TY - JOUR
T1 - Undetected eye disease in a primary care clinic population
AU - Wang, Fang
AU - Ford, Daniel
AU - Tielsch, James M.
AU - Quigley, Harry A.
AU - Whelton, Paul K.
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was supported by the Richard H. Char¬ trandEyeResearchFoundation,SanFrancisco,Calif,the NationalInstitutesofHealth(RR-04060),Bethesda,Md, theHealthofthePublic,aprogramofthePewCharitable TrustsGrant,Philadelphia,Pa,andtheRobertWoodJohnson Foundation,Princeton,NJ. We thank all staff at the Internal Medicine Associ¬ atesClinicandtheWilmerEyeClinic,JohnsHop¬The kins Hospital,for their support ofthis study. Reprint requests to Carnegie 291, TheJohns Hop¬ kinsHospital,600NWolfeSt,Baltimore,MD21287(Dr Ford).
Copyright:
Copyright 2014 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1994/8/22
Y1 - 1994/8/22
N2 - Background: Population-based data have indicated that a significant proportion of persons with undiagnosed ocular disease in the community are regular users of general medical services. This, combined with the high prevalence of chronic medical disorders known to be risk factors for ocular disease in such clinics, makes them an attractive site for screening. Methods: The prevalence of ocular disease was estimated in a sample of 405 general medicine patients attending an adult primary care clinic in an urban teaching hospital. Results: Overall, 205 (50.6%) of 405 patients were found to have clinically important ocular pathology. One third of those affected (n=68) were unaware of their eye disease, and 26% (n=18) of these 68 patients required immediate medical or surgical intervention. Patients 65 years or older (odds ratio [OR], 1.76), in fair or poor general health (OR, 1.78), with diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.07), or with self-reported fair or poor vision (OR, 3.03), were at increased risk for the presence of ocular disease. Among patients with eye disease, those who had no insurance coverage for eye care (OR, 3.45), those who had not had an eye examination during the previous 2 years (OR, 4.03), and those whose last eye examination was performed by an optometrist (OR, 7.25, reference ophthalmologist) were more likely to not be aware of their eye disease. Conclusions: Our results underscore the importance of screening for ocular disease in primary health care settings, especially for patients who are older than 65 years, are in poor health, report poor vision, have had infrequent eye examinations, or have inadequate insurance coverage for eye care.
AB - Background: Population-based data have indicated that a significant proportion of persons with undiagnosed ocular disease in the community are regular users of general medical services. This, combined with the high prevalence of chronic medical disorders known to be risk factors for ocular disease in such clinics, makes them an attractive site for screening. Methods: The prevalence of ocular disease was estimated in a sample of 405 general medicine patients attending an adult primary care clinic in an urban teaching hospital. Results: Overall, 205 (50.6%) of 405 patients were found to have clinically important ocular pathology. One third of those affected (n=68) were unaware of their eye disease, and 26% (n=18) of these 68 patients required immediate medical or surgical intervention. Patients 65 years or older (odds ratio [OR], 1.76), in fair or poor general health (OR, 1.78), with diabetes mellitus (OR, 2.07), or with self-reported fair or poor vision (OR, 3.03), were at increased risk for the presence of ocular disease. Among patients with eye disease, those who had no insurance coverage for eye care (OR, 3.45), those who had not had an eye examination during the previous 2 years (OR, 4.03), and those whose last eye examination was performed by an optometrist (OR, 7.25, reference ophthalmologist) were more likely to not be aware of their eye disease. Conclusions: Our results underscore the importance of screening for ocular disease in primary health care settings, especially for patients who are older than 65 years, are in poor health, report poor vision, have had infrequent eye examinations, or have inadequate insurance coverage for eye care.
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U2 - 10.1001/archinte.154.16.1821
DO - 10.1001/archinte.154.16.1821
M3 - Article
C2 - 8053749
AN - SCOPUS:0027931612
SN - 0003-9926
VL - 154
SP - 1821
EP - 1828
JO - Archives of internal medicine
JF - Archives of internal medicine
IS - 16
ER -