Publication:

An epidemiological study of cataract among elderly population in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India

Background Cataract is one of the major causes of avoidable blindness in India. The burden of cataract among the elderly population needs to be assessed therefor, the study was planned to find the prevalence of cataract among the elderly population, and related socio-demographic factors.

Methods The study was a community-based cross-sectional study done at field practice area of rural health training centre and urban health training centre, J N Medical College, AMU, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India. A sample of 550 was taken from the registered elderly population aged 60 years and above using systematic random sampling with PPS. Socio- demographic characteristics was obtained using pretested and predesigned questionnaire. Cataract was identified with the help of torch light examination of lens. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Tests of proportion (Wald’s method to calculate confidence interval) and chi-square test was used. P value <0.05 was considered as significant.

Results The prevalence of cataract in the study population was 72.1% (95% CI- 68.3%, 75.8%) which was significantly associated with age, marital status, type of family & working status.

Conclusions The study concluded that approx. three- fourth of elderly population had cataract which was significantly associated with various socio- demographic factors. Therefore, these factors need to be addressed to reduce the burden of cataract among elderly population.