The Burden of and Factors Associated with Age-Related Eye Diseases in Arab American Adults

Abstract

Purpose: To estimate the age- and sex-adjusted proportions of cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration among the Arab American community, a notably understudied minority that is aggregated under whites. Methods: The Arab American Eye Study is a multicenter retrospective chart review involving ten years of electronic medical records (1/1/2010 through 1/1/2020). The study sample included 1,390 Arab Americans and 4,950 whites 45 years of age and older, totaling 6,340 subjects. Arab Americans were identified using an Arab American name algorithm. Subjects with race variables other than white or Arab American or those under age 45 were excluded from the study. Age- and sex-adjusted proportions of cataract, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration were determined. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were used to examine the association between race/ethnicity and eye diseases. Results: Of the 6,340 participants (4,950 whites and 1,390 Arab Americans), males comprised 46.3% and the median age group was 55-64 years. Arab Americans displayed higher age- and sex-adjusted proportions of cataracts (45.4% versus 40.7%), dry age-related macular degeneration (10% versus 8.9%), glaucoma (8% vs 6%), and diabetic retinopathy (11.7% versus 4.2%). Fully adjusted logistic regression revealed that Arab Americans were 19% more likely to have cataracts (OR = 1.19; 95% CI = 1.05, 1.35) and 272% more likely to have diabetic retinopathy (OR = 2.72; 95% CI = 2.17; 3.41). Conclusions: Results from the Arab American Eye Study suggest that the burden of cataract and diabetic retinopathy is significantly higher among Arab Americans in comparison to whites.