Demographic factors influence uptake of glaucoma screening in first-degree relatives following a familial diagnosis
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) has a genetic component, thus first-degree relatives of individuals with POAG should be screened for glaucoma. Researchers sought to assess glaucoma screening uptake among first-degree relatives of patients with glaucoma in the community- (n=261) versus hospital-based (n=196) settings. They found that certain factors were associated with glaucoma screening uptake in first-degree relatives.
Individuals were invited for screening and underwent eye examinations, and those with suspected glaucoma underwent further confirmatory testing. Mean patient age was 70 years (range, 41-96 years).
Among the first-degree relatives invited, significantly more individuals in the hospital-based group underwent screening compared with the community-based group (64.5% vs 30.1%, respectively; P<.001). The researchers found that the following characteristics made individuals more likely to participate in screening:
- Women (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% CI, 1.14-2.38)
- Age older than 45 years (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.32-3.21)
- Those who were related to an originating patient with blindness (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.13-2.54)
- Those with secondary education or higher (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.48-4.18)
Among first-degree relatives screened, glaucoma was suspected in 19.2% and confirmed in 8.3%.
The study is limited by its non-randomized study design. In addition, the study took place in Chanthaburi, Thailand, where knowledge and disease information “are not comprehensive for all individuals in the area, potentially leading to incomplete and insufficient communication to the public,” the authors noted.
“The study shows that the hospital-based group had a significantly higher screening uptake than the community-based group, reflecting that information from the ophthalmic nurses is more effective and well-received than that from general nurses and village health volunteers,” the authors concluded.
Reference
Nitikarun P, Kongsap P. Comparative analysis of glaucoma screening uptake among first-degree relatives after community-based and hospital-based approaches. Clin Ophthalmol. 2024;18:1563-1573. doi:10.2147/OPTH.S459318
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