Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in the Retina Clinic at a Tertiary Center in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Record Review

Abstract

Background Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive disease involving the macular region of the retina and is considered a significant cause of vision loss worldwide. With the increase in life expectancy in various countries, this problem has become more apparent. We retrospectively evaluated the prevalence of AMD among patients visiting the retina clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital (Jeddah, Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia) to identify the commonly associated risk factors of AMD. Methods The records of 3,067 individuals from 2017 to 2021 were reviewed. Of these, 1,935 were enrolled in the study. Results The prevalence of AMD among the patients was 4%. Regarding non-modifiable risk factors, age and having a family history of AMD showed a significant association (p = 0.001 and 0.043, respectively). However, sex and nationality were not significantly associated. As for modifiable risk factors, smoking and hypertension demonstrated a significant relationship (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). However, the association with diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia was not significant. Conclusion Our study shows that AMD is widely prevalent in Saudi Arabia and is associated with age, family history, smoking, and hypertension. Therefore, patients at risk of AMD must be screened and managed promptly before disease progression.

Keywords: age; epidemiology; retinal disorder; retrospective record review; smoking.

Figure 1. Prevalence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among patients attending the retina clinic at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah (2017–2021).

Figure 2. Chronic medical problems associated with age-related macular degeneration.