Socio-economic disparity in global burden of near vision loss: an analysis for 2017 with time trends since 1990

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the socio-economic disparity in global burden of near vision loss by disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs).

Methods: The DALY numbers of country income groups by World Bank classification and the national age-standardized DALY rates caused by near vision loss were obtained from Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Human development index (HDI) was collected from the Human Development Report. The association between age-standardized DALY rates and HDI was analysed. Additionally, the concentration index (CI) and the relative index of inequality (RII) were employed to assess the trends of socio-economic disparity in the global burden of near vision loss from 1990 to 2017.

Results: The global burden of near vision loss increased from 5.3 million DALYs in 1990 to 9.8 million DALYs in 2017, corresponding to an increase of 82.4%. The highest rate of increase for 1990-2017 occurred in low-income country group (97.7%). Age-standardized DALY rates were inversely correlated with HDI (Standardized β = -0.679, P < 0.001). Lower HDI countries displayed higher age-standardized DALY rates caused by near vision loss. From 1990 to 2017, CI declined from -0.233 to -0.209, and RII increased from 0.149 to 0.247.

Conclusion: The total global burden of near vision loss increased greatly in the past few decades, with low-income countries showing the highest growth. The age-standardized burden was higher in countries with lower socio-economic status. Although a declining trend of socio-economic inequalities was observed, the persistence of disparities still highlights the need to provide more eye care services for developing countries.

Keywords: global burden of disease; near vision loss; socio-economic disparity; time trend.