ArticleVision Health Disparities in the United States by Race/Ethnicity, Education, and Economic Status: Findings From Two Nationally Representative Surveys
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National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhanes.htm) is a national representative survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The NHANES was conducted during 1960-1962 (NHES I), 1963-1965 (NHES II), 1966-1970 (NHES III), 1971-1974 (NHANES I), 1976-1980 (NHANES II), 1982-1984 (HHANES), and 1988-1994 (NHANES III). Since 1999, the NHANES has been conducted continuously. The NHANES survey
Prevalence of Eye Diseases by Race/Ethnicity, Educational Attainment, and Economic Status
The observed racial/ethnic differences of DR among non-Hispanic whites and non-Hispanic blacks remained during the decade (Table 1). The prevalence of DR was significantly higher among non-Hispanic blacks than among non-Hispanic whites in NHANES III and NHANES 2005-2008 (4.9% vs 1.9%, 8.7% vs 3.2%; both P < .001). Some significant differences in age- and sex-standardized prevalence of AMD or cataract surgery by race/ethnicity were also present. For example, the prevalence of AMD was higher
Vision Health Disparities
We report observed disparities by race/ethnicity, education, and economic status in the prevalence of the major eye diseases and the use of eye care services. We also found that these disparities existed previously and have persisted over a decade.
Our survey-based evidence of racial/ethnic differences for the effects of major eye diseases is consistent with previous literature.27, 32, 33, 34 We found that the prevalence of DR and glaucoma among Americans 40 years of age or older is greater in
Xinzhi Zhang, MD, PhD, is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia. He received his medical degree from Peking Union Medical College and PhD in Health Services Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he is also an adjunct professor. He has received awards from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, CDC, and American Public Health Association. Dr Zhang is an overseas fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.
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Xinzhi Zhang, MD, PhD, is an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, Georgia. He received his medical degree from Peking Union Medical College and PhD in Health Services Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he is also an adjunct professor. He has received awards from Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, CDC, and American Public Health Association. Dr Zhang is an overseas fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.