Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in an elderly UK Caucasian population—The Bridlington Eye Assessment Project: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ImportanceThere is paucity of data on prevalence and disease asymmetry of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), particularly the earlier stages, in the UK population.Objective and PurposeTo determine the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration in an elderly Caucasian UK population.DesignCross-sectional population study, 2002-2006.ParticipantsResidents in the study area of Bridlington aged 65 years and older.MethodsFull-ophthalmic examination was undertaken in 3549 participants, of eligible 6319 Caucasian population (response rate of 56%). Non-stereoscopic Colour fundus photographs (30°) were graded masked using a modified Rotterdam Classification for 3475 (98%) participants with gradable images. Prevalence for different AMD grades were calculated. Demographic details were analysed then integrated with the AMD gradings for full analysis. Prevalence rates for the different AMD Grades were calculated, as well as the age-specific prevalences.ResultsAMD prevalence in the worst eye were 38.5% grade 0, 41.4% grade 1, 12.8% grade 2, 2.8% grade 3, and 4.6% grade 4. Geographic atrophy (grade 4a) occurred in 2.5%, and neovascular AMD (grade 4b) in 1.8%. Prevalence increased with age such that grade 4 (advanced) AMD was 2.2% in the 65-69 years group, 15.8% for the 85-90, and 21.2% for over 90 years. There was significant asymmetry between the two eyes of individuals with advanced AMD (P<0.001), such that vision loss was unilateral. Persons with more advanced AMD grades were more likely to be dissatisfied with their vision.ConclusionsAdvanced AMD occurs more commonly in the UK Caucasian population than previously reported. Significant asymmetry between the two eyes occurs in individuals with unilateral advanced AMD so that visual impairment statistics do not represent true prevalence of advanced AMD. Persons with more advanced AMD were more likely to be dissatisfied with their vision.

Prevalence of peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes (PPCNV) in an elderly UK population—the Bridlington eye assessment project (BEAP): a cross-sectional study (2002–2006)

“…PPCNVs (grade 4c AMD) were an infrequent finding, considerably lower than the prevalence of grade 4b AMD, in the same population [12]. Our findings are similar to those of some previous published studies [13,14], where there was a female preponderance.…”

“…Our findings are similar to those of some previous published studies [13,14], where there was a female preponderance. RPD are known to have such female predilection [12,15]. However, it is unlikely that the increased female prevalence of PPCNV in this study is due to the presence of RPD, as the three patients with RPD and PPCNV in the series were male.…”

Prevalence of peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes (PPCNV) in an elderly UK population—the Bridlington eye assessment project (BEAP): a cross-sectional study (2002–2006)

“…PPCNVs (grade 4c AMD) were an infrequent finding, considerably lower than the prevalence of grade 4b AMD, in the same population [12]. Our findings are similar to those of some previous published studies [13,14], where there was a female preponderance.…”

“…Our findings are similar to those of some previous published studies [13,14], where there was a female preponderance. RPD are known to have such female predilection [12,15]. However, it is unlikely that the increased female prevalence of PPCNV in this study is due to the presence of RPD, as the three patients with RPD and PPCNV in the series were male.…”

Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Caucasians: Morphological Findings from Multimodal Retinal Imaging

“…Studies in Asian populations reported a prevalence of bilateral disease of 5.4-24.1% [25]. Our results confirmed the low prevalence of bilateral disease in Caucasians (n = 6; 7.6%), which is clearly distinct from typical nAMD [26].…”

On the impact of different approaches to classify age-related macular degeneration: Results from the German AugUR study

“…Internationally, there are a few studies with notable sample sizes also in the elderly that allow for early/intermediate and late AMD prevalence. For participants aged 75–84 years, which appears to be a good age-group to compare given published data across studies, our late AMD prevalence of 7.0% compares to 7.3% from Iceland (Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility Reykjavik Study) 21 , 3.0% from the multicentre European Eye Study 1 , 3.7% from the Rotterdam Study 22 6.1% from a very recent study in England (Bridlington Eye Assessment Project) 23 , 2.2% from Ireland (The Irish Longitudinal study on Ageing) 24 , 5.4% from Australia (Blue Mountains Eye Study) 20 , and 7.1% from the USA (Beaver Dam Eye Study) 19 . For early/intermediate AMD, we would like to refrain from a comparison due to the above noted substantial differences in classification systems, but published numbers broken down by age-groups are provided in Supplementary Table 16 .…”

Prevalence of peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes (PPCNV) in an elderly UK population—the Bridlington eye assessment project (BEAP): a cross-sectional study (2002–2006)

“…PPCNVs (grade 4c AMD) were an infrequent finding, considerably lower than the prevalence of grade 4b AMD, in the same population [12]. Our findings are similar to those of some previous published studies [13,14], where there was a female preponderance.…”

“…Our findings are similar to those of some previous published studies [13,14], where there was a female preponderance. RPD are known to have such female predilection [12,15]. However, it is unlikely that the increased female prevalence of PPCNV in this study is due to the presence of RPD, as the three patients with RPD and PPCNV in the series were male.…”

Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Caucasians: Morphological Findings from Multimodal Retinal Imaging

“…Studies in Asian populations reported a prevalence of bilateral disease of 5.4-24.1% [25]. Our results confirmed the low prevalence of bilateral disease in Caucasians (n = 6; 7.6%), which is clearly distinct from typical nAMD [26].…”

On the impact of different approaches to classify age-related macular degeneration: Results from the German AugUR study

“…Internationally, there are a few studies with notable sample sizes also in the elderly that allow for early/intermediate and late AMD prevalence. For participants aged 75–84 years, which appears to be a good age-group to compare given published data across studies, our late AMD prevalence of 7.0% compares to 7.3% from Iceland (Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility Reykjavik Study) 21 , 3.0% from the multicentre European Eye Study 1 , 3.7% from the Rotterdam Study 22 6.1% from a very recent study in England (Bridlington Eye Assessment Project) 23 , 2.2% from Ireland (The Irish Longitudinal study on Ageing) 24 , 5.4% from Australia (Blue Mountains Eye Study) 20 , and 7.1% from the USA (Beaver Dam Eye Study) 19 . For early/intermediate AMD, we would like to refrain from a comparison due to the above noted substantial differences in classification systems, but published numbers broken down by age-groups are provided in Supplementary Table 16 .…”

Prevalence of peripapillary choroidal neovascular membranes (PPCNV) in an elderly UK population—the Bridlington eye assessment project (BEAP): a cross-sectional study (2002–2006)

“…PPCNVs (grade 4c AMD) were an infrequent finding, considerably lower than the prevalence of grade 4b AMD, in the same population [12]. Our findings are similar to those of some previous published studies [13,14], where there was a female preponderance.…”

“…Our findings are similar to those of some previous published studies [13,14], where there was a female preponderance. RPD are known to have such female predilection [12,15]. However, it is unlikely that the increased female prevalence of PPCNV in this study is due to the presence of RPD, as the three patients with RPD and PPCNV in the series were male.…”

Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Caucasians: Morphological Findings from Multimodal Retinal Imaging

“…Studies in Asian populations reported a prevalence of bilateral disease of 5.4-24.1% [25]. Our results confirmed the low prevalence of bilateral disease in Caucasians (n = 6; 7.6%), which is clearly distinct from typical nAMD [26].…”

On the impact of different approaches to classify age-related macular degeneration: Results from the German AugUR study

“…Internationally, there are a few studies with notable sample sizes also in the elderly that allow for early/intermediate and late AMD prevalence. For participants aged 75–84 years, which appears to be a good age-group to compare given published data across studies, our late AMD prevalence of 7.0% compares to 7.3% from Iceland (Age, Gene/Environment Susceptibility Reykjavik Study) 21 , 3.0% from the multicentre European Eye Study 1 , 3.7% from the Rotterdam Study 22 6.1% from a very recent study in England (Bridlington Eye Assessment Project) 23 , 2.2% from Ireland (The Irish Longitudinal study on Ageing) 24 , 5.4% from Australia (Blue Mountains Eye Study) 20 , and 7.1% from the USA (Beaver Dam Eye Study) 19 . For early/intermediate AMD, we would like to refrain from a comparison due to the above noted substantial differences in classification systems, but published numbers broken down by age-groups are provided in Supplementary Table 16 .…”