Glaucoma Epidemiology in Colombia: Analysis of the Official Ministry of Health Registry

Juan David Mosos; Juan Nicolás Barreto; Antonia Rosero-Silva; Clemencia De Vivero; Diego Rosselli

doi:10.1097/IJG.0000000000002669

Glaucoma Epidemiology in Colombia: Analysis of the Official Ministry of Health Registry

J Glaucoma. 2025 Dec 1. doi: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000002669. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Juan David Mosos¹, Juan Nicolás Barreto¹, Antonia Rosero-Silva², Clemencia De Vivero^{3

4

5

6}, Diego Rosselli^{7

8

9

10

11}

Affiliations

¹ Medical Doctor, postgraduate student specializing in ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Bogota, Colombia.
² Medical Doctor, Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Bogota, Colombia.
³ Medical Doctor: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
⁴ Ophthalmologist: Escuela Superior de Oftalmología - Instituto Barraquer de América.
⁵ Glaucomatologist: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London, England.
⁶ Ophthalmology program coordinator, Medicine Faculty, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogota, Colombia.
⁷ Medical Doctor: Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario.
⁸ Neurologist: Universidad Militar Nueva Granada.
⁹ Master of Education: Harvard University.
¹⁰ Master in Health Policy: London School of Economics.
¹¹ Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Bogota, Colombia.

PMID: 41400991
DOI: 10.1097/IJG.0000000000002669

Abstract

Prcis: This registry-based study estimates the prevalence of glaucoma in Colombia to be 1.94%, with higher rates in women. Significant associations with comorbidities like retinal vascular occlusion, myopia, Raynaud's syndrome and obstructive sleep apnea were found.

Purpose: To estimate the prevalence of glaucoma in Colombia using data from the Individual Records of Health Services Provision (RIPS) between 2018 and 2023 and determine the prevalence ratios with diagnoses that have been linked to the development and progression of glaucoma.

Materials and methods: This observational, retrospective study analyzed secondary data from the RIPS database. The study included individuals diagnosed with glaucoma, categorized by ICD-10 codes, and associated comorbidities. The prevalence was calculated for individuals over 40 years old, and prevalence ratios were determined for comorbid conditions.

Results: Between 2018 and 2022, 399,923 patients were diagnosed with glaucoma, with a prevalence of 1.94% in individuals over 40 years old. Primary open-angle glaucoma was the most common type, with a prevalence of 1.08%. The study found strong associations between glaucoma and comorbidities such as retinal vascular occlusion (prevalence ratio of 9.1 for glaucoma and 8.8 for primary open angle glaucoma), myopia (3.3 and 3.7), Raynaud's syndrome (2.4 and 2.5) and obstructive sleep apnea (2.1 and 2.5). A positive but less significant association with migraine (2.0 and 1.9), hypothyroidism (2.1 and 2.2), asthma (1.7 and 1.7), diabetes (1.5 and 1.7), hypertension (1.4 and 1.4) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (1.2 and 1.3) was also found.

Conclusion: The prevalence of glaucoma in Colombia is consistent with global estimates, but with higher rates in women. The association between glaucoma and several comorbidities underscores the importance of an early detection and comprehensive management of these diseases.

Keywords: Colombia; Comorbidity; Epidemiology; Glaucoma; Prevalence.