Epidemiological situation of patients on the waiting list for corneal transplantation - sectional study / Situação epidemiológica de pacientes em fila de espera para o transplante de córnea ­ estudo transversal

ABSTRACT

Describing the epidemiological characterization of patients awaiting cornea transplant (on the waiting list) of a reference service in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. A cross-sectional quantitative study conducted between January and April 2015 with patients on the waiting list (n = 62) registered by the Center for Notification, Collection and Distribution of Organs. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, version 20.0. Inferential analysis was carried out between the variable 'corneal disorder' and other variables of interest. Mean age of the patients was 49.68 years, and 54.84% were females. Keratoconus was the main initial condition found. The type of corneal disorder had a statistically significant association with the variables of gender and age. Thekeratoconus was the main indicator for cornea transplant. Factors such as age and gender may be related to the onset corneal endothelium disorders. We suggest that further studies be carried out in order to better evaluate the established association between the types of corneal disorders and the variables of gender and age, considering these may represent important epidemiological indicators for early detection of clinical manifestations and complications affecting the cornea in patients who are waiting for the corneal transplant. (AU)