Prevalence of and risk factors for age-related and anterior polar cataracts in a Korean population

Kyung-Sun Na; Yong-Gyu Park; Kyungdo Han; Jee Won Mok; Choun-Ki Joo

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0096461

Prevalence of and risk factors for age-related and anterior polar cataracts in a Korean population

PLoS One. 2014 Jun 17;9(6):e96461. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096461. eCollection 2014.

Authors

Kyung-Sun Na¹, Yong-Gyu Park², Kyungdo Han², Jee Won Mok³, Choun-Ki Joo⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea; Catholic Institutes of Visual Science, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea; Department of Health Promotion Center, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
² Department of Biostatistics, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
³ Catholic Institutes of Visual Science, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
⁴ Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the potential risk factors associated with nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular, and anterior polar cataracts (APC) in the Korean population.

Research design and methods: This was a population-based, cross-sectional study of 7992 adults (over 40 years of age) from the data of the fourth annual Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, performed from 2007 to 2009. The presence of lens opacity was examined by slit-lamp biomicroscopy and evaluated according to LOCS II standard photographs. The subtype of cataract present, including nuclear, cortical, posterior subcapsular, and anterior polar cataracts, was noted. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for association of each specific type of cataract with age, sex, health examination, and medical history.

Results: The prevalence of nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular cataract increased gradually with increasing age. However, the prevalence of APC peaked in the 50- to 59-year-old subjects. All types of cataract except for APCs were more prevalent in women. Oral steroid use was associated with a lower risk of APC.

Conclusions: These findings showed the unique characteristics of APC in the Korean population.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Age Factors
Aged
Cataract / congenital*
Cataract / epidemiology*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Prevalence
Republic of Korea
Risk Factors

Supplementary concepts

Cataract anterior polar dominant

Grants and funding

This study was funded by the National Research of Korea (2011-0027157), Seoul, Korea. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.