Andersen Nis
Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, The University Hospital of Copenhagen, Denmark.
Int J Circumpolar Health. 2004;63 Suppl 2:320-3. doi: 10.3402/ijch.v63i0.17928.
To investigate the clinical appearance and prevalence of Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) among the Inuit in Greenland, to investigate risk factors and to initiate the search for possible genetic markers.
A cross-sectional population study including all individuals older than 60 years of age, born in Greenland and living in the communities of Nuuk and Sisimiut, was performed in 2000 and 2001.
All participants underwent an ophthalmologic examination, which was complemented by fundus photography and a questionnaire.
689 individuals, or more than 70%, participated in the study. Data are currently being processed. The preliminary data suggest that AMD among the Inuit is characterised by a rather uniform morphology and poor visual outcome. The detection of more cases of AMD in the early and late stages in relation to intermediate stages furthermore indicates a rapid development of AMD among the Inuit.
The relative homogeneity of the Inuit population of Greenland may represent an opportunity for identifying the aetiological factors responsible for the development of AMD. The future results of this research project will hopefully also contribute towards an increased focus on the growing number of individuals with visual impairment due to AMD among the Inuit.
调查格陵兰因纽特人中年龄相关性黄斑变性（AMD）的临床表现及患病率，调查危险因素并着手寻找可能的遗传标记。
2000年和2001年进行了一项横断面人群研究，纳入所有60岁以上、出生于格陵兰且居住在努克和西西缪特社区的个体。
所有参与者均接受眼科检查，并辅以眼底摄影及问卷调查。
689人（超过70%）参与了研究。数据目前正在处理中。初步数据表明，因纽特人中的AMD具有形态较为一致且视力预后较差的特点。与中间阶段相比，早期和晚期AMD病例的检出率更高，这进一步表明因纽特人中AMD发展迅速。
格陵兰因纽特人群体的相对同质性可能为确定导致AMD发生的病因提供契机。该研究项目的未来结果有望也有助于更加关注因纽特人中因AMD导致视力受损的人数不断增加的问题。
