Prevalence of Systemic and Ocular comorbidities in Cataract Patients admitted through Camps versus Out patients in a tertiary care centre

Authors: Beena Ramanujam

DOI: 10.18231/j.pjms.10966.1760436424

Keywords: Cataract,outpatient,camps,systemic comorbidities,ocular comorbidities

Abstract: ABSTRACT BACK GROUND Cataract is a significant curable cause for blindness . Comorbidities associated with cataract are responsible for delay in interventions to restore vision and also contribute to poor visual outcomes. AIM: To estimate the prevalence of systemic and Ocular comorbidities in patients admitted via camps or as outpatients for Cataract Surgery To analyse the differences in profile, systemic and ocular comorbidities in patients admitted via camps or outpatients METHODS This is a retrospective observational study. The records of 900 consecutive patients admitted for cataract surgery between 2015-2016 in the Ophthalmology Ward of Kanyakumari Government Medical College were analysed for Ocular and Systemic comorbidities. RESULTS The data was analysed with respect to age, gender,systemic comorbidities DiabetesMellitus, Hypertension, IschemicHeartDisease, COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease),Ocular comorbidities DiabeticRetinopathy,Glaucoma,Pseudo exfoliation, Age Related Macular degeneration etc . CONCLUSION Comorbidities were not statistically significant between camps and out patient admissions but age was statistically significant , with more elderly admitted through camps,younger females compared to males,again statistically significant ,emphasizing that camps cater to vulnerable population and are indispensable in reducing the prevalence of blindness especially in rural areas which are otherwise poorly covered.