Epidemiology of Uveitis in a Spanish Region: Prevalence and Etiology
Ángel García-Aparicio, Laurent Martin, R. López Lancho, R. Quirós Zamorano, L. del Olmo Pérez, S. Fernández, Teresa Otón, R. Jiménez Escribano, F. González del Valle, Santiago Muñoz‐Fernández
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of uveitis and to describe its etiologic and anatomical patterns based on a population study carried out in a Spanish region. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive, population-based multicenter study was conducted. The selection criteria consisted of having a diagnosis of uveitis. All data were collected from existing information in medical records.Clinical information was collected in all cases that had a diagnosis of uveitis, regardless of its etiology, in participating centers from the date of the study to the end of the following year. All patients underwent a complete ophthalmological examination, which included assessment of their visual acuity, biomicroscopy, applanation tonometry, and indirect ophthalmoscopy. RESULTS: During the study, 389 cases of uveitis were registered. The prevalence was 58.7 (95% confidence interval [CI] 53.0-64.9). The mean age was 47.0 ± 20.6 years and 57.8% were women. The most prevalent anatomical pattern was anterior uveitis (54.2; 95% CI 48.1-60.8). For adults, the idiopathic group constituted the highest prevalence (31.7; 95% CI: 27.1-36.9), while autoimmune etiology was most frequent for children (10.6; 95% CI: 5.8-17.7). CONCLUSION: The results of this population-based study offer a representative estimate of the magnitude of uveitis in this area of Spain.