ORIGINAL RESEARCH |
https://doi.org/10.5005/jp-journals-10078-1413 |
Clinical Profile of Primary Open-angle Glaucoma Patients at an Eye Center in Nigeria
1,3Optometry Unit, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago
2Department of Optometry, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe
4Department of Optometry, Madonna University, Nigeria
5Department of Optometry, Bindura University of Science Education, Zimbabwe; School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of Auckland, Aotearoa, New Zealand
6Department of Optometry, Mzuzu University, Malawi
7Discipline of Optometry, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Corresponding Author: Ngozika E Ezinne, Optometry Unit, Department of Clinical Surgical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Saint Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago, Phone: +18688687867961, e-mail: ezinne.ngozi@gmail.com
Received on: 03 March 2023; Accepted on: 15 September 2023; Published on: 11 October 2023
ABSTRACT
Aim: Globally, one of the leading causes of preventable blindness is primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG). The study assessed the clinical presentations of POAG patients attending an eye center in Abuja, Nigeria.
Materials and methods: Records of 188 eyes, collected from 94 patients diagnosed with POAG for a period of 1 year at the eye center, were reviewed. Clinical records, including age, gender, visual acuity (VA), central cornea thickness (CCT), intraocular pressure (IOP), cup-to-disk ratios, and retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness of the participants, were extracted and analyzed.
Results: The majority of the participants were males (56.4%) and adults (57.4%), most of whom had normal VA (>70% in each eye). Our analysis revealed normal average estimates of RNFL thickness, IOP, and CCT among the participants. Females had thicker RNFL compared to males (p = 0.02). Although CCT decreased with age (r = −0.28, p = 0.005), there was no such link between IOP and CCT (r = 0.09, p = 0.38).
Conclusion: Central cornea thickness (CCT), RNFL thickness, and IOP in isolation should not be used as early indicators for POAG; rather, a combination of these and other indices is recommended. Early detection through active screening and treatment in the community for at-risk groups is highly advised.
How to cite this article: Ezinne NE, Kwarteng MA, Ekemiri KK, et al. Clinical Profile of Primary Open-angle Glaucoma Patients at an Eye Center in Nigeria. J Curr Glaucoma Pract 2023;17(3):113–117.
Source of support: Nil
Conflict of interest: None
Keywords: Abuja, Central cornea thickness, Intraocular pressure, Nigeria, Primary open-angle glaucoma, Retinal nerve fiber layer thickness
INTRODUCTION
The second largest cause of blindness in the world and the main factor contributing to irreversible blindness is glaucoma.1 Globally, 60 million people are thought to have glaucoma, and among these, 8.4 million suffer from glaucoma-related blindness.2 Globally, 111.8 million individuals are expected to have glaucoma by 2040, with populations in Africa and Asia seeing a disproportionally higher growth.3
Studies1,3 in sub-Saharan African countries showed that primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is the most common type of glaucoma in Africa and African-derived populations (Caribbean and African Americans), accounting for 3.12 million blind people and 75% of all glaucoma cases.1,4 According to estimates from 2013, there were 44 million cases of POAG worldwide. This number was expected to increase to 53 million by 2020 and to 79.76 million by 2040 as a result of population aging.4,5
Approximately, 10 million Africans have POAG out of the 58 million people recorded worldwide.3 Also, Africans or individuals of African descent were reported to have a POAG three times more probable than others.6 In addition, POAG was recorded to have an early development and faster progression in Africans than in other ethnic groups.1 Men were found to be more likely to have primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) than women. Several studies7,10 showed that the use of glaucoma drugs, including prostaglandins analogs, which are known as the initial course of glaucoma treatment, may contribute to the fast progression of glaucoma as it reduces the central corneal thickness as a long- or short-term effect. However, records on the extent and the mechanism of reduction are inconsistent. There is a need for more studies in this area.
Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) hardly presents with symptoms, and only when the condition has progressed to an advanced stage are many patients diagnosed.5 Severe visual impairment and blindness at presentation are indicative of late diagnosis and late presentation. The lack of symptoms and screening at the onset of POAG contribute to late presentation. Early diagnosis of POAG is essential to prevent blindness. There is a dearth of studies-related literature that assessed the clinical presentation of POAG in Nigeria. To improve the prevention and treatment of POAG in Nigeria, there is a need to assess clinical presentations of POAG in Nigeria to compare with the findings from other regions and countries. The aim of this study is, therefore, to assess the clinical presentation of patients with POAG seen at a private eye center in Abuja, Nigeria.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Design and Setting
The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study that included all individuals who visited Rachel Eye Center, Abuja, from January to December 2019 and were diagnosed with POAG. The eye center is well equipped and is one of the best eye centers in Abuja, Nigeria. It has subspecialty clinics, including glaucoma, retina, pediatrics, anterior segment, and optometric centers for providing different eye care services in Abuja and its environs.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria
All individuals who visited the facility within the study period and were diagnosed with POAG were eligible and included in the study. Those whose medical files had insufficient information, including the type of glaucoma and clinical characteristics, were excluded. Individuals whose refractive errors were ≥3 D, who had eye surgeries in the past, and those with any ocular condition that could affect the visual field or increase intraocular pressure (IOP) were excluded. Also excluded were individuals with ocular hypertension (increased IOP of >21 mm Hg but without any remarkable changes in their fundus and visual field). In addition, eligible participants whose case files showed that their fundus was obscured or inaccessible due to the presence of some ocular conditions and those with systemic or eye conditions that affect the integrity of the fundus were excluded. Based on these criteria, a total of 94 patients’ records were included in the study.
Data Collection Procedure
Records of all patients diagnosed with POAG from January 2019 to December 2019 were reviewed. Information about age, gender, IOP, presenting visual acuity (VA), vertical cup-to-disk ratios (VCDR), central cornea thickness (CCT), horizontal CDR (HCDR), pattern standard deviation (PSD), retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL), and mean deviation (MD) were documented. The eye center uses Snellen notation; therefore, the presenting VA was measured in Snellen notation. Humphrey visual field analyzer (Humphrey 740; Carl Zeiss Meditech, Dublin, California, United States of America) was used to measure the presenting visual field. IOP was measured for all patients between 8.00 am and 4.00 pm when the IOP is expected to be stable and reliable11 with the Goldmann applanation tonometer. Fourier-domain optical coherence tomography (Spectralis, Heidelberg, Germany) was used to check the anterior chamber depth, CCT, fundus, and RNFL.
Primary Open-angle Glaucoma (POAG) Diagnosis Criteria
The guidlines of the International Society for Geographical and Ophthalmology is used by the majority of eye clinics in Nigeria, including Rachel Eye Center, for glaucoma diagnosis and categorization. POAG was identified by an open and normal-appearing angle with an IOP > 21 mmHg, a VCDR of 0.7 or more (based on the normative data from the Nigeria national survey) and <0.9, a VCDR asymmetry of 0.2 or more, or a neuroretinal rim width reduced to ≤0.1 (any violation of the ISNT rule), and a distinct visual field defect consistent with glaucoma.
Ethics
Ethical clearance for the study was sought and obtained from the Institutional Review Board of Madonna University, Nigeria (MAU/SREC/A/0481/03/2019). The management of Rachel Eye Centre, Abuja gave permission to access the patients’ case files. The Declaration of Helsinki was adhered to.
Statistical Analysis
Data collected were analyzed with IBM Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (version 25.0). Kolmogorov–Smirnov test was used to check for normal distribution of data. Percentage frequencies and mean were used to present categorical and continuous variables, respectively. Equality of variance was assessed with A-Levene’s test since the proportion of sex was not equal in the sample population. Associations between CCT, age, and IOP were determined using correlational analysis, and data was considered statistically significant at 0.05. Also, a Bonferonni post hoc analysis was used to adjust the p-value.
RESULTS
A total of 94 files of eligible participants were enumerated, and data was extracted for analysis. Among the participants, the majority (56.4%) were males. Most (57.4%) of the participants were adults, and this is reflected in our prevalence estimates as glaucoma is known to be common among people of the adult age-group and above. There was a statistically significant association between the proportion of male youth and female youth. A Bonferonni post hoc analysis revealed that no specific subgroup of sex and age-group was responsible for the observed association (adjusted p = 0.006). The presenting VAs for each participant were generally good, 73.4% had normal vision in the right eye and 78.7% in the left eye (Table 1). This high proportion of normal presenting VA among the sample studied indicates that the patients presented to the facility early enough for their management and treatment to have a good prognosis.
| Variables | Sex | Total (%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Female | Male | p-value | |||
| Age-group | Children | 3a | 1a | 4 (4.3) | 0.022 |
| Youth | 16a | 9b | 25 (26.6) | ||
| Adult | 20a | 34a | 54 (57.4) | ||
| Elderly | 2a | 9a | 11 (11.7) | ||
| Right eye | Normal vision | 33a | 36a | 69 (73.4) | 0.387 |
| Mild VI | 3a | 7a | 10 (10.6) | ||
| Moderate VI | 5a | 10a | 15 (16.0) | ||
| Left eye | Normal vision | 32a | 42a | 74 (78.7) | 0.630 |
| Mild VI | 3a | 6a | 9 (9.6) | ||
| Moderate VI | 6a | 5a | 12 (11.7) | ||
| Total | 41 | 53 | 94 (100.0) | ||
Bold digits in tables show variables where there were associations or correlations; Each subscript letter denotes a subset of sex categories whose column proportions do not differ significantly from each other at the 0.05 level
Average Clinical Indices According to Sex
An analysis of the average clinical indices with dispersion statistics among the study population was performed according to the sex group of participants. A Levene’s test for equality of variance was done to determine if there was any significant difference between the variances of clinical indices due to the unequal distribution of sex. There was a statistically significant difference between variances of CCT and sex, while the analysis revealed no statistically significant difference of variances between males and females for the remaining indices assessed (Table 2). There were no statistically significant differences between means of CCT, MD, and PSD among sex; however, there were statistically significant differences in the means of the remaining clinical in-dices such as RNFL and CDR and sex (Table 3).
| Clinical index | Sex | Total | Levene’s test for equality of variances | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Male (n = 53) | Female (n = 41) | F | Significance | ||
| CCT OD (µm) | 530.87 ± 40.81 | 532.09 ± 27.57 | 531.40 ± 35.48 | 4.32 | 0.040 |
| CCT OS (µm) | 532.53 ± 42.57 | 532.59 ± 26.36 | 532.77 ± 35.97 | 5.99 | 0.016 |
| HCDR OD | 0.78 ± 0.13 | 0.69 ± 0.17 | 0.74 ± 0.15 | 1.16 | 0.285 |
| HCDR OS | 0.77 ± 0.13 | 0.70 ± 0.16 | 0.74 ± 0.15 | 0.01 | 0.911 |
| VCDR OD | 0.67 ± 0.13 | 0.57 ± 0.16 | 0.62 ± 0.15 | 1.52 | 0.220 |
| VCDR OS | 0.67 ± 0.13 | 0.58 ± 0.14 | 0.63 ± 0.14 | 0.04 | 0.840 |
| Average RNFL (µm) OD | 96.04 ± 15.95 | 103.12 ± 14.65 | 99.13 ± 15.72 | 0.89 | 0.348 |
| Average RNFL (µm) OS | 97.15 ± 12.93 | 103.17 ± 11.79 | 99.78 ± 12.74 | 0.65 | 0.422 |
| MD (dB) OS | −7.26 ± 2.49 | −6.72 ± 2.51 | −7.02 ± 2.51 | 0.15 | 0.705 |
| MD (dB) OS | −7.10 ± 2.43 | −7.16 ± 2.63 | −7.12 ± 2.51 | 0.13 | 0.716 |
| PSD-OD (dB) | 2.63 ± 2.96 | 2.30 ± 2.44 | 2.49 ± 2.73 | 0.89 | 0.348 |
| PSD-OS (dB) | 2.40 ± 2.12 | 2.50 ± 2.40 | 2.44 ± 2.23 | 0.33 | 0.566 |
| OD IOP | 21.98 ± 6.81 | 20.51 ± 5.27 | 21.34 ± 6.20 | 3.45 | 0.067 |
| OS IOP | 22.00 ± 6.50 | 20.68 ± 4.73 | 21.43 ± 5.80 | 3.80 | 0.054 |
Bold digits in tables show variables where there were associations or correlations; OD, right eye; OS, left eye
| Clinical index | Mean difference | Standard error | Significance (two-tail) |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCT OD (µm) | −1.220 | 7.417 | 0.869 |
| CCT OS (µm) | −0.060 | 7.575 | 0.994 |
| HCDR OD | 0.090 | 0.031 | 0.004 |
| HCDR OS | 0.070 | 0.030 | 0.021 |
| VCDR OD | 0.100 | 0.030 | 0.001 |
| VCDR OS | 0.090 | 0.028 | 0.002 |
| Average RNFL (µm) OD | −7.080 | 3.203 | 0.029 |
| Average RNFL (µm) OS | −6.020 | 2.325 | 0.022 |
| MD (dB) OS | −0.540 | 0.520 | 0.302 |
| MD (dB) OS | 0.060 | 0.524 | 0.909 |
| PSD-OD (dB) | 0.330 | 0.571 | 0.565 |
| PSD-OS (dB) | −0.100 | 0.467 | 0.831 |
| OD IOP | 1.470 | 1.287 | 0.256 |
| OS IOP | 1.320 | 1.206 | 0.277 |
Bold digits in tables show variables where there were associations or correlations; OD, right eye; OS, left eye
Correlations between CCT, IOP, and Age
Based on the association between CCT and sex, a correlational analysis was performed to determine the correlation between CCT and other variables. There was a negative correlation between CCT and age. Hence, as age increases, the CCT decreases. IOP did not have a significant correlation with CCT. Due to the correlation between CCT and age, a partial correlation test was performed on CCT and IOP while controlling a confounding factor, age; there was no statistically significant correlation between the variables (Table 4).
| Variables | R | R2 | p-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| OD CCT vs OD IOP | 0.084 | 0.007 | 0.419 |
| OD CCT vs OD IOP* | 0.092 | – | 0.380 |
| OS CCT vs OS IOP | 0.057 | 0.003 | 0.585 |
| OS CCT vs OS IOP* | 0.071 | – | 0.500 |
| OD CCT vs age | −0.286 | 0.082 | 0.005 |
| OS CCT vs age | −0.222 | 0.049 | 0.029 |
Bold digits in tables show variables where there were associations or correlations; *Controlled for confounding factors and age; OD, right eye; OS, left eye
DISCUSSION
In Nigeria, a representative sample population was used to investigate the clinical characteristics of POAG. Even though the VA on presentation was satisfactory, it was found that all the participants had thin RNFLs, which suggests that there may be modifications in terms of damage in the periphery of the retina. This finding indicates that the participants were introduced to the facility earlier than usual, and eye care professionals are readily available in Nigeria.12,13 This differed considerably from findings from other studies in sub-Saharan Africa, where it is still difficult to access eye care services.14 Studies13,15 that were conducted among glaucoma patients in Africa yielded results that were comparable to the average RNFL that was found in this study. Compared to persons who do not have glaucoma, patients diagnosed with POAG tend to have a thinner RNFL in Africa.13-20
According to the findings of this study, females have a thicker RNFL than males. Between females and males, the average RNFL decreased by 7 µm. The difference is statistically significant in our study, perhaps because of our smaller sample size and higher proportion of older males in our sample. However, results from recent reports lend credence to this observation’s accuracy of females having a Thicker RNFL compared to males.13,21 Nevertheless, Alasil et al.22 had observed no difference in the RNFL thickness among males and females of people from different racial backgrounds. This may be because of the variations in the study population, size, and age range of their study participants. The majority of our study participants were adults, and their age range is a reflection of the reported frequency of glaucoma among people of black heritage and those aged 40 and above in Nigeria.23 Further, there were more males than females in this cohort, although studies in Nigeria have reported no significant gender difference.23,24 It is possible that the pattern of males’ access to medical treatment is different from that of females, which explains why men dominate in glaucoma studies in Nigeria as suggested by Malu et al.23
With CCT affecting the measurement of IOP—the sole clinical index that can be altered in the treatment of glaucoma,25 the findings of CCT in this study are consistent with those found in other studies as well as reported normative ranges for CCT (530−540 µm) among healthy people.26 The findings of this current study reveal that CCT could not be a good sole predictor of the advancement of glaucoma in this cohort. This is because only thinner CCTs have the ability for such effects, and the findings of this study imply that CCT cannot be considered as a strong predictor.25,27–29 However, CCT has been found to be a more accurate marker of people at risk of developing POAG than IOP when paired with specific ocular risk factors, according to a study that was conducted in Nigeria.30 A study by Mehboob et al.31 in Pakistan also found CCT to be positively correlated to some visual field parameters.
There was an inverse relationship between CCT and age; as people get older, the thickness of CCT decreases. This observation is in line with the findings of earlier research that have reported on the effects of aging on CCT.25,32,33 According to these studies, there is a drop in the density of keratocytes, a reduction in inter-collagen fiber lengths, and denaturing of collagen fibers as a person advances in age with resultant alteration in CCT.34,35 Studies conducted in Nigeria and Africa at large have borne this out in studies quite similar to ours in which the authors reported that aging was associated with corneal thinning.15,25,36,37 Although our study did not reveal significant clinical profiles that are typical of patients developing POAG that can be used as early indicators for the disease, apart from the usual monitoring of IOP, it is clear that individuals who require evaluation and management of glaucoma can be identified more readily through the provision of screening services and health education in communities, work, and religious institutions38 so that patients at risk of glaucoma can be identified early and treated to avoid late presentation to the eye clinic with glaucoma and its associated complications.
Strength and Limitations
We realize that there are some inherent limitations in our study. Because our data were gathered retrospectively from a single center, we were unable to extrapolate our conclusions to the full community. In addition, the small sample size and the fact that normal tension glaucoma patients and socioeconomic factors were not assessed in our study further limited the Generalizability of our study findings. Also, our study did not include methods of management and their effects on the ocular parameters. However, despite the limitations, our study was the first to include the younger age-group and OCT parameters in reporting clinical presentations of POAG patients in Nigeria, and our findings were comparable to findings from other parts of the world.
CONCLUSION
We conclude that patients attending the Abuja Eye Center and diagnosed with POAG have overall normal presenting vision because of early presentation to the eye care facility. Our study showed that RNFLT, CCT, and IOP are better used for early detection of POAG and should not be used independently or singly to diagnose glaucoma because of the confounding effect of age, gender, and ethnicity. Glaucoma, therefore, remains a silent “thief” of sight, and we suggest that in order to reduce avoidable blindness from glaucoma, early detection through active screening of populations at risk of the disease, such as the aged (over 40 years) and people of black African descent, accompanied with appropriate treatment remains the most effective strategy. Further studies that will include normal tension glaucoma, ocular hypertension, and nonglaucomatous patients are recommended.
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The dataset is available upon request from the corresponding authors.
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARD STATEMENT
The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Institutional Review Board Madonna University, Elele campus, Rivers State, Nigeria (MAU/SREC/A/0481/03/2019).
ORCID
Ngozika E Ezinne https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3138-0213
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors are grateful to the management of Rachel Eye Center, Abuja, for their support during the data collection.
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