Should the health information glaucoma be hospital based or community based?

OBJECTIVE: To compare the prevalence and incidence of glaucoma in 2005 of >/=30 years-old Omani population.

METHODS: This was a retrospective review of health data type of study conducted in 2007. The study was conducted in the Eye & Ear Health Care Section, Department of Non-Communicable Disease Control, Ministry of Health, The prevalence of glaucoma was estimated through community based modified cluster type of survey. Incidence was estimated from Health Information and Management System (HIMS) Formula to calculate the prevalence from incidence of a chronic disease to compare these 2 estimates.

RESULTS: We examined 3,324 persons of >30 years of age. The prevalence was 4.75% (95% confidence intervals 4.02-5.47) with an estimated 20,700 glaucoma cases in Oman. Ophthalmologists reported 1,290 new cases of glaucoma in the same age group. The incidence was 0.30%. The prevalence if calculated from the incidence rates among the population >/=30 years of age would be 0.30x16.1=4.8%.

CONCLUSION: The survey results are more reliable for policy making. However, HIMS could also generate reliable, periodic, low cost information on glaucoma that could help in estimating the prevalence, and monitoring the program approach to control glaucoma.