Prevalence and Risk Factors for Adult Cataract in the Jingan District of Shanghai

PURPOSE: We report the prevalence of age-related cataract (ARC) in the Jingan district of Shanghai and analyze the risk factors for ARC to be better prepared for the increasing burden of cataracts as a significant cause of visual impairment worldwide. METHODS: From March to June 2010, a population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in a community selected by stratified cluster sampling in the Jingan district of Shanghai. Residents aged 40 and older were recruited and investigated by questionnaires and ophthalmic examination. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association of these risk factors with any cataract. RESULTS: A total of 2894 subjects aged 40 years and above were included in our study. Nine hundred forty-eight people (32.8%) were diagnosed with cataract, including 845 with bilateral cataracts (29.2%) and 292 with moderate and severe visual impairment (low vision, 10.1%). There were significant differences in low vision among different age groups and gender (Χ(2)(age) = 84.420, P(age) < 0.001, Χ(2)(gender) = 7.696, P(gender) = 0.021). For any cataract, we found age (OR = 1.107, 95% CI: 1.094–1.120) and refractive error (OR = 1.352, 95% CI: 1.127–1.622) were independent risk factors. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cataract is estimated to be nearly one-third of the sample, increasing with age. We provided further evidence that age and refractive error are independent cataract risk factors.