The Prevalence of Sight-threatening Uveitis in Scotland.

Br J Ophthalmol. 2006 Aug 17; [Epub ahead of print]

• Williams GJ,
• Brannan S,
• Forrester JV,
• Gavin MP,
• Paterson-Brown SP,
• Purdie A,
• Virdi M,
• Olson JA.

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, United Kingdom.

AIM: To identify and quantify the prevalence of patients within Scotland with uveitis receiving systemic immunosuppression. METHODS: Anonymised data was prospectively collected on all patients with uveitis requiring systemic immunosuppression. Seven Health Boards participated over a four-month period between 1st August 2005 and 30th November 2005. RESULTS: 373 patients were identified. 55% were female. Mean age was 46.4 years (range 7-97 years). Using the data from the seven participating Health Boards an estimated Scottish prevalence of 9 per 100,000 was calculated. Prevalence varied between 2 and 9 per 100,000. Within NHS Grampian all patients with uveitis, whether sight-threatening or not, are followed up at a specialist clinic. Extrapolating this figure to the Scotland a prevalence of 25 per 100,000 would be expected. DISCUSSION: The data from NHS Grampian would suggest there is a significant shortfall in the number of patients identified by survey. If the "missing population" exists then where are they? Some may be receiving appropriate treatment at non-specialist clinics, while simple under-reporting may play a part. Greater concern is for those patients receiving inappropriate treatment for their uveitis, or for those within the community either oblivious to or in self- denial of their condition.

PMID: 16916876 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]