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A study on the epidemiology of treated glaucoma in the UK

Research Project
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01.01.2017
 - 31.12.2025

Background: Glaucoma is a group of progressive optic neuropathies that have in common a slow progressive neurodegeneration of retinal cells and their axons and a concomitant pattern of visual loss. The biological basis of the disease is not yet fully understood, and the factors contributing to its progression are not yet fully characterised. However, intraocular pressure is the only proven treatable risk factor. Glaucoma is the second most common cause of vision loss worldwide behind cataracts, but, unlike cataracts, the vision loss associated with glaucoma is largely irreversible. Among the major types of glaucoma are open-angle (OAG), angle-closure (ACG), secondary glaucoma, and glaucoma with onset in infancy. In 2010 it was estimated that 60.5 million people suffer with OAG or ACG worldwide. These numbers are expected to reach 79.6 million by 2020, and of these, 74% will have OAG. To our knowledge, incidence rates of glaucoma have not been quantified in the UK. Objective: We therefore aim to quantify, through an observational study, the treatment rates for glaucoma and intraocular hypertension (IOH) in the U.K. and compare demographic characteristics, comorbidities (e.g. obesity, diabetes, others), and lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol consumption) between treated patients with and untreated (i.e., glaucoma-free) controls. Furthermore, we plan to conduct one ore more drug safety studies, using a case-control design, on the risk of glaucoma after exposure to certain drugs of interest. Additionally, we plan to assess the association between other chronic conditions and the risk of glaucoma. Methods: we will assess standardized treatement rates and perform stratified analyses for age, sex and region of the UK. We will further describe and compare pateint charcteristics with the general population. For the study of potential associations with glaucom we will use a case-control design and perform conditional logistic regression analyes.

Members (5)

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Claudia Becker

Principal Investigator
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Christoph R. Meier

Co-Investigator
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Luis Gerardo Odilio Velez Nandayapa

Co-Investigator
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Laura Eggenschwiler

Project Member
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Susan Jick

Project Member