Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with glaucoma in Jimma University Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Evidence is emerging that the prevalence and the proportions of different types of glaucoma vary widely between ethnic groups and geographical areas throughout the world. Until population-based surveys become available in Ethiopia, hospital-based studies are invaluable to show the distribution of the types of glaucoma in certain parts of the country. PurPurpose: The main aim of this study was to determine the types of glaucoma prevalent among patients attending the department of ophthalmology of Jimma University Specialized Hospital (JUSH), Jimma, Ethiopia. in JMethods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in JUSH from April 1, 2007 to March 30, 2008. The study population consisted of 335 consecutive patients with glaucoma. Glaucoma was diagnosed by means of strict objective criteria, based on Goldmann applanation tonometry readings, three-mirror gonioscopic examination and binocular biomicroscopic optic disc appearances. ResResults: The mean (SD) age of the study patients was 57.0(12.7) years (range, 8-90 years). The male to female ratio was 2.7:1. Primary glaucomas accounted for 52.2% of all cases. The two most common types of glaucoma observed were pseudoexfoliative glaucoma (PXG) (35.2%) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) (32.3%). Primary angle closure glaucoma was diagnosed in 18.5% of patients. Less frequently observed types of glaucoma were secondary angle closure glaucomas (9.3%), secondary open angle glaucomas (3.3%) and Juvenile open angle glaucoma (0.9%). Patients with PXG were older than those with POAG in this study (p<0.0001), and unilateral disease was more common among patients with PXG as compared to POAG (p<0.001). Overall, 56.1% and 23.9% of the study patients were unilaterally and bilaterally blind due to glaucoma, respectively. Conclusions: The very high proportion of people with blindness due to advanced glaucoma at initial presentation is alarming. Urgent strategies need to be designed to address the problem. The finding that PXG is the commonest type of all glaucomas in the present study is interesting. However, this needs to be substantiated with community-based studies representing all ethnic groups in the area. Patients with POAG in this study are relatively young and tend to have advanced disease. Cohort studies are recommended to verify whether or not POAG has an earlier onset and rapid progression in Ethiopians