Prevalence and 11-Year Incidence of Cataract and Cataract Surgery and the Effects of Socio-Demographic and Lifestyle Factors

Petri KM Purola,1,2 Janika E Nättinen,1 Matti UI Ojamo,2 Harri A Rissanen,3 Mika Gissler,4– 6 Seppo VP Koskinen,3 Hannu MT Uusitalo1,2,7 1Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland; 2Finnish Register of Visual Impairment, Finnish Federation of the Visually Impaired, Helsinki, Finland; 3Information Services Department of Public Health and Welfare, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; 4Department of Knowledge Brokers, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland; 5Region Stockholm, Academic Primary Health Care Centre, Stockholm, Sweden; 6Karolinska Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Stockholm, Sweden; 7Tays Eye Center, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, FinlandCorrespondence: Petri KM Purola, Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Tampere, Finland, Tel/Fax +358 400 695309, Email petri.purola@tuni.fiPurpose: To assess the impact of cataract in ageing population by evaluating the prevalence, incidence, and background factors of cataract and cataract surgery.Patients and Methods: Two health examination surveys representing Finnish population in 2000 and 2011 included 7380 and 5930 participants aged 30 years or older with cataract status known. An 11-year follow-up included 4840 persons who participated in both the surveys. The data include information on physician-made diagnoses, socio-demographic factors, and lifestyle factors based on self-reported assessment. Cataract diagnoses and surgeries recorded in the Finnish Care Register for Health Care were linked to the survey data. Cataract patients were compared to those without cataract using logistic regression. Differences in cataract surgery age were evaluated using linear regression. Univariable and multivariable models were included.Results: During 2000– 2011, the prevalence of cataract increased from 8.8% to 13.6% and cataract surgery from 5.7% to 8.9% in a representative sample of the Finnish adult population. Cataract and cataract surgery were associated with age, smoking, and high alcohol consumption. Cataract was also associated with female gender and low income in 2000, but this association declined during the 11 years. Smoking and high alcohol consumption were associated with younger surgery age.Conclusion: The prevalence of cataract and cataract surgery is increasing with the ageing of the population. The increase in cataract surgery is likely also reflecting the improvements in eye care. The possibility to equally use health-care services throughout a country can reduce the impact of socio-demographic status. Healthy lifestyle delays the development of cataract, whereas smoking and high alcohol consumption are associated with earlier cataract development. Therefore, the availability of cataract services and promotion of healthy lifestyle will be the key to prevent the detrimental effects of cataract on patients and the society in countries where the population is rapidly ageing.Keywords: operated cataract, operation age, population study, smoking, alcohol consumption, living habits