Black adults disproportionately affected as glaucoma reaches 4.22 million in the US

A College of Michigan led examine finds regional and demographic disparities in glaucoma burden. Outcomes discover that 4.22 million U.S. adults had glaucoma in 2022, with 1.49 million dwelling with imaginative and prescient impairment.

Glaucoma is a number one reason behind irreversible blindness worldwide that disproportionately impacts ethnic minority teams in the US. Present prevalence of the illness has remained largely unknown as no nationwide estimates have been made in over a decade.

The examine, “Prevalence of Glaucoma Amongst US Adults in 2022,” printed in JAMA Ophthalmology, investigated the prevalence ranges of adults within the U.S. and found substantial demographic and geographic disparities in glaucoma circumstances.

Outcomes confirmed that 4.22 million U.S. adults have been dwelling with glaucoma in 2022, with a prevalence of 1.62% amongst these aged 18 and older. When narrowing the pool to 40 and older, the prevalence elevated to 2.56%. Among the many 4.22 million, 1.49 million have been dwelling with vision-affecting glaucoma, representing 0.57% of the grownup U.S. inhabitants.

Demographic disparities have been clear, with Black adults experiencing the very best glaucoma prevalence at 3.15%, in comparison with 1.42% amongst White adults. Hispanic adults and different ethnic teams have been grouped collectively within the examine attributable to information limitations, with an estimated prevalence of 1.56%. Glaucoma charges elevated with age, with estimates of seven.75% of 80 and older being affected.

Geographic variations in glaucoma prevalence have been additionally seen, starting from 1.11% in Utah to 1.95% in Mississippi. Imaginative and prescient-affecting glaucoma ranged from 0.38% in Utah to 0.70% in Mississippi.

Knowledge for the examine got here from a number of sources, together with the Nationwide Well being and Diet Examination Survey, Medicare claims, IBM MarketScan insurance coverage claims, and population-based eye illness research. Researchers utilized Bayesian meta-regression strategies to estimate prevalence by age, race, and intercourse/gender at nationwide, state, and county ranges.

The findings present up to date estimates for the prevalence of glaucoma within the U.S. which could possibly be used to assist information public well being methods and useful resource allocation, notably for high-risk teams and areas.

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