Undertreatment of glaucoma among black Americans

Article Abstract:

In the US, glaucoma is the second most common cause of irreversible blindness and is the leading cause of irreversible blindness among blacks. Previous studies have reported that blindness caused by glaucoma is six to eight times more common among blacks than whites. The reason for this is unknown. A study was performed to determine if the higher incidence of blindness among blacks is related to lower rates of medical treatment for glaucoma among blacks. All Medicare claims filed between 1986 and 1988 for incisional or laser surgery for open-angle glaucoma were reviewed. Surgery for glaucoma was performed on 9,481 whites and 1,821 blacks, aged 65 or older. The greatest number of operations was performed on patients between the ages of 75 and 84. Black patients with glaucoma were 2.2 times more likely to undergo surgery than white patients with glaucoma. Even so, the observed rate of surgery among blacks was 45 percent lower than expected, based on the estimate that glaucoma is four times more common among blacks. This may be partially responsible for the higher rate of glaucoma-related blindness among blacks. It is concluded that compared with whites many more black Americans over the age of 65 do not receive medical care that could prevent blindness from glaucoma. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Usage, Medical examination, Medical care, Demographic aspects, African Americans, Surgery, Blindness, Eye diseases

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Open-angle glaucoma

Article Abstract:

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common form of glaucoma in Western countries. It usually affects both eyes and is characterized by an abnormal appearance of the optic disc and progressive loss of visual field. High pressure within the eye is the strongest risk factor, and other risk factors include old age, black race and nearsightedness. Relatives of people with glaucoma also have an increased risk of glaucoma. Diagnosis is based on measures of pressure in the eye, angle of the eye chamber and field of vision. The purpose of glaucoma therapy is to preserve the patient's remaining visual function. Lowering pressure in the eye is presumed to be beneficial, but this has not been proven. Treatment with eyedrops and oral medication is most frequently used. If eyedrops are ineffective, laser therapy may be used. However, in more than half the eyes treated with laser surgery, lower pressures are not maintained for more than five years. Because of the 5% risk of permanent vision loss, surgery is generally performed only if eyedrops and laser treatment are ineffective.

Care and treatment

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Rising Incidence of Renal Cell Cancer in the United States

Article Abstract:

The incidence of renal cell carcinoma is rising and it's not just because better imaging techniques are detecting cancers at an early stage. Renal cell carcinoma is a type of kidney cancer. Data from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program show that between 1975 and 1995, the incidence of renal cell carcinoma increased 2.3% each year in white men, 3.1% in white women, 3.9% in black men and 4.3% in black women. Some of the increase occurred in people with advanced disease, indicating that better diagnostic techniques are not the cause.

United States, Statistics, Kidney cancer, Carcinoma, Renal cell, Renal cell carcinoma

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