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PMID: 14561043 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

Epidemiology of age-related maculopathy: a review.

European journal of epidemiology ·Vol. 18 ·No. 9 ·2003-00-00 ·Pages 845-54

van Leeuwen R, Klaver CC, Vingerling JR, Hofman A, de Jong PT

Abstract

Age-related maculopathy (ARM) is a degenerative disease of the retina and the leading cause of incurable blindness and visual impairment in industrialized countries. By definition, ARM is confined to the age-category above 50 years. The aetiology of ARM is still unknown, despite intensive research on many fronts. In this paper, we provide a review of the epidemiology of ARM. The most prominent findings were an exponential increase in frequency with age, a significant familial and genetic component, and a strong association with smoking. Other risk factors that were found less consistently were atherosclerosis, low intake of antioxidant nutrients, and cataract extraction. Future studies, both observational and experimental, will hopefully identify more risk factors that are amenable to prevention.

MeSH Terms
Age of Onset Comorbidity Diet Environmental Exposure Humans Macular Degeneration/diagnosis,epidemiology,etiology,genetics Risk Factors
Authors & Affiliations
5 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
van Leeuwen Redmer
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Erasmus Medical Centre, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Klaver Caroline C W
Vingerling Johannes R
Hofman Albert
de Jong Paulus T V M
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Article Info
Journal
European journal of epidemiology
Abbr.
Eur J Epidemiol
ISSN
0393-2990
DOI
10.1023/a:1025643303914
Published
2003-00-00
Pages
845-54
Language
English
Region
Netherlands
NLM ID
8508062
Subset
IM
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1023/a:1025643303914 View journal details
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