Rural-urban differences in myopia prevalence among myopes presenting to Bhutanese retinal clinical services: a 3-year national study.

Rai, BB; Ashby, RS; French, AN; Maddess, T

Rural-urban differences in myopia prevalence among myopes presenting to Bhutanese retinal clinical services: a 3-year national study.

Rai, BB Ashby, RS French, AN Maddess, T

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Publisher:: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie, 2020, pp. 1-9
Issue Date:: 2020-08-17

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Rai, BB
dc.contributor.author	Ashby, RS
dc.contributor.author	French, AN
dc.contributor.author	Maddess, T
dc.date.accessioned	2020-12-14T00:16:12Z
dc.date.available	2020-08-10
dc.date.available	2020-12-14T00:16:12Z
dc.date.issued	2020-08-17
dc.identifier.citation	Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie, 2020, pp. 1-9
dc.identifier.issn	0721-832X
dc.identifier.issn	1435-702X
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/144664
dc.description.abstract	PURPOSE:To determine the prevalence and demographic characteristics of myopia among patients presenting to the national vitreo-retinal (VR) services in Bhutan. METHODS:The records of the VR clinic at the apex national referral centre, providing the only VR services in the country, were reviewed to identify all new myopia patients over three years. Thus, we surveyed all referrals nationally. The patients were categorised into urban and rural females and males. We assessed myopia prevalence in each group by occupational and educational categories. We examined univariate prevalence data and a multivariate logistic regression (MLR) identified independent factors. RESULTS:Of 2913 cases 1544 (53.0%) were males. Females presented earlier (mean ±SD): overall 45.7 ± 21.9 cf. 48.6 ± 21.6 years, p = 0.003, and among myopes 23.9 ± 13.5 cf. 27.6 ± 18.6 years, p = 0.032. Myopia constituted 92.1% of refractive error, an overall prevalence of 12.3%. Myopia was more common among females (p = 0.01) and urbanites (p = 0.02). Myopia prevalence was highest among urban females (20.9%), followed by urban males (11.9%), rural females (6.8%), and rural males (5.2%). Logistic regression revealed that the odds of having myopia were increased by being a student (4.96 ×) or professional (1.96 ×), and decreased by rural living (1.75 ×), all p ≤ 0.038. CONCLUSIONS:This is the first study on myopia in Bhutan. As observed throughout East and Southeast Asia, the prevalence of myopia was higher in females and urbanites and positively associated with formal education. Given known risk factors, these prevalences may be driven by educational pressures and reduced time spent outdoors.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Springer Science and Business Media LLC
dc.relation.ispartof	Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1007/s00417-020-04891-6
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/closedAccess
dc.subject	1113 Opthalmology and Optometry
dc.subject.classification	Ophthalmology & Optometry
dc.title	Rural-urban differences in myopia prevalence among myopes presenting to Bhutanese retinal clinical services: a 3-year national study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.location.activity	Germany
utslib.for	1113 Opthalmology and Optometry
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health/GSH.Orthoptics
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health/Graduate School of Health
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access	*
dc.date.updated	2020-12-14T00:16:09Z
pubs.publication-status	Published

Abstract:

PURPOSE:To determine the prevalence and demographic characteristics of myopia among patients presenting to the national vitreo-retinal (VR) services in Bhutan. METHODS:The records of the VR clinic at the apex national referral centre, providing the only VR services in the country, were reviewed to identify all new myopia patients over three years. Thus, we surveyed all referrals nationally. The patients were categorised into urban and rural females and males. We assessed myopia prevalence in each group by occupational and educational categories. We examined univariate prevalence data and a multivariate logistic regression (MLR) identified independent factors. RESULTS:Of 2913 cases 1544 (53.0%) were males. Females presented earlier (mean ±SD): overall 45.7 ± 21.9 cf. 48.6 ± 21.6 years, p = 0.003, and among myopes 23.9 ± 13.5 cf. 27.6 ± 18.6 years, p = 0.032. Myopia constituted 92.1% of refractive error, an overall prevalence of 12.3%. Myopia was more common among females (p = 0.01) and urbanites (p = 0.02). Myopia prevalence was highest among urban females (20.9%), followed by urban males (11.9%), rural females (6.8%), and rural males (5.2%). Logistic regression revealed that the odds of having myopia were increased by being a student (4.96 ×) or professional (1.96 ×), and decreased by rural living (1.75 ×), all p ≤ 0.038. CONCLUSIONS:This is the first study on myopia in Bhutan. As observed throughout East and Southeast Asia, the prevalence of myopia was higher in females and urbanites and positively associated with formal education. Given known risk factors, these prevalences may be driven by educational pressures and reduced time spent outdoors.

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