14
Finally, in the late AMD groups, two clinical entities
exist: neovascular AMD and geographic atrophy. In most
studies, neovascular cases represent about 55% of all late
AMD cases
(3)
. Nordic European countries (in particular
Iceland and Norway) may be an exception, since the few
studies performed in these countries suggest a higher rate
of geographic atrophy
(5,6)
.
3. Prevalence of late AMD in other
ethnic groups
As shown in Table 2, the prevalence of late AMD is much
lower in African-Americans than in Caucasians. Most
of the cited studies were multi-ethnic and performed
Author, Study
Years study conducted,
Country
Number of subjects, age
Prevalence of late AMD (%)
United States
Friedman, Baltimore Eye
Study
(28)
1985-1988, USA
N=2518, age >= 40 years
1.23
Klein, Beaver Dam Eye Study
(29)
1988-1990, USA
N=4752, age >= 40 years
1.64
Bressler, Salisbury Eye Evaluation
Project
(30)
1993-1995, USA
N=1773, age >= 65 years
Exudative AMD : 1.7
Geographic atrophy: 1.8
Klein, Atherosclerosis Risk in
Communities Study
(31)
1993-1995, USA
N=8984 , age 48-72 years
(one eye only)
0.2
Klein, Cardiovascular Health
Study
(32)
1997-1998, USA
N=1998, age 69-97 years
(one eye only)
1.3
Klein, Multi-Ethnic Study of
Atherosclerosis
(10)
2000-2002, USA
N=2315, age 45-84 years
0.6
Australia
Mitchell, Blue Mountains Eye
Study
(33)
1992-1994, Australia
N=3632, age >= 50
2.06
Van Newkirk, Melbourne VIP
(34)
1992-1996, Australia
N=4345, age >= 40 years
0.68
Europe
Vingerling, Rotterdam Study
(35)
1990-1993, Netherlands
N=6774, age >= 55 years
1.65
Delcourt, POLA Study
(36)
1995-1997, France
N=2196, age >= 60 years
1.9
Jonasson, Reykjavik Eye Study
(5)
1996, Iceland
N=1022, age >= 50 years
3.5
Topouzis, Thessaloniki Eye
Study
(37)
2000, Greece
N=2554, age >= 60 years
2.5
Bjornsson, Oslo Macular Study
(6)
2002, Norway
N=459, age > 50 years
2.8
Augood, Eureye
(4)
2001-2002,
7 european countries
N=4753, age >= 65 years
3.3
Table 1. Prevalence of late AMD in Caucasians from industrialized countries
