Rationale, Design and Methodology of a Population-Based Ocular Study in a Suburbanization Region in Tianjin, China: The Beichen Eye Study

ABSTRACT

Purpose

The urbanization of suburbs has a significant impact on ocular health, however, the effect of this phenomenon on the epidemiology of eye diseases in the sub-urbanization region of China remains unclear. In this context, the population-based Beichen Eye Study (BCES) was conducted in the Beichen District of Tianjin, China. This article aims to summarize the background, design scheme and operation process of the study. The Chinese Clinical Trial Registry number was ChiCTR2000032280.

Methods

In total, 8218 participants were randomly selected by a multi-stage sampling method. After their qualification was confirmed, participants were mainly invited to a centralized clinic via telephone interviews after promotion of the study in the community. Examinations included a standardized interview, anthropometric assessment, autorefraction, ocular biometry, visual acuity, anterior and posterior segment examinations, dry eye disease (DED), intra-ocular pressure, visual field testing, gonioscopy, and imaging of anterior segment, posterior segment, fundus, and optic disc. A peripheral venous blood sample was also collected for biochemical testing. For observational purposes, a community-based type II diabetes mellitus management mode was created and assessed for its effect in preventing the progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Results

Of the 8,218 residents, 7,271 were eligible for inclusion, and 5,840 (80.32%) subjects were enrolled in the BCES. Most of the participants were female (64.38%) with a median age of 63 years, and 98.23% representing Han Chinese descent. Conclusions: This study provides insights into the epidemiological characteristics of major ocular diseases and their moderators in a suburbanized region of China.

KEYWORDS:

• China
• epidemiology
• ocular
• population-based study
• suburbanization

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all memberships of the BCES Group, which was listed in Supplementary Tables S2.

Disclosure statement

This submission has not been published anywhere previously and that it is not simultaneously being considered for any other publication

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author [Xiaorong L] upon reasonable request.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/09286586.2023.2225582.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the [Tianjin Municipal Science and Technology Bureau] under Grant [number 18ZXRHSY00210]; [Tianjin Health Science and Technology Project] under Grant [number TJWJ2021QN044].