Epidemiological aspects of glaucoma and correlation of glaucoma frequency with climate and geography. Comparison of different regions of Kyrgyzstan

Poster Details

First Author: S.Imabaeva KYRGYZSTAN

Co Author(s):                  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Glaucoma is the main driver of blindness growth in the world, Kyrgyzstan is not the exception. Ministry of Healthcare of Kyrgyzstan estimates that glaucoma is the most common reason for disability and blindness – 30.2%. In the past glaucoma used to affect older people, but recently glaucoma is commonly observed in people younger than 30. In other words, glaucoma problem transformed from ophthalmological to a social one. There is a need for development of preventive measures.

Setting:

Microsurgery department, ophthalmology, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Methods:

Statistical analysis of Ministry of Health annual reports was made (2004-2009).

Results:

Trend showed that compared to other eye diseases glaucoma was the main reason for blindness. In 2004 there were more than 6,000 patients with glaucoma in Kyrgyzstan. At the end of 2007 there were 7,904 patients with glaucoma in Kyrgyzstan. On average 24% of the total glaucoma patients in Kyrgyzstan were from the Osh region (southern Kyrgyzstan), 17% from Bishkek (Capital, northern Kyrgyzstan) and 12% from other regions.

Conclusions:

High level of glaucoma in Bishkek is probably due to better access to medical care by patients compared to other regions. High level of glaucoma in Osh region (south) can be attributed to various environmental, geographical, social and economic factors. The climate in the south of Kyrgyzstan is hotter, poverty level is higher and the landscape is different to northern Kyrgyzstan. In the other northern regions (non-Bishkek) such as Naryn, Talas, Issyk-Kul glaucoma patients constituted on average 12% of the total. In conclusion glaucoma rates were higher in the southern regions, where climate is hotter, compared to the northern regions. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE?: No