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Prevalence of pterygium in a population in Northern Japan: the Locomotive Syndrome and Health Outcome in Aizu Cohort Study
Author(s) -
Tano Takatoshi,
Ono Koichi,
Hiratsuka Yoshimune,
Otani Koji,
Sekiguchi Miho,
Konno Shinichi,
Kikuchi Shinichi,
Onishi Yoshihiro,
Takegami Misa,
Yamada Masakazu,
Fukuhara Shunichi,
Murakami Akira
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/aos.12044
Subject(s) - pterygium , medicine , confidence interval , logistic regression , population , demography , cohort , odds ratio , ophthalmology , environmental health , sociology
. Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for pterygium in a population aged 40–74 years in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. Methods: Of 4185 citizens of the towns of Minamiaizu‐machi and Tadami‐machi, 2312 (55.2%) gave consent to an ocular examination during a health examination. Pterygium was diagnosed when a radially oriented fibrovascular lesion growing over the limbus into the cornea was observed. Eyes with a history of pterygium excision were also diagnosed with pterygium. Prevalence and factors associated with pterygium were investigated. Results: Of the 2312 subjects, 101 (4.4%; 95% confidence interval, 3.6–5.3%) had pterygium in at least 1 eye. The average age (±SD) of the subjects was 64.3 ± 8.0 years. Gender, age, outdoor job history and smoking history were examined as possible associated factors, but only age was found to be significantly associated with pterygium in logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of pterygium was 4.4% in the study population. This low rate may be due to the northern latitude of these towns. Age was associated with a risk of pterygium, but gender and outdoor job history were not associated with onset of pterygium in this study.