Epidemiological variations and trends in glaucoma burden in the Belt and Road countries

BMC Ophthalmol. 2024 Apr 25;24(1):195. doi: 10.1186/s12886-024-03464-z.

Abstract

Background: Analyzing the glaucoma burden in "Belt and Road" (B&R) countries based on age, gender, and risk factors from 1990 to 2019 in order to provide evidence for future prevention strategies.

Methods: We applied global burden of disease(GBD) 2019 to compare glaucoma prevalence and Years lived with disabilities (YLDs) from 1990 to 2019 in the B&R countries. Trends of disease burden between 1990 and 2019 were evaluated using the average annual percent change and the 95% uncertainty interval (UI) were reported.

Results: From 1990 to 2019, most B&R countries showed a downward trend in age-standardized prevalence and YLDs (all P < 0.05). Additionally, only the age-standardized YLDs in males of Pakistan has a 0.35% increase (95%CI:0.19,0.50,P < 0.001), and most B&R countries has a decline(all P < 0.05) in age-standardized YLDs in every 5 years age group after 45 years old except for Pakistan(45-79 years and > 85 years), Malaysia(75-84 years), Brunei Darussalam(45-49 years), Afghanistan(70-79 years). Finally, in all Central Asian countries, the age-standardized YLDs due to glaucoma caused by fasting hyperglycemia demonstrated have an increase between 1990 and 2019 (all P < 0.05), but Armenia and Mongolia have a decrease between 2010 and 2019 (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion: The prevalence of glaucoma continues to pose a significant burden across regions, ages, and genders in countries along the "B&R". It is imperative for the "B&R" nations to enhance health cooperation in order to collaboratively tackle the challenges associated with glaucoma.

Keywords: Average annual percent change; B&R countries; Burden of disease; Glaucoma; Trend analysis; Years lived with disability (YLDs).

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Distribution
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cost of Illness
  • Disability-Adjusted Life Years / trends
  • Female
  • Glaucoma* / epidemiology
  • Global Burden of Disease / trends
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Factors
  • Sex Distribution
  • Young Adult