Prevalence and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration: Korean national health and nutrition examination survey 2008-2011

Purpose: To evaluate the prevalence of and risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a representative Korean population. Materials and Methods: A nationwide population-based cross-sectional study was conducted among the civilian, noninstitutionalized Korean population aged 40 and older (mean age, 55.7 years; 95% confidence interval [CI], 55.4-56.0). A total of 16,109 older (≥40 years of age) subjects participated in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey 2008-2011. All participants underwent standardized interviews and comprehensive ophthalmic examinations. Using physiologic mydriasis, a 45° digital fundus photograph was taken of both eyes of each participant. All fundus photographs were graded according to an international classification and grading system. Main outcome measures consisted of prevalence of early-and late-AMD. Results: Of the 16,109 subjects, fundus photographs were gradable for 14,352 (89.1%). The prevalence of early-and late-AMD in the Korean population was 6.0 and 0.6%, respectively. The prevalence of early-AMD increased from 1.5% in those aged 40-49 years to 16.2% in those aged ≥70 years. After adjusting for confounders, the prevalence of early-AMD increased with increasing age (odds ratio [OR], 1.08; CI, 1.06-1.09). For late-AMD, old age (OR, 1.09; CI, 1.04-1.14), male gender (OR, 2.45; CI, 1.11-5.37), high systolic blood pressure (OR, 1.03; CI, 1.00-1.06) and high fasting glucose level (OR, 0.97; CI, 0.94-0.99) were significant risk factors. Smoking was not associated with either early-or late-AMD in this Korean population. Conclusions: The present study provides the first population-based data on the prevalence of and risk factors for AMD in a representative Korean population. The prevalences of early-and late-AMD in this population were 6.0 and 0.6%, respectively. The prevalence of AMD in Koreans is higher than for those in other Asian countries and similar to that of Caucasians in Western countries.