Sociodemographic status of severely disabled and visually impaired elderly people in Turkey / Estado sociodemográfico de pacientes idosos com incapacidades graves e deficiência visual na Turquia

ABSTRACT Purpose: To identify the prevalence of ophthalmologic diseases in elderly patients who had been classified as severely disabled and to identify the ophthalmologic conditions leading to visual impairment and blindness. Methods: The medical records of 2806 patients who had applied to the Health Board of the Erzurum Region Training and Research Hospital between January 2011 and December 2012 were reviewed. One hundred ninety-nine patients aged >64 years who were classified as severely disabled with disability rates of over 50%, and who were unable to care for themselves or to move and/or communicate without help were included in the study. Results: The most frequently seen disabilities were neurological (47.2%) and those resulting from eye diseases (17.1%). The most common ophthalmologic diseases were cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. The mean right and left eye visual acuities were 1.17 ± 1.10 logMAR and 1.13 ± 1.0 logMAR, respectively. Of the 60 patients with ophthalmologic diseases or conditions, 33 were blind (visual acuity worse than 20/400) and 10 were visually impaired (visual acuity worse than 20/70 but better than 20/400). Cataracts were the main cause of blindness. The mean age of the patients who were still being followed up at the time of application to the disability board was significantly lower than that of the others (p =0.015). Seventy-nine percent of the blind patients were from rural areas, and 88% of these had no regular follow-up. Among the blind and visually impaired, significantly more patients from urban areas had social security insurance (SSI) than those from rural areas (p =0.043). Nearly 64% of the blind patients were women. The follow-up rate was significantly lower in women (p =0.025). According to multinomial logistic regression analysis, the visually impaired and blind patients were more likely to have lower follow-up rates than the other types of severely disabled patients (OR: 0.231, 95% Cl: 0.077-0.688, p=0.009). Conclusions: Blindness gives rise to severe disability, and the most common ophthalmologic diseases that cause severe disabilities in elderly patients are cataract, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. Sociodemographic factors that may affect the accessibility of visually impaired and blind people to health services include their place of residence and gender.

RESUMO Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência de doenças oftalmológicas em pacientes idosos que tinham sido considerados como incapacitados graves, e para identificar as condições oftalmológicas que levam à deficiência visual e cegueira. Métodos: Prontuários de 2806 pacientes que tinham solicitado ao conselho de saúde do hospital de treinamento e pesquisa da região de Erzurum entre janeiro de 2011 e dezembro de 2012, foram revistos. Cento e noventa e nove idosos com mais de 64 anos, que foram considerados como incapacitados graves nos quais as taxas de incapacidade são mais de 50% e não são capazes de cuidado próprio e não são capazes de mover-se e/ou comunicar-se sem ajuda, foram incluídos no estudo. Resultados: As deficiências mais frequentemente observados são neurológicas (47,2%) e doenças oculares (17,1%). As doenças oftalmológicas mais frequentemente observadas foram catarata, glaucoma e degeneração macular relacionada à idade. Média de acuidade visual em olho direito e esquerdo foram 1,17 ± 1,10 e 1,13 ± 1,0 logMAR, respectivamente. Dos 60 pacientes, 33 apresentaram cegueira (acuidade visual pior que 20/400), 10 tinham deficiência visual (acuidade visual pior do que 20/70, melhor do que 20/400). A catarata foi a principal causa de cegueira. A idade média dos pacientes com acompanhamento no momento da solicitação ao conselho foi significativamente menor do que os demais (p=0,015). Setenta e nove por cento dos pacientes cegos eram da área rural e 88% deles não tinham acompanhamento regular. Entre cegos e deficientes visuais, a taxa de posse do seguro de segurança social (SSI) foi significativamente maior em pacientes de área urbana (p=0,043). Quase 64% dos pacientes cegos eram mulheres. A taxa de acompanhamento foi significativamente menor nas mulheres (p=0,025). De acordo com a análise de regressão logística multinominal, os pacientes com deficiência e cegos visuais eram mais propensos a ter menor taxa de acompanhamento do que os outros pacientes com deficiência grave (OR: 0,231, 95% Cl: 0,077-0,688, e p=0,009). Conclusões: A cegueira gera incapacitação grave. As doenças oftalmológicas mais frequentemente observadas que causam deficiência grave em pacientes idosos são a catarata, glaucoma e degeneração macular relacionada à idade. O local de residência e o gênero são fatores sociodemográficos que podem ter impacto sobre o acesso à saúde de pessoas com deficiência visual e cegos.

Acquired capillary hemangioma of the eyelid in a 49-year-old woman from Turkey.

A 49‑year‑old woman developed a dark brown nodular mass in the lower eyelid. The lesion had grown fast for 2 months and then had remained stable in size. Excisional biopsy was performed. Histopathological examination of an excisional biopsy specimen pointed to proliferative vessels lined by increased endothelial cells without nuclear atypism. The nodular mass evaluated as a capillary hemangioma.