Abstract Listings 2024

Purpose

This study aims to explore the trends of mortality due to various pathologies of the eye and adnexa from 1999 to 2020 using the age-adjusted mortality rates to evaluate the trend disparities in multiple ophthalmic pathologies among various epidemiological groups.

Methods

We analyzed Death Certificates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Wide Ranging Online Data for Epidemiological Research (WONDER) database from 1999-2020. AAMR per 1,000,000 people and annual percent change (APC) with a 95% confidence interval were determined. We then used the Joinpoint Regression Program to obtain trends amongst demographic (race, ethnicity, gender, age) groups.

Results

Between 1999 and 2020, there were a total of 57604 deaths among individuals of all ages, with 21931 deaths (38.07%) in males and 35673 deaths (61.93%) in females. The age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) has declined from 1999 to 2009 with an annual percent change (APC) of -4.34 with the slight rise (APC=1.48) until 2016 and a greater increase in APC (4.91) from 2016 to 2020. Females have had better outcomes than males in recent years despite the trend being parallel for most of the decade. Hispanics have had a relatively stable AAMR with better outcomes than non-Hispanics with a significant APC difference of 4.8. While Blacks or African Americans had the worst outcomes with an APC of 10.17 from 2016-2020 and much worse in the past.

Conclusion

In recent years, the overall mortality associated with various pathologies of the eye and adnexa has increased. The primary contributors to this rise include glaucoma, visual disturbances, and blindness. These conditions result in significant adverse outcomes, not only for the affected individuals but also for society at large, as those with such disabilities are often unable to fulfill their roles effectively. It is imperative to conduct further research and develop advanced treatments to ensure that individuals suffering from these conditions can achieve survival without disability, thereby enhancing their quality of life and societal contribution.

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