Piermarocchi Stefano, Segato Tatiana, Scopa Pasquale, Masetto Morena, Ceca Stela, Cavarzeran Fabiano, Peto Tunde
University of Padua, Italy.
Ophthalmic Epidemiol. 2011 Jun;18(3):129-36. doi: 10.3109/09286586.2011.574334.
The present study aimed to estimate prevalence and risk factors associated with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in an Italian population and to analyze differences between urban and rural communities.
We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study among elderly residents in Northeast Italy. Participants were divided into urban and rural groups based on whether they lived in the city of Padova or the villages of Teolo and Torreglia, respectively. Fundus photographs were graded according to the International Classification for Age-related Maculopathy.
A total of 1162 randomly selected subjects aged 61 years or more were invited to participate in the study. We examined 885 subjects, and 845 were eligible for fundus photograph grading. ARMD was estimated to affect 62.7% of the whole population (drusen 63-124 μm = 48.3%; drusen ≥125 μm = 10.4%; advanced ARMD = 4.1%). Age was confirmed as a risk factor for drusen ≥125 μm and advanced ARMD (Odds Ratio [OR] = 1.47, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.28-1.69 and OR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.28-2.05, respectively, for a 5-year increase in age). The rural group appeared to be at a higher risk of developing large drusen compared to the urban sample (OR = 1.61, 95% CI 1.01-2.63) when adjusting for age and gender.
The results confirmed that ARMD affects a high percentage of the elderly population in Italy. This study does not support the hypothesis that living in a rural environment or belonging to a population of the Mediterranean basin may be protective against the intermediate stages of the disease.
本研究旨在评估意大利人群中年龄相关性黄斑变性（ARMD）的患病率及相关危险因素，并分析城乡社区之间的差异。
我们在意大利东北部的老年居民中开展了一项基于人群的横断面研究。参与者根据其居住在帕多瓦市还是分别居住在特洛和托雷利亚村，分为城市组和农村组。眼底照片按照年龄相关性黄斑病变国际分类进行分级。
总共邀请了1162名年龄61岁及以上的随机选择的受试者参与研究。我们检查了885名受试者，其中845名符合眼底照片分级条件。据估计，ARMD影响了62.7%的总体人群（63 - 124μm的玻璃膜疣 = 48.3%；≥125μm的玻璃膜疣 = 10.4%；晚期ARMD = 4.1%）。年龄被确认为≥125μm的玻璃膜疣和晚期ARMD的危险因素（年龄每增加5岁，优势比[OR]分别为1.47，95%置信区间[CI] 1.28 - 1.69和OR = 1.62，95% CI 1.28 - 2.05）。在调整年龄和性别后，农村组与城市样本相比，出现大玻璃膜疣的风险似乎更高（OR = 1.61，95% CI 1.01 - 2.63）。
结果证实ARMD在意大利老年人群中影响比例较高。本研究不支持生活在农村环境或属于地中海盆地人群可能对疾病中期有保护作用这一假设。
