Evaluation Of Cataract Surgical Outcome With The Better Operative Outcomes Software Tool (Boost Cataract App) In The Province Of Inhambane (Mozambique)

Cataract is the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness. In low-income countries there are high rates of poor follow-up after cataract surgery which makes very difficult to monitor surgical outcome. To address this issue, the better operative software outcomes tool (BOOST Cataract app) predicts the final outcome at the first postoperative day. The aim of this study is to evaluate accuracy of BOOST Cataract app in predicting good surgical outcome of cataract surgeries performed by small manual incision cataract surgery (SICS).

Provincial Hospital of Inhambane (Mozambique)

Prospective observational study. A surgical campaign performed at Inhambane province between April and May 2022 was enrolled for the study. Visual acuities of patients were evaluated and classified according to the WHO criteria by BOOST cataract app at day 1 postoperatively (index test) and after 6 weeks uncorrected (reference test). Sensitivity,  specificity, positive and negative predictive value of BOOST Cataract app detecting good outcome were calculated.

A total sample of 141 small manual incision cataract surgeries were included. Mean [SD] age, 70 [10,17] years; 48% were females. BOOST app showed a sensitivity in predicting good cataract outcome of 94,44% (95%CI, 88,46%-100%) and specificity of 59,02% (95%CI, 45,86%-72,18%). Positive predictive value was 73,12 (95%CI, 63,57% -82,67%). Negative predictive value was 90 (95%CI, 79,45%- 100%). Overall, BOOST Cataract app successfully graded 78% of eyes with good outcome (95%CI, 70,80%-85,59%).

BOOST Cataract app is a useful tool for estimating good final surgical outcome of cataract surgery in settings with poor postoperative follow-up.