The African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study (ADAGES): design and baseline data.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors accounting for differences in glaucoma onset and rate of progression between individuals of African descent and European descent. DESIGN: A prospective, multicenter observational cohort study of 1221 participants of African descent and European descent with no glaucoma (normal), suspected glaucoma, and glaucoma. Six hundred eighty-six patient participants in the African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study will be followed up longitudinally. Four hundred thirty-six participants of European descent from the Diagnostic Innovations in Glaucoma Study (DIGS) were also included. Baseline demographics, visual function (standard automated perimetry, short-wavelength automated perimetry, frequency doubling technology perimetry), optic nerve structure (retina tomography, optical coherence tomography), clinical status, and risk factors were measured. RESULTS: Individuals of African descent had (1) thinner corneas (P < .001) across all diagnostic groups, (2) a higher percentage of reported diabetes mellitus (P < .001) and high blood pressure (P < .001) and a lower percentage of reported heart disease (P = .001), and (3) worse pattern standard deviation for standard automated perimetry fields overall (P = .001) and within normal limits (P = .01) than individuals of European descent. No differences were present for mean intraocular pressure (P = .79). CONCLUSIONS: Significant baseline differences were found in a number of clinical findings between persons of African descent compared with European descent. 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. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00221923.

Author information

Author/s: Sample, Pamela A (PA); Girkin, Christopher A (CA); Zangwill, Linda M (LM); Jain, Sonia (S); Racette, Lyne (L); Becerra, Lida M (LM); Weinreb, Robert N (RN); Medeiros, Felipe A (FA); Wilson, M Roy (MR); De León-Ortega, Julio (J); Tello, Celso (C); Bowd, Christopher (C); Liebmann, Jeffrey M (JM); African Descent and Glaucoma Evaluation Study Group;

Affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hamilton Glaucoma Center, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0946, USA. psample(-atsign-)glaucoma.ucsd.edu.

Grants: EY08208 (Agency:NEI NIH HHS) ; EY11008 (Agency:NEI NIH HHS) ; EY13959 (Agency:NEI NIH HHS) ; U10 EY14267 (Agency:NEI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Multicenter Study; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Archives of ophthalmology (Arch Ophthalmol), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-Sep; vol 127 (issue 9) : pp 1136-45

Dates: Created 2009/09/15; Completed 2009/09/28; Revised 2009/10/15;

PMID: 19752422, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 10/16/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article
(including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.