This paper estimates the prevalence of self-reported cataract and associated risk factors among individuals aged ≥50 years in South Africa. Data from a nationally-representative cross-sectional Study on Global AGEing and Adult Health (SAGE) (N = 3646) conducted in South Africa from 2007-2008 was analyzed. The primary outcome was self-reported cataract, and exposures included socio-demographics, self-reported co-morbidities, and behavioral factors. Linearized multivariate logistic regression models were used. The weighted prevalence of self-reported diagnosed cataract was 4.4% (95%CI: 3.4-5.8). Prevalence was greater among individuals with advancing age (10.2%), higher quality of life (QoL) (5.9%), education (5.2%), and wealth (5.8%) than their counterparts. Prevalence was also higher among individuals with depression (17.5%), diabetes (13.3%), hypertension (9.1%), and stroke (8.4%) compared to those without these conditions, with the exception of obesity (4.2%). In the final multivariate model, the odds of self-reported cataract were: 4.14 times higher among people ≥70 years than 50 to 59 year olds (95%CI: 2.28-7.50); 2.48 times higher in urban than rural residents (95%CI: 1.25-4.92); 5.16, 2.99, and 1.97 times higher for individuals with depression (95%CI: 1.92-13.86), hypertension (95%CI: 1.60-5.59), and diabetes (95%CI: 1.07-3.61), compared to those without these conditions.
Keywords: SAGE; South Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; age-related cataracts; blindness; inequalities; lower middle income countries; risk factors.