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Abstract #8900 Published in IGR 5-2
Intraocular pressure in a Somali population living in the United States
Read RW; Chen PP; Bhandari A; Mills RP; Cinciripini GS; Taylor CCJournal of Glaucoma 2003; 12: 365-369
PURPOSE: Intraocular pressure (IOP) is a risk factor for the development of glaucomatous optic neuropathy. With few exceptions, higher mean IOP and greater prevalences of glaucoma have been reported for individuals of African origin. This study was performed to compare the mean IOP of a group of ethnic East Africans living in the USA with that of Caucasians living in the same community. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective comparison of Somali patients 30 years of age or greater with age- and gender-matched Caucasian control subjects. All patients were seen in the same clinic in Seattle, WA, between July 1996 and March 1998. Patients were excluded for conditions or medications affecting IOP and for a diagnosis of glaucoma. Mean IOP of the two populations was compared using an independent sample two-tailed t test. RESULTS: Following exclusions and defined age limits, 57 Somali patients and 57 Caucasian control subjects were included in the final analysis. Mean age of Somalis was 48.5 ± 12.2 years versus 48.1 ± 11.3 years for control subjects (p = 0.84). The mean IOP of Somalis was 13.76 ± 3.63 mmHg versus 13.94 ± 2.78 mmHg for control subjects (p = 0.77). CONCLUSIONS: Some populations of African origin may not have higher mean IOPs compared with non-African populations. Consideration of ethnic and racial origins more specific than 'African' should be given when evaluating IOP in individual patients.
Dr. R.W. Read, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 700 18th Street South, EFH 601, Birmingham, AL 35233, USA. rwr@uab.edu
Classification:
1.1 Epidemiology (Part of: 1 General aspects)
