Race, Ethnicity, and Prevalence of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG)
In this article, the authors were able to collect and pool together information and data from different studies. This studies come from the Dutch, Australians, and Americans of Europe. With this data, they tried to figure out and attempt to predict the prevalence of primary open angle glaucoma in America, specifically between black and white people. The purpose was to look at the different populations of the same ethnicity, corresponding to those with POAG in the population. For results, white Australians were found to have higher prevalence than the Dutch, but much lower in comparison to the black populations in South Africa, Nigeria, Tanzania, and the States; to summarize they found that the tested black population of people of all countries tested, had a high prevalence than the white population.
With a lot of ocular diseases and conditions, it seems as though people of color have a high prevalence, generally speaking. From my own knowledge and experience in this field, I have been taught by doctors that also have said this. Studies have a couple theories as to why this is. In this particular article, they mention it could be caused by a gene(s). "Studies have shown that Africans are genetically the most diversified group in the world." It is claimed that due to genetic diversity, this could be the possible reason why it is so common within the black population to have glaucoma. Another theory mentioned is the genetic drift theory. "Historic evidence suggests that the Africans in the Americans were predominantly from West of Africa." In this study, they found that people from this region had a high prevalence, that was also similar to Ghana's. Claims say that the reason for this is because those that have immigrated to America were those with this gene.
After reading this article, I still have many questions about glaucoma and the eye itself. I find it interesting how one's ethnicity could possibly determine whether or you have an ocular condition. I still do not understand why many doctors say that those with African descent are at a high risk. So.. does ethnicity have a real role in this?
Article PDF Link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2569759/?page=1
There is also many studies claim that number of genetic diseases that an ethnic group of people to a particular geographic area is more likely in risk to develop those diseases. such as Thalassemia. Another possibility, these diseases could be linked to the gene that expresses the skin color! As you said these type of conditions provide new questions and perceptions for many diseases.
ReplyDeleteHey! Interesting article on a topic that is constantly being researched. In response to why some doctors say those of African descent are more prone to this condition you can look at it from another perspective in how fair skin individuals that are caucasian tend to burn more easily. I believe biologically speaking and obviously genetically that, we are just pre-disposed to which some of us are more prone to these things.
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