Age-Related Macular Degeneration Prevalence Remains High

FRIDAY, Nov. 4, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- In 2019, roughly 18.34 million U.S. individuals (aged 40 years and older) were living with early-stage age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and 1.49 million were living with late-stage AMD, according to a study published online Nov. 3 in JAMA Ophthalmology.

David B. Rein, Ph.D., from the University of Chicago, and colleagues used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System to estimate early- and late-stage AMD prevalence overall and by age, gender, race and ethnicity, county, and state.

The researchers report that in 2019, there were an estimated 18.34 million people aged 40 years and older living with early-stage AMD, corresponding to a crude prevalence rate of 11.64 percent, and an estimated 1.49 million people aged 40 years and older were living with late-stage AMD, corresponding to a crude prevalence rate of 0.94 percent. There was variance noted in the prevalence rates of early- and late-stage AMD by demographic characteristics and geography.

"Rates of early-stage AMD were higher than previously estimated while rates of late-stage AMD were similar; prevalence rates varied substantially by age group, race and ethnicity, and county," the authors write. "The estimated prevalence of all AMD remains high, although vision-threatening late stages appear to be level with past estimates; state and county estimates may be used for public health planning."

One author disclosed financial ties to Janssen, SwissRe, and Sanofi.

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