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. 2019 Apr;112(4):392-399.
doi: 10.5935/abc.20190028. Epub 2019 Feb 21.

Prevalence of Lens Opacity in Interventional Cardiologists and Professional Working in the Hemodynamics in Brazil

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Adriano Henrique Pereira Barbosa  1 , Regina Bitelli Medeiros  1 , Adriana Maria Rodrigues Corpa  1 , Fabiana Shinzato Higa  1 , Marco Túlio de Souza  1 , Patrícia Lopes Barbosa  1 , Antônio Carlos Moreira  1 , Alexandre Shaan de Quadros  2 , Viviana de Mello Guzzo Lemke  2 , Marcelo José de Carvalho Cantarelli  2
Affiliations

Prevalence of Lens Opacity in Interventional Cardiologists and Professional Working in the Hemodynamics in Brazil

[Article in English, Portuguese]
Adriano Henrique Pereira Barbosa et al. Arq Bras Cardiol. 2019 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Posterior subcapsular cataract is a tissue reaction commonly found among professionals exposed to ionizing radiation.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of cataract in professionals working in hemodynamics in Brazil.

Methods: Professionals exposed to ionizing radiation (group 1, G1) underwent slit lamp examination with a biomicroscope for lens examination and compared with non-exposed subjects (group 2, G2). Ophthalmologic findings were described and classified by opacity degree and localization using the Lens Opacities Classification System III. Both groups answered a questionnaire on work and health conditions to investigate the presence of risk factors for cataract. The level of significance was set at 5% (p < 0.05).

Results: A total of 112 volunteers of G1, mean age of 44.95 (±10.23) years, and 88 volunteers of G2, mean age of 48.07 (±12.18) years were evaluated; 75.2% of G1 and 85.2% of G2 were physicians. Statistical analysis between G1 and G2 showed a prevalence of posterior subcapsular cataract of 13% and 2% in G1 and G2, respectively (0.0081). Considering physicians only, 38% of G1 and 15% of G2 had cataract, with the prevalence of posterior subcapsular cataract of 13% and 3%, respectively (p = 0.0176). Among non-physicians, no difference was found in the prevalence of cataract (by types).

Conclusions: Cataract was more prevalent in professionals exposed to ionizing radiation, with posterior subcapsular cataract the most frequent finding.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential Conflict of Interest

No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Subcapsular cataract in a young interventional cardiologist.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Frequency (%) of use of lead shields placed laterally to the fluoroscopy table by interventionists (n = xx).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Frequency (%) of use of lead glasses by interventionists (n = xx).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Frequency (%) of use of suspended radiation protection by interventionists (n = xx).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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