regression models examined the association between AMD and VSF in the 3 ethnic groups, adjusting for age, sex, presenting visual acuity in the better-seeing eye, educational level, income, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, total cholesterol level, and other eye conditions. Data were collected between January 20, 2004, and December 19, 2011; data analysis was conducted between November 12, 2015, and December 28, 2016.

Exposures

Age-related macular degeneration according to fundus photographs graded using a modified Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System.

Main outcomes and measures

Rasch analysis was used to convert VF-11 questionnaire scores to estimated interval measures of VSF.

Results

Of the 9962 participants, the mean (SD) age was 58.8 (10.4) years; 4909 (49.3%) were male; 590 (5.9%) had early AMD (241 Chinese, 161 Malays, and 188 Indians) and 60 (0.6%) had late AMD (25 Chinese, 21 Malays, and 14 Indians). In the adjusted models, compared with no AMD, early AMD was associated with a small reduction in VSF (2.9%; β = -0.12; 95% CI, -0.23 to -0.00; P = .046) in the Chinese group but not in the Indian and Malay groups. Moreover, Chinese participants with late AMD had a clinically significant 19.1% loss of VSF (β = -0.78; 95% CI, -1.13 to -0.43, P < .001). In the Malay group, those with late AMD had a 13.5% drop in VSF (β = -0.49; 95% CI, -1.01 to 0.04; P = .07) compared with their counterparts without AMD. Similarly, late AMD was not associated with VSF in the Indian group.

Conclusions and relevance

Early and late AMD negatively affected VSF in Chinese but not in Indian and Malay participants. This finding suggests that there is an independent ethnic influence in the association of the disease with VSF in multiethnic Asian populations, thus warranting ethnicity-based strategies to delay the onset or progression of AMD.

SUBMITTER: Fenwick EK

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5470419 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:To describe baseline night vision symptoms and their association with >/=3-lines loss in visual acuity (VA), choroidal neovascularization (CNV), and geographic atrophy (GA).Cohort study within a multicenter randomized clinical trial.A total of 1052 participants with >/=10 large (>125 mu) drusen and VA >/=20/40 in each eye.At baseline, participants self-administered a 10-item Night Vision Questionnaire (NVQ-10). VA testing was performed at baseline, 6 months, and annually. One eye of each participant was randomly assigned to laser treatment, and the contralateral eye was assigned to observation. During follow-up, trained readers identified CNV on the basis of fluorescein angiograms and end point GA, defined as >1 disc area of new GA, based on color photographs. Evaluation was performed by repeated-measures logistic regression for NVQ-10 score as a risk factor for >/=3-lines loss in VA and by survival analysis for CNV and GA, with and without adjustment for participant and ocular characteristics. Evaluations were based on observed eyes and treated eyes, considered separately and combined.A >/=3-lines loss in VA, development of CNV and end point GA.At baseline, NVQ-10 scores ranged from 3 to 100 with a mean of 70 (100 corresponds to no night vision symptoms). Compared with participants with the best night vision (fourth quartile of scores), participants with the worst night vision (first quartile of scores) were at increased risk of >/=3-lines loss in VA in both observed and treated eyes; odds ratios (95% confidence interval) were 2.85 (1.85-4.39) and 2.00 (1.27-3.14), respectively. The relative risk for the first quartile versus the fourth quartile for development of GA was 4.18 (1.80-9.68) in observed eyes and 2.59 (1.13-5.95) in treated eyes. The relative risk for CNV incidence was 1.99 (1.12-3.54) in observed eyes and 1.33 (0.81-2.19) in treated eyes. These relationships were maintained after adjustment for baseline participant and ocular characteristics.Participants who perceived the most problems in their night vision at baseline had an increased risk of >/=3-lines loss in VA, CNV, and GA. These associations are independent of established risk factors.

Project description:PurposeLoss of photoreceptors in atrophic age-related macular degeneration results in severe visual impairment, although some peripheral vision is retained. To restore central vision without compromising the residual peripheral field, we developed a wireless photovoltaic retinal implant (PRIMA; Pixium Vision, Paris, France) in which pixels convert images projected from video glasses using near-infrared light into electric current to stimulate the nearby inner retinal neurons.DesignWe carried out a first-in-human clinical trial to test the safety and efficacy of the prosthesis in patients with geographic atrophy (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier, NCT03333954).ParticipantsFive patients with geographic atrophy zone of at least 3 optic disc diameters, no foveal light perception, and best-corrected visual acuity of 20/400 to 20/1000 in the worse-seeing study eye.MethodsThe 2-mm wide, 30-μm thick chip, containing 378 pixels (each 100 μm in diameter), was implanted subretinally in the area of atrophy (absolute scotoma).Main outcome measuresAnatomic outcomes were assessed with fundus photography and OCT for up to 12 months of follow-up. Prosthetic vision was assessed by mapping light perception, bar orientation, letter recognition, and Landolt C acuity.ResultsIn all patients, the prosthesis was implanted successfully under the macula, although in 2 patients, it was implanted in unintended locations: within the choroid and off center by 2 mm. All 5 patients could perceive white-yellow prosthetic visual patterns with adjustable brightness in the previous scotomata. The 3 with optimal placement of the implant demonstrated prosthetic acuity of 20/460 to 20/550, and the patient with the off-center implant demonstrated 20/800 acuity. Residual natural acuity did not decrease after implantation in any patient.ConclusionsImplantation of the PRIMA did not decrease the residual natural acuity, and it restored visual sensitivity in the former scotoma in each of the 5 patients. In 3 patients with the proper placement of the chip, prosthetic visual acuity was only 10% to 30% less than the level expected from the pixel pitch (20/420). Therefore, the use of optical or electronic magnification in the glasses as well as smaller pixels in future implants may improve visual acuity even further.

Project description:ImportanceMost neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treatments involve long-term follow-up of disease activity. Home-monitoring would reduce the burden on patients and their caregivers and release clinic capacity.ObjectiveTo evaluate 3 vision home-monitoring tests for patients to use to detect active nAMD compared with diagnosing active nAMD at hospital follow-up during the after-treatment monitoring phase.Design, setting, and participantsThis was a diagnostic test accuracy study wherein the reference standard was detection of active nAMD by an ophthalmologist at hospital follow-up. The 3 home-monitoring tests evaluated included the following: (1) the KeepSight Journal (KSJ [International Macular and Retinal Foundation]), which contains paper-based near-vision tests presented as word puzzles, (2) the MyVisionTrack (mVT [Genentech]) vision-monitoring mobile app, viewed on an Apple mobile operating system-based device, and (3) the MultiBit (MBT [Visumetrics]) app, viewed on an Apple mobile operating system-based device. Participants were asked to test weekly; mVT and MBT scores were transmitted automatically, and KSJ scores were returned to the research office every 6 months. Raw scores between hospital follow-ups were summarized as averages. Patients were recruited from 6 UK hospital eye clinics and were 50 years and older with at least 1 eye first treated for active nAMD for at least 6 months or longer to a maximum of 42 months before approach. Participants were stratified by time since starting treatment. Study data were analyzed from May to September 2021.ExposuresThe KSJ, mVT, and MBT were compared with the reference standard (in-hospital ophthalmologist examination).Main outcomes and measuresEstimated area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC). The study had 90% power to detect a difference of 0.06, or 80% power to detect a difference of 0.05, if the AUROC for 2 tests was 0.75.ResultsA total of 297 patients (mean [SD] age, 74.9 [6.6] years; 174 female [58.6%]) were included in the study. At least 1 hospital follow-up was available for 312 study eyes in 259 participants (1549 complete visits). Median (IQR) home-monitoring testing frequency was 3 (1-4) times per month. Estimated AUROC was less than 0.6 for all home-monitoring tests, and only the KSJ summary score was associated with lesion activity (odds ratio, 3.48; 95% CI, 1.09-11.13; P = .04).Conclusions and relevanceResults suggest that no home-monitoring vision test evaluated provided satisfactory diagnostic accuracy to identify active nAMD diagnosed in hospital eye service follow-up clinics. Implementing any of these evaluated tests, with ophthalmologists only reviewing test positives, would mean most active lesions were missed, risking unnecessary sight loss.