Glaucoma study finds differences between African-descended, European-descended subjects

Arch Ophthalmol. 2009;127(9):1136-1145.

A study examining differences in patients with and without glaucoma of African and European descent found that African-descended individuals had significantly different results than European-descended individuals.

"Significant baseline differences were found in a number of clinical findings between persons of African descent compared with European descent," the study authors said. "Longitudinal data from the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study will be important for determining which baseline features are important and predictive for accurate diagnosis and follow-up in this high-risk group."

The African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study is a prospective multicenter observational cohort study that is examining 1,221 participants of both African descent and European descent. Subjects in the study had no glaucoma, suspected glaucoma or glaucoma.

The study also included 436 European-descended participants of the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study.

A total of 686 patients will have longitudinal follow-up.

The researchers found that African-descended subjects had thinner corneas (P < .001), a higher rate of reported diabetes mellitus (P < .001), higher blood pressure (P < .001) and worse pattern standard deviation for standard automated perimetry fields (P = .001) than European-descended subjects.

The study found no difference in IOP between ethnicities.