rss
Br J Ophthalmol 2010;94:85-87 doi:10.1136/bjo.2008.153312
  • Original Article
  • Clinical science

The effect of socio-economic deprivation on severity of glaucoma at presentation

  1. W S Ng1,
  2. P K Agarwal2,
  3. S Sidiki2,
  4. L McKay2,
  5. J Townend3,
  6. A Azuara-Blanco4
  1. 1
    Royal Gwent Hospital, Newport, UK
  2. 2
    Gartnavel General Hospital, Glasgow, UK
  3. 3
    Aberdeen University, Aberdeen, UK
  4. 4
    Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, UK
  1. Correspondence to Dr W S Ng, Ophthalmology Department, Royal Gwent Hospital, Cardiff Road, Newport NP20 2UB, UK; waisiene{at}doctors.org.uk
  • Accepted 26 May 2009
  • Published Online First 23 July 2009

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the influence of socio-economic factors on severity of glaucoma at presentation

Methods: All newly diagnosed glaucoma patients at the University Hospitals-NHS, Aberdeen and South Glasgow University Hospitals-NHS, in 2006, were included. Glaucoma was severe at presentation if there was a repeatable visual-field loss with a mean deviation index greater than 12 dB in the Humphreys visual fields test or an absolute paracentral scotoma within the central 5° of the visual fields. Home address was used to determine the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) rank. The SIMD rank, demographics and severity of glaucoma at presentation were investigated using general linear modelling.

Results: There were 48 patients with severe glaucoma and 74 patients with non-severe glaucoma. In four, the severity could not be determined. Severity of glaucoma at presentation was significantly associated with SIMD rank, being most severe in patients from areas with the lowest ranks (p = 0.026). Age was a significant factor (p = 0.024), with severe glaucoma being more common in elderly patients.

Conclusions: Age and socio-economic deprivation were associated with severity of glaucoma at presentation, with patients from areas of higher socio-economic deprivation presenting with more advanced glaucoma.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests None.

  • Ethics approval Ethics approval was provided by Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and South Glasgow University Hospital Research and Development Department.

  • Provenance and Peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.

This Article

  1. Abstract
  2. Full text
  3. PDF
  4. All Versions of this Article:
    1. bjo.2008.153312v1
    2. 94/1/85 most recent

Responses

  1. Submit a response
  2. No responses published

Social bookmarking

Register for free content


Free sample
 This recent issue is free to all users to allow everyone the opportunity to see the full scope and typical content of BJO.
View free sample issue >>

Free archive
The full back archive is now available for BJO. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006, back to volume 1 issue 1.
Register to access the free archive >>

Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.