Open AccessGeographic Variation in the Prevalence of Macular Disease Among Elderly Medicare Beneficiaries in Kansas
Author(s) -
Carol Ann Holcomb,
Mu-Chuan Lin
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
american journal of public health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.284
H-Index - 264
eISSN - 1541-0048
pISSN - 0090-0036
DOI - 10.2105/ajph.2003.031385
Subject(s) - geographic variation , demography , medicine , confidence interval , prevalence , disease , gerontology , environmental health , geography , population , pathology , sociology
This study used Medicare Part B claims and enrollment data to estimate the prevalence of macular disease in Kansas at county and area levels. Spatial analysis by aggregated county clusters was assessed with standardized prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals, and a thematic map was produced to illustrate geographic distribution. A total of 17888 unduplicated claims were identified among 335132 beneficiaries older than age 64 years. Compared with the state prevalence of 5.34%, the central agricultural area showed a disproportionately high macular disease prevalence.