Diagnosed cataracts in patients with cystic fibrosis in a United States administrative database

ABSTRACT

Background: We estimated the incidence and prevalence of diagnosed cataracts among patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) versus the general population (GP).

Methods: Using a large US health insurance claims database, we identified a CF cohort and a GP cohort matched with respect to age, gender, and calendar year. The prevalence and incidence of diagnosed cataract (primary outcome) for both cohorts were calculated, as well as the incidence rate ratios (IRRs).

Results: The prevalence of diagnosed cataracts among patients with CF alive and enrolled in the health plan on August 31, 2012 was 4.8% versus 2.8% in the GP. The incidence in the CF cohort was higher than in the GP and increased with age in both cohorts. The adjusted IRR comparing the CF and GP cohorts was 1.5 (95% CI: 1.2–1.8).

Conclusions: The study suggests that the risk of developing cataract was higher among patients with CF than among the GP.

KEYWORDS:

• Cataract
• CFTR
• claims database
• cystic fibrosis
• lens

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Najat Ziyadeh, MPH, Sherry Quinn, MA, Heather Norman, MS, and Winifred Werther, PhD, for their contributions to this study. Editorial support was provided by Dhrupad Patel, PharmD. Dhrupad Patel is an employee of Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated and may own stock or stock options in that company. Dena McWain and Paula Stuckart (Ashfield Healthcare Communications, Middletown, CT) copyedited and styled the manuscript per journal requirements.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding

This study was funded by a research contract between Optum Epidemiology and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. The contract granted Optum oversight of the study conduct, reporting, and interpretation, as well as final wording of any resulting manuscripts.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by a research contract between Optum Epidemiology and Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated. The contract granted Optum oversight of the study conduct, reporting, and interpretation, as well as final wording of any resulting manuscripts.