Five-Year cumulative Incidence and Progression of Myopic Maculopathy in a German population – results from the Gutenberg Health Study

Abstract Purpose Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness. This study evaluates the incidence and progression of AMD in a large German cohort. Methods The Gutenberg Health Study (GHS) is a population-based, prospective, observational cohort study in Germany that includes 15,010 participants between 35 and 74 years of age. The baseline examination, including fundus photography, was conducted between 2007 and 2012, and the 5-year follow-up examination was performed between 2012 and 2017. AMD grading of fundus photographs was performed according to the Rotterdam Eye Study classification. The 5-year cumulative incidence and progression of AMD were calculated. Poisson regression analysis was conducted to investigate factors associated with the cumulative incidence and progression of AMD. Results Six-thousand-eight-hundred-eighty-eight participants (49.8%, n = 3427 female) were included in the analysis. AMD prevalence was 8.5% [95% CI: 7.9–9.2%] at baseline and 10.3% [95% CI: 9.6–11.1%] at follow-up. The cumulative 5-year-incidence was 2.0% [1.7–2.4%]. AMD progression within 5 years was seen in 18.1% [95% CI: 15.1–21.5%] of the participants. AMD incidence and AMD progression were associated with higher age, for each 10-year increase in age, the risk of AMD doubles (RR = 2.30), and the risk of progression of the disease is increased by 1.6. while AMD incidence also with pseudophakic status. Conclusions In summary, this population-based sample provides substantial epidemiologic data from a large German cohort, including data on progression and cumulative incidence of macular degeneration in younger age groups. AMD progression over 5 years is common in the German population, 18.1% of subjects with AMD showed progression in at least one eye in this time frame and is associated with higher age. Nevertheless, although usually defined to occur over the age of 50, in this cohort AMD occurred in 0.5% and AMD progression occurred in 5.4% of those already affected in the youngest age group before 50 years of age.

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Prevalence of myopic maculopathy in the German population: results from the Gutenberg health study

British Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1136/bjophthalmol-2019-315255 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. bjophthalmol-2019-315255 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Susanne Hopf ◽

Christina Korb ◽

Stefan Nickels ◽

Andreas Schulz ◽

Thomas Münzel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Refractive Error ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Study ◽

Multivariable Logistic Regression Analysis ◽

German Population ◽

Gutenberg Health Study ◽

Diffuse Atrophy ◽

Systemic Factors ◽

Fundus Photographs ◽

Myopic Maculopathy

AimsTo determine the prevalence of myopic maculopathy in the general population in Germany and to analyse potential associations with ocular and systemic factors.DesignThe Gutenberg Health Study is a population-based study, including 15 010 participants aged 35–74 years.MethodsMyopic maculopathy was graded in phakic eyes with spherical equivalent ≤−6 D by assessing fundus photographs according to a recent international photographic classification system (META-PM). 801 eyes of 519 participants (mean age 51.0±0.77 years) met the conditions and had gradable fundus photographs. Age-specific prevalence estimates were computed. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess associated factors with myopic maculopathy.ResultsMyopic maculopathy was present in 10.3% (95% CI 7.9 to 13.3) study participants. The prevalence was 8.6% (95% CI 6.1% to 11.9%) in the 397 right eyes and 8.7% (95% CI 6.2% to 12.0%) in the 404 left eyes. The most common type of pathology was diffuse atrophy (8.1%), followed by patchy atrophy (1.3%) and macular atrophy (0.5%); plus lesions were present in 3% (right eyes). Age (OR 1.07 per year, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.11, p<0.001), higher myopic refractive error (p<0.001), and male gender (p=0.02) were associated with myopic maculopathy, while cardiovascular risk factors and socioeconomic factors were not.ConclusionsThe prevalence of myopic maculopathy in the German population was 0.5%, and 10% in high myopic participants, aged 35–74 years. These population-based data are the first in Europe. Myopic maculopathy was related to severity of myopic refractive error and age.

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Incidence of retinal detachment in Germany

Ophthalmologica ◽

10.1159/000513080 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Eva Gerstenberger ◽

Bernhard Stoffelns ◽

Stefan Nickels ◽

Thomas Münzel ◽

Philipp S Wild ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Retinal Detachment ◽

Cumulative Incidence ◽

Population Based ◽

Health Study ◽

Computer Assisted ◽

German Population ◽

Gutenberg Health Study ◽

Potential Risk Factors ◽

Male Sex

Purpose: To investigate the incidence of retinal detachment in the German population and assess potential risk factors. Methods: The Gutenberg Health Study is a population-based cohort study in Mainz, Germany including subjects (n=15.010) with an age range from 35 to 74 years at baseline. Participants underwent a comprehensive ophthalmologic examination including distant-corrected visual acuity, refraction and slit-lamp examination at baseline. A computer-assisted telephone interview was conducted after 2.5 and 5 years. The 5-year cumulative incidence of retinal detachment was computed for the study sample and stratified on age decades. Risk factors were analyzed using logistic regression including age, sex, spherical equivalent, pseudophakia and prior laser retinal therapy. Results: 13.416 participants (age 52.2 ±10.7 years, 48.8% female) were included in this analysis. 28 subjects had a retinal detachment in one eye, no subject had a retinal detachment in both eyes. The 5-year cumulative incidence of retinal detachment was 0.21% (95%-confidence interval: 0.14 – 0.31%), the incidence rate was 42/100.000 person-years. Risk factors were male sex (OR= 4.16, p=0.004), pseudophakia (OR=3.93, p=0.045) and myopia (OR=1.31 per diopter myopia, p<0.0001), but not prior retinal laser therapy or age. Conclusion: The incidence of retinal detachment in Germany at age 35 to 74 years is comparable to estimates from neighboring European countries. Risk factors are male sex, pseudophakia and myopia.

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