Prevalence of age related macular degeneration and associated factors at a tertiary eye care center in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background:  Age-related macular degeneration accounts for 8.7% of all blindness worldwide and there is an expected change in the presence of Age related macular degenerative disorders following a marked rise in life expectancy worldwide. With a paucity of data on age related macular degenerative disease from peoples of African descent prevalence information on Africans are largely from studies undertaken in African populations living outside of the African continent. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of age related macular degeneration among patients attending a tertiary Eye care center in Addis Ababa.

Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted on patients aged 50 years old and above attending a tertiary eye care center, with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed using statistical package for social studies version 21.

Result:-In the study 414 patients were participated. Two hundred twenty-three (53.9%) of the respondents were male with male to female ratio of 1.2:1. The mean age was 61.4 ± 9 years. The main presenting complaint of patients was distortion of vision in 288 (69.6%) followed by metamorphosia in 13 (3.1%).The prevalence of the age related macular degenerative disease was100 (24.2%); among which 51(51%), 18(18%) and 31(31%) had early, intermediate and late AMD. Significant association were found between each decade of age increasing above 60 (p value 0.01), history of smoking (p value 0.021).

Conclusion: Age related macular degenerative disease is a common problem affecting old age people visiting tertiary eye center in Ethiopia. There is an increased risk of having the disease with each decade of age increment above the age of 60years. We recommend a meticulous clinical examination and use of optical coherence tomography to detect the disease early and treat it properly in all age group greater than 50 years.