ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To analyze the cost of glaucoma medical therapy and compare it with that of surgical management in Nigeria. METHODS: The cost of glaucoma drugs and that of surgical therapy in patients who attended the eye clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Nigeria, between December 2002 and November 2008 were calculated over a 3 year period of follow-up. Costs of medical and surgical therapy were compared based on November 2008 estimates. RESULTS: One hundred and eight patients met the inclusion criteria of the study, of which, 90 patients (83.33%) received medical therapy and 18 patients (16.67%) underwent surgery. The most expensive drugs were the prostaglandin analogues, travoprost (Travatan) and latanoprost (Xalatan). The least expensive topical drugs were beta-blockers and miotics. The mean annual cost of medical treatment was US$ 273.47±174.42 (range, $41.54 to $729.23) while the mean annual cost of surgical treatment was US$ 283.78±202.95 (range, $61.33 to $592.63). There was no significant difference between the mean costs of medical and surgical therapy over the 3-year period (P = 0.37). Older age (P = 0.02) and advanced glaucoma (P < 0.001) were associated with higher costs of therapy. CONCLUSION: The cost of medical therapy was comparable to that of surgical therapy for glaucoma in Nigeria over a 3-year period.
ABSTRACT
CONTEXT: The exact patho physiological mechanizm of optic nerve damage in glaucoma is not fully understood. AIM: To assess the vascular risk factors in open angle glaucoma in African eyes. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: Prospective multicenter hospital-based study in Edo State, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three hundred and twenty-two glaucoma patients and 184 control subjects were included in the study comprising 200 male glaucoma patients (62.11%) and 122 females (37.89%). A cohort of consecutive patients with a diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma and age and sex matched control subjects were included in this prospective, cross-sectional, and multicenter hospital-based study conducted during the period January-June 2008. Blood pressure (BP), pulse and intraocular pressure findings were recorded and mean BP, pulse and perfusion pressure for each eye calculated. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Mean, standard deviations, 95% confidence intervals, Welch's t test, and Fisher's exact test were calculated. RESULTS: The mean IOP in the 644 eyes of the 322 glaucoma patients was 22.65 mmHg (SD plus/minus 11.06). The systolic blood pressure (P < 0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.0001), mean arterial blood pressure (P < 0.0001), pulse pressure (P < 0.01), systolic perfusion pressure (P < 0.01) were all significantly higher in glaucoma patients than in control. CONCLUSIONS: Higher systolic, diastolic, mean arterial BP and pulse pressure was found in Black African patients with open angle glaucoma.
ABSTRACT
Context : The exact patho physiological mechanizm of optic nerve damage in glaucoma is not fully understood. Aim : To assess the vascular risk factors in open angle glaucoma in African eyes. Settings and Design : Prospective multicenter hospital-based study in Edo State; Nigeria. Materials and Methods : Three hundred and twenty-two glaucoma patients and 184 control subjects were included in the study comprising 200 male glaucoma patients (62.11) and 122 females (37.89). A cohort of consecutive patients with a diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma and age and sex matched control subjects were included in this prospective; cross-sectional; and multicenter hospital-based study conducted during the period January-June 2008. Blood pressure (BP); pulse and intraocular pressure findings were recorded and mean BP; pulse and perfusion pressure for each eye calculated. Statistical Analysis Used : Mean; standard deviations; 95confidence intervals; Welch's t test; and Fisher's exact test were calculated. Results : The mean IOP in the 644 eyes of the 322 glaucoma patients was 22.65 mmHg (SD plus/minus 11.06). The systolic blood pressure (P 0.0001); diastolic blood pressure (P 0.0001); mean arterial blood pressure (P 0.0001); pulse pressure (P 0.01); systolic perfusion pressure (P 0.01) were all significantly higher in glaucoma patients than in control. Conclusions : Higher systolic; diastolic; mean arterial BP and pulse pressure was found in Black African patients with open angle glaucoma
